Morbier roundabout

Flowery grandfather clockMorbier cheese roundaboutA French reader of my blog sent me these photos of a roundabout where he lives, based on my previous posts about ornate French roundabouts. He said: “April, I thought you’d like to see my local roundabout since you write about French roundabouts on your blog. I’m sure you can find something funny to write about it if you decide to put it on your blog.”

Actually, I’m so impressed with this roundabout that I don’t know if I can find anything funny to write about it! What’s not to love about this roundabout? It’s in Morbier, which is why there’s a giant Morbier cheese (appropriately with a section cut out of it to show the layer of ash that runs through the centre), and although I don’t understand why there’s a grandfather clock in the middle of this roundabout, I do appreciate that it’s made mostly of plants. How can this be? How cool is this clock? It looks like it has a coffin lining of satin which is a little freaky, but this roundabout really illustrates just how well the French do roundabouts. Not only does it have a decorative clock and cheese, but it’s also very informative. It tells you what time it is, and it tells you where you are (Haut Jura, as it says on the right). It’s also a friendly roundabout, as it says “Bienvenue” (“Welcome”) on the left. Does a better roundabout exist? I challenge you to find one.

If you’d like to see a bigger version of the roundabout, click on the photo.

About

I'm a technical author, journalist and writer from Australia who has been living in Europe since 2000 and exploring the world from there. My passions are writing, snow sports and travel.

7 Comments on “Morbier roundabout

  1. “Better” is clearly a subjective term but I would suspect most Parisians would rate the Arc de Triomphe as “better” even if they don’t view it as a roundabout.

    I’ll have to start photographing Swiss roundabouts for you, although I do feel that clock is a winner…

  2. French roundabouts are both insanely peculiar and incredibly brilliant (surrealism is the word). I have some pictures of a few favourites, in particular; by Oleron stands a huge boy (easily 15m) in swim wear with an absolutely massive oyster under his arm, amazing! So, why hasn’t anyone made a coffee table book of these sculptures? A book of beautifully photographed roundabouts would be amazing, even the bizarre roundabouts ~ how about St Jean de Sixt by La Clusaz where the usage of shop mannequins is, to be perfectly honest; absolutely terrifying.

  3. The Jura, esp. (I think) around Beaucanson, is known for excellent cheese and also for clock making. So maybe that is why there is a clock on the roundabout.

  4. I would just like to point out that I live in the region and last year someone STOLE the morbier from the roundabout….. We WILL track down the scoundrel!!!

  5. Someone stole it? I wonder where it is now – gracing someone’s back yard next to their BBQ, or sitting in the kids’ play room, with them jumping up and down on it. I hope it’s found!