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The home of the Green Fairy can be identified in the small valley "Val de Travers" in the Swiss Jura, next to the French border. Here the Green Fairy was born as Dr. Pierre Ordinaire started to distrbute a special digestive - "Bon Extrait d´Absinthe" - in the 18th century, which soon should become famous under the name ABSINTHE.
Now, more than 100 years later, the little town Boveresse in the Val de Travers organizes every year an absinthe festival - "La Fete de l´Absinthe". Well, to name it a festival is almost a bit exaggerated, moreover it is a fair for the locals of the Valley. You can find some antique sellers who present their absinthiana collections, such as antique spoons, glasses and fontaines. Also absinthe candies such as absinthe ice cream, absinthe pudding and absinthe chocolates are offered, and the only "legal" absinthe Kübler with 45% alcohol is served. The absinthe prohibition is still active in Switzerland, therefore the festival is more of a family reunion, which demonstrates the deep connections the valley has to its culture, the Green Fairy...

This year we decided to visit this very special place. June 18th 2004, at 8 o´clock in the morning a group of four absintheures hit the road, and thanks to the German Autobahn we reached our final destination after 7 hours of driving. As the Val de Travers is directly at the French Border our first stop was the French city Pontarlier. Here most of the absinthe was produced during the Belle Epoque. For example the legendary Pernod Fils distillery had its major production here, and the old buildings can still be found, although they are now used by the Swiss nutrition company Nestlé. A visit of the Absinthe Museum was also part of our trip and of course we stopped by at the Emile Pernot distillery and Mr. Francois Guy, the creator of the homonymous absinthe for a little Heure Verte...
With this photo story we want to give you an impression where the history began, which affected a whole nation and ended in suppression in the year 1920 in almost all countries of the world. Sit back, relax and start the journey...

 

1st day Pontarlier

2nd day Boveresse

3rd day Vintage Distilleries and Museum

 

 

 

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Absinthe