Team Day in Murten – A Touch of History, a Brilliant Barbecue Trick, and the Complexity of a Lettuce

A quick look at the weather app (which we would end up checking several more times that day) didn’t give a clear answer. But the view from the train window was far more promising: the grey cloud cover was gradually giving way to patches of blue – a good start.

Arriving in Murten, it was clear that we had entered French-speaking Switzerland. Just a stone’s throw from Bern, and yet everything felt a little different – the streets, the colours, the atmosphere. There was even a holiday feeling in the air. The agenda for our rather spontaneously organised team meeting also sounded more like savoir-vivre than a corporate event: a guided tour of Murten’s old town, a do-it-yourself barbecue lunch, and a visit to a local farm.

Stop 1: Exploring the Old Town and a History Lesson

Evelyn and our Co-CEO Daniel welcomed us – Claudia, Ines, Christoph, Gianmario, Alexandre, Walter, and Johannes – at the station. Daniel took charge of the first agenda point himself, leading us through the historic old town. From the old city wall, with views over the rooftops and Lake Murten, he took us back to a dramatic chapter in Swiss history – the Burgundian attack on Murten in 1476.

Back then, Murten was a strategically important location and part of an alliance with the Old Swiss Confederacy. Charles the Bold, Duke of Burgundy, sought to capture the town in order to expand his power. He began the siege on 9 June 1476. The citizens of Murten put up a courageous defence while waiting for reinforcements. On 22 June, the united troops of the Confederates arrived unexpectedly, catching the Burgundian camp unprepared. The battle ended in a crushing defeat for Charles the Bold.

Back in the present, we strolled through the picturesque streets of Murten. Along the way, we learned why the lower part of Rathausgasse is called “Elephant Street” – an 1866 incident involving an escaped circus elephant, which ended rather poorly for the animal. Daniel also revealed that he had served nearly 20 years as a volunteer firefighter here.

Stop 2: Barbecue Time and a Hands-On Spirit

The location was a former hotel with a large garden. Cold drinks, salads, and grill food were ready. The flames were already high, promising strong embers, when the sky above us darkened all of a sudden.

Minutes later – with a loud clap of thunder – the rain began to pour. Our fire seemed doomed… until Alexandre had a flash of inspiration: he placed a large stone slab over the grill to shield the embers from the rain. It worked perfectly. Typical interim manager – always in “hands-on mode.” It almost seemed as if the rain was impressed – it soon eased off, allowing us to enjoy our meal and the rest of the afternoon together.

Stop 3: Visiting a Farm

After a short walk along a country path, we were welcomed by the owner, Peter Goetschi. It was clear why this region is known as the “vegetable garden of Switzerland”: everything here seemed greener and more fertile.

Pallets of young lettuce plants were ready for the fields. Christoph Wyssa, operations manager at Wyssa-Gemüse, and Peter Goetschi explained the many factors involved in vegetable production. Weather plays a huge role: late frosts, unexpected hailstorms, or prolonged drought can threaten entire harvests and cause major financial losses. At the same time, negotiations with large retailers are an ongoing challenge – price, quality, and delivery reliability must be spot-on.

Their deep connection to farming and the region was unmistakable. We quickly realised that next time we pick up a head of lettuce at the supermarket, we’ll remember how much skill and effort goes into it.

The tour continued through the machinery park, where we saw everything from precision seeders to complex harvesting machines – modern technology that is essential for meeting today’s demands for efficiency, sustainability, and quality. In contrast, the final stop was a charming old-timer tractor, simple and straightforward compared to the high-tech equipment we’d just seen.

By the end of the day, we headed back to Bern with wonderful memories, stronger team spirit, and a reminder of what really matters: trust, openness – and the space to share stories.