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You are here: Home Life in Blogs & photos The gnomes of Villigen
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10/07/2009The gnomes of Villigen

Our blogger Z looks at the garden gnomes inhabiting his home village of Villigen.

Let's leave the bankers in Zürich and take a look at a few of the many garden gnomes that inhabit my home village of Villigen. First up, there's Forester Gnome, an affable fellow who keeps a sympathetic eye on the wellbeing of the creatures under his care.

forester gnome

Then there's shy Goatherd Gnome, hiding in the shadows while his goat enjoys the limelight.

goat and gnome

Ah, and where would we be without Mower Gnome?

mower gnome

Not to fret, it's not all work for the gnomes, they also know how to have a good time. Here's Accordion-playing Gnome and his seemingly sloshed friend.

musician gnome

Some gnomes live in trees, such as these two here.

tree gnome

On sunny winter afternoons they can be seen enjoying the warming rays of the low sun.

tree gnome 2

In the summer, they're practically hidden by the foliage.

camo gnome

Who knows what goes on unobserved? For some bad gnomes, there can be no second chance.

binned gnome

Text and photo credits: Z in Villigen / Expatica 2009


2 reactions to this article

conchscooter posted: 2009-07-12 01:59:12

I have never seen a human in Villingen so I am forced to the conclusion that these gnomes are in fact not on vacation from Zurich but are fulltime residents. And tey are not improving the image we foreigners have of Switzerland either.

EditorCH posted: 2009-07-13 13:00:05

Hi conchscooter,
Thanks for your comment. Our blogger Z has posted a few dispatches from Villingen already, and one even shows photographic evidence of people there! You can check out the link here: http://www.expatica.com/ch/life-in-switzerland/blogs_photos/Based-in-Villigen_14129.html
Happy reading.

2 reactions to this article

conchscooter posted: 2009-07-12 01:59:12

I have never seen a human in Villingen so I am forced to the conclusion that these gnomes are in fact not on vacation from Zurich but are fulltime residents. And tey are not improving the image we foreigners have of Switzerland either.

EditorCH posted: 2009-07-13 13:00:05

Hi conchscooter,
Thanks for your comment. Our blogger Z has posted a few dispatches from Villingen already, and one even shows photographic evidence of people there! You can check out the link here: http://www.expatica.com/ch/life-in-switzerland/blogs_photos/Based-in-Villigen_14129.html
Happy reading.

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