Neuchatel
Neuchatel is a pleasant city with a medieval center situated in the middle of vineyards on the shores of Lake Neuchatel, the largest lake located entirely in Switzerland. Above Neuchatel, roads and train tracks rise steeply into the folds and ridges of the Jura mountain range – a wild and hilly country characterized by remote, windswept settlements and deep, rugged valleys. This is also the heartland of the celebrated Swiss watchmaking industry and known as the Swiss Watch Valley.

Discover Neuchatel
Neuchatel’s atmospheric Old Town is extremely attractive, and random wanderings through its steep alleys are as good a way as any to appreciate the golden beauty of the architecture, as well as the 140-odd street fountains, a handful of which date from the sixteenth century. Alexander Dumas, the well known French writer once said that the pale ochre houses were caved out of a pat of butter. The highlights of the Old Town are poised on the very top of the hill: accessed by a steeply winding street, the Collégiale Church, begun in 1185 and consecrated in 1276, is a graceful example of early Gothic. Neuchâtel has several excellent museums such as the Laténium, an archeology museum focusing on the prehistorical times in the region of Neuchâtel; the MEN, an ethnography museum; the Musée d’Art et d’Histoire; and its star attraction, the astonishing Automates (Mechanical Figurines) of Jaquet-Droz.

Neuchatel with its lake offers a variety of activities and attractions within city limits such as the picturesque Old Town, a panoramic view of the town and lake from the castle, and several interesting museums. Sports enthusiasts find plenty of options along the lake shores as well as in the hills just above the City and the Jura Watch Valley region. In addition, Neuchatel is conveniently located within approx. 100 minutes by train from the major cities and attractions of northern and western Switzerland and thus, making it an ideal base for daily excursions.

Tourist Office Neuchatel
Place du Port 2, 2001 Neuchatel, Tel. 032 889 68 90.

Excursions
Neuchatel situated on the shores of Lake Neuchatel in the great Plain of the Swiss Midlands, is not a primary destination for "real" mountain excursions. The hills of the Jura Mountains just above the city offer some interesting excursions, and reachable within a day are the peaks of the Bernese Alps.

Creux du Van
The Creux-du-Van rocky cirque in the Val de Tavers near Neuchatel, SwitzerlandHalf- or Full-day excursion (access by car to the restaurant Le Soliat within 45 minutes from Neuchatel). The Creux du Van is a natural rocky cirque of approximately 1,400 meters (4,600 ft) of width and 160 meters (525 ft) of depth. It is located in the Val de Travers district. The Creux du Van also is a botanical paradise in almost every season, a fascinating site with breathtaking views, a mountain wildlife reserve and a focal point of telluric energy. The circular cliff drops from its peak down a scree slope, with layers of chalk and brave or solitary trees clinging to the crevices. To walk around the cirque, there’s a path along the edge bordered by a dry stone wall. Sometimes, the path comes within one meter of the precipice.

Chaumont
Mt. Chaumont above Neuchatel with great views of the city and lakeHalf- or Full-day excursion (access by car within 15 minutes from Neuchatel). Access to Chaumont (village) also by funicular from Neuchatel-Le Coudre. At the top station of the funicular, there's a play area for children, an adventure park, a panoramic tower to enjoy great views of the city and lake, and the Topeka Ranch offers horse and pony rides and pony and trap rides (on request). From Chaumont, the "Sentier du Temps" (4.5 km / 2.8 miles) path takes you through the main points of life’s evolution on earth with its 17 sculptures to the Mt. Chaumont.

La Robella
La Robella - Mt. Chasseron - mountain excursion in the Jura. Half- or Full-day excursion (approx. 45 minutes by train or car from Neuchatel to Buttes). Get on the chairlift in Buttes for an easy ride up to La Robella from where several hiking and/or biking trails are offered - e.g. up to Mt. Chasseron to enjoy a magnificient panorama over the Three Lakes Region. During summer months visitors also can enjoy a bob-sled ride or get back to Buttes on an all-terrain scooter. During winter months, la Robella offers hiking and snow-shoeing routes as well as Alpine skiing.

La Chaux-de-Fonds & Le Locle
La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland; watch-making city and UNESCO Cultural Heritage SiteHalf- or Full-day excursion (approx. 30 minutes by train from Neuchatel). The watch making cities of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle have jointly received recognition from UNESCO for their exceptional universal value. This UNESCO World Cultural Heritage Site consists of two small cities located close to each other in the mountainous environment of the Swiss Jura. Due to the altitude (1,'000 m / 3,000 ft up) and the lack of water (porous sandstone underground) the land is ill suited to farming. Planning and buildings reflect the watch making artisans need of rational organization. Rebuilt in the early 19th century, after extensive fires, both towns owe their survival to the manufacturing and exports of watches.

Markets
On the markets in Neuchatel (Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday morning), La Chaux-de-Fonds (Wednesday and Saturday morning) and Le Locle (Saturday morning) you’ll find stalls with fruit and vegetables, dairy products, fish from the lake and crafts.

International Clock Museum La Chaux-de-Fonds & Watch Museum Le Locle
The Chateau des Monts Castle which is the home of the Watch Museum in Le Locle near Neuchatel and the Watch Museum in La Chaux-de-Fonds with more than 4,000 exhibits is the biggest museum in the world specialised in clock-making. There are watches in all possible forms, from utilitarian to precious, from unknown to the big brands. The Watch Museum in Le Locle is the offspring of a curio collection which begun in 1849. From the middle of the 19th century till World War 2, the collection was exhibited at the Watchmaking School of Le Locle before in 1959 it finally found its home at the "Chateau des Monts" where the secrets of time are nestled in a magic place.