Neuchatel Attractions
Neuchâtel (German Neuenburg), capital of the canton of the same name, lies on the north shore of the Lac de Neuchâtel (Neuenburger See), below the Jura mountains.
Cret du Plan (funicular)
From Rue de l'Ecluse, on the edge of Neuchâtel's old town, a funicular ascends to the Cret du Plan (598 m/1,962ft), from which there are extensive views of the lake and the Alps.
Monument of the Counts of Neuchâtel
In the very dark Romanesque choir of Neuchâtel's Collegiate Church is the monument of the Counts of Neuchâtel (1372). It has 15 painted effigies and is the finest Gothic memorial in the whole of Switzerland.
Boat services
Motorboats ply between Neuchâtel and the other towns along Lake Neuchâtel. The trip around the three lakes (Lac de neuchâtel, Bieler See and Murtensee) is highly recommended.
Château
From Rue de Château a stepped lane and a street lead up to the château, which belonged to the Counts and Princes of Neuchâtel and is now occupied by cantonal government offices. The west wing dates from the 12th C., the remainder from the 15th to the 17th C.; the interior has undergone much alteration.
Collegiate Church
Neuchâtel's Collegiate church was built in the 12th-13th C. (west towers 1867-75). Until 1530, when it was taken over by the Reformed faith, it was the Catholic Collégiale Notre-Dame.
On the north side of the church is a Romanesque cloister (restored). Outside the west front of the church stands a statue of the Reformer Guillaume Farel (1489-1565); from the terrace there are extensive views.
On the north side of the church is a Romanesque cloister (restored). Outside the west front of the church stands a statue of the Reformer Guillaume Farel (1489-1565); from the terrace there are extensive views.
Collège Latin (municipal library)
On the long quays which extend on either side of Neuchâtel's harbor are a series of fine late 19th C. buildings. In Place du Port is the Post Office and in Place Nume Droz (to the south) the Collège Latin (1835), with the Municipal Library.
Festival
This annual three-day festival takes place in late September and includes a street parade, food stalls and processions of residents in traditional costumes.
Lake Neuchâtel - Boat excursions
The shipping company of Lake Neuchâtel and Lake Morat operate principally on Lake Neuchâtel; numerous round trips are organized however, on Lake Morat and Lake Bienne.
Société de Navigation sur les Lacs de Neuchâtel et Morat SA
Port
CP 2001
CH-1460 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
Port
CP 2001
CH-1460 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
Museum of Art and History
Collections of the art and history of the Neuchâtel region, including works by artists: Giacometti; Corot; Bonnard; Degas; Marquet; Pissarro; Renoir; and Sisley. The museum offers ceramic, toy, gold and furniture exhibits. Complete French Revolutionary weapons and uniforms plus the famous automatons of Jaquet-Droz and Leschot can be seen. Seasonal harpsichord demonstrations are available.
Neuchâtel Musée d'Art et d'Histoire
1 quai Leopold-Robert
CP 2001
CH-2001 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
1 quai Leopold-Robert
CP 2001
CH-2001 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Museum of Ethnography
Southwest of the park in Rue St Nicolas, is Neuchâtel's Museum of Ethnography, with an excellent permanent collection and occasional special exhibitions from Asia, Africa and Oceania.
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 | 10:00 |
| Close | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 | 18:00 |
Always closed on:
Christmas Eve - Christian (December 24)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
University and Library
Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778) memorabilia is housed in the Neuchâtel library including correspondence, portraits, engravings and paintings.
Neuchâtel Bibliothèque Publique et Universitaire
Place Numa-Droz 3
CP 2001
CH-2000 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
Place Numa-Droz 3
CP 2001
CH-2000 Neuchâtel
Switzerland
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 14:00 | Closed | Closed | 14:00 | Closed |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
Swiss National Day (August 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Ash Wednesday - Christian (Feb 22)
May Day / Labor Day (May 1)
Swiss National Day (August 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Ash Wednesday - Christian (Feb 22)
Neuchatel Surroundings
Chaumont
5km/3mi northeast of Neuchâtel, in La Coudre, is a funicular to the summit of Chaumont (1,177 m/3,862ft), which can also be reached on a steep road from Neuchâtel. From the top there are far-ranging views of the Mittelland with its lakes, and a panorama of the Alps from Saints to Mont Blanc.
Papillorama (butterfly garden)
Butterflies and tropical birds in a natural environment plus a simulated nocturnal environment, and those mammals attuned to it.
All values are in Switzerland Francs
Hours
Always closed on:
New Year's Day (January 1)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
Christmas - Christian (December 25)
| Adult | CHF 17.00 |
| Students | CHF 14.00 |
| Child 15 & under | CHF 8.00 |
| Child 3 & under | FREE |
Guides
Guided tour available as optional extra.
Facilities
Gift shop
Restaurant or food service
Restaurant or food service
Bevaix (Gorgier - Castle)
From Boudry the road leads, with beautiful views, to Bevaix (476 m/1,562ft), which has a Gothic church and a 1722 mansion house. Gorgier (518 m/1,700ft) has a castle of the 14th and 16th C., restored in Romantic style in the 19th C. (view).
Boudry, Switzerland
Boudry (470 m/1,542ft; pop. 3,000) is a picturesque little town at the mouth of the Gorges de l'Areuse with a 16th C. castle which houses a museum of viticulture (opening times given). Boudry was the birthplace of the French politician Jean-Paul Marat (1743-93) and of Philippe Suchard.
Boudry - Areuse Museum
(In Boudry, Switzerland)
This local pre-history collection also features indigenous birds and mammals.
Boudry Castle
(In Boudry, Switzerland)
The chateau dates from the 12th and 13th centuries. and contains historical items from the Neuchâtel region.
Boudry Castle
Société du musée de la vigne et du vin
c/o Office du Tourisme, Neuchâtel
CH-2017 Boudry
Switzerland
Société du musée de la vigne et du vin
c/o Office du Tourisme, Neuchâtel
CH-2017 Boudry
Switzerland
Hours
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | Closed | Closed | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
Facilities
Restaurant or food service
Coffrane - Agricultural Museum, Switzerland
The Coffrane Agricultural Museum highlights country life on a typical 18th century farm.
Coffrane Musée agricole
Rue de Musee 30
CH-2207 Coffrane
Switzerland
Rue de Musee 30
CH-2207 Coffrane
Switzerland
Colombier - 12th C. Castle, Switzerland
Colombier (alt. 460 m/ 1,509ft; pop. 4,000) has a massive castle, built in the 12th C. on Roman foundations and rebuilt and enlarged in the 14th and 16th C. From 1754 it was occasionally used as a residence by the Prussian governor of Neuchâtel. It now contains a military museum and a collection of pictures.
Musée Militaire et des toiles peintes
Château de Colombier
CH-2013 Colombier
Switzerland
Château de Colombier
CH-2013 Colombier
Switzerland
Hours
March 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 | 14:00 |
| Close | 15:30 | 15:30 | 15:30 | 15:30 | 15:30 | 15:30 | 15:30 |
Also open the first Sunday of each month from March to October.
Guided tours at 2:30 and 3:30 p.m.
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
Colombier - Military Museum
(In 12th C. Castle, Switzerland)
Armour, uniforms and flags from the Neuchâtel region are on display in this military museum.
Musée Militaire et des toiles peintes
Château de Colombier
CH-2013 Colombier
Switzerland
Château de Colombier
CH-2013 Colombier
Switzerland
Hours
March 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | |||||||
| Close |
Guided tours Monday to Wednesday at 3 p.m., and on the first Sunday of the month at 2 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.
Guides
Guided tour included with admission.
La Tène
Near St-Blaise, at the end of Lake Neuchâtel, in the hamlet of La Tène, is a famous Late Iron Age site first excavated in 1858.
St Aubin - Vaumarcus Castle, Switzerland
St-Aubin (474 m/1,555ft) is the most important town in the district of La Béroche which lies on the slopes of the Montagne de Boudry with many picturesque villages and country houses.
Beyond this, to the right, stands the castle of Vaumarcus, and on the left the former Carthusian house of La Lance, with a beautiful Late Gothic cloister.
The road continues via Grandson to Yverdon, at the southwest end of the lake.
Beyond this, to the right, stands the castle of Vaumarcus, and on the left the former Carthusian house of La Lance, with a beautiful Late Gothic cloister.
The road continues via Grandson to Yverdon, at the southwest end of the lake.
Travers - La Banderette Museum, Switzerland
La Banderette Museum has local and natural history as well as ethnography displays. Highlights are flora and fauna of the area.
Valangin - Castle, Switzerland
Valangin Castle was completed in the 13th century and added to on several occasions. The present structure was fully restored in 1772. The castle and museum at Valangin is furnished as it was in the 16th century.
Hours
March 1 to October 31
| Mon | Tue | Wed | Thu | Fri | Sat | Sun | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Open | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 | 11:00 |
| Close | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 | 17:00 |
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