Neuchatel
Neuchatel has superb mountain views and a huge lake. The gateway to the Jura region, it sits on the lake’s northwestern shore, and has a castle, church, and museums. Neuchatel produces both red and white wines and the vineyards cover the hillsides around Lake Neuchâtel. The city is also an important research center for the watch industry, and Neuchatel’s university is highly rated.
Neuchâtel’s Old Town is dominated by a characteristic yellow-washed limestone. Its Collegiate Church has an exceptional number of honorific tombs and dominates the hillside. The 12th century castle can be visited in the summer season.
Neuchâtel has the ambiance of a university town; part of the french-speaking part of Switzerland, and bordering the Jura mountains, it has a strong medieval heritage, as well as numerous cafes, restaurants, shops, theatres, and museums. Visitors often consider it one of the most charming Swiss towns.
Many of the brand name luxury watch manufacturers are located nearby, providing an important pillar of the local economy. The watch industry plays a major role in Neuchatel and the town has an important research center with an observatory.
Neuchâtel has interesting museums such as the Dürrenmatt Centre, designed by Mario Botta, and dedicated to the controversial Swiss author Friedrich Dürrenmatt, a resident of Neuchâtel for many years. The Art & History Museum is worth a visit. The “Laténium” archaeological park and the Jacquet-Droz automata which consists of three robotic figures from the 18th Century at the Art History Museum are other museums of interest. The Galleries of History, have models that show how Neuchâtel developed over the centuries. There is also a well-known Museum of Ethnography.
A funicular with panoramic view takes passengers up the Chaumont (1100 m) mountain. Other interesting destinations include the Vue des Alpes pass crossing (popular with hikers), the Val de Tavers, various walks and cycle paths around the lake, and the Vine and Wine Museum at Boudry Castle. Additionally, there are many boats and ferries plying the 24 mile long lake on which you can hop a cruise.
Must-sees include the Old town, where the castle and collegiate
church date from the 12th century, the Place des Halles, and the 18th century Hôtel du Peyrou.
Neuchatel is home to the Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival NIFFF - a key event in the Swiss film calendar taking place in July, the Buskers Festival in August.
Also popular are the International Choral Festival (every other year in August), and the Winzerfest grape harvest festival in September.
Neuchatel is 1 hour 20 min by train from Geneva, 40 min from Lausanne, 1 hour 50 min from Zurich, and 1 hour and 35 minutes from Basel.
The Paris-Neuchâtel (TGV) takes 3 hours 50 min. By car on the auto route A5, Geneva - Neuchâtel (128 km), Auto route A1 from Zürich - Bern - Murten (150 km).
