Neuchâtel: Old Town, Lake and Chaumont

Neuchâtel begins with the Old Town: pedestrian lanes invite you to stroll.

When choosing a holiday apartment in Neuchâtel, historic discoveries, lake experiences and routes into the highlands can be compared using specific locations.

History

Rue Fleury is one of Neuchâtel’s oldest streets; the year 1494 is preserved in the lintel of a cellar entrance. The Passage des Corbets contains a spiral staircase built around 1600. A market has been held on Place des Halles since the 19th century.

Hôtel DuPeyrou is a stop on the tourist Via Rousseau, which traces the writer’s route through the Neuchâtel region. The building was constructed between 1764 and 1771 and has magnificent gardens.

Château de Neuchâtel dates from the late 10th century and stands on a rocky promontory above the city. The Château de Neuchâtel’s rampart walk is accessible from the south of the castle or north of the cloister.

The Collégiale is a 12th-century monument made of the yellow limestone typical of Neuchâtel. A guided tour of the Collégiale conveys its development over the centuries and includes the cloister, the organs and the magnificent monument to the counts and countesses.

Maison des Halles was built in the 1570s and originally housed goods such as grain and textiles.

Culture

The Muséum d’histoire naturelle displays dioramas of mammals, waterfowl and native birds in their natural environment. Musée d'art et d'histoire is a multidisciplinary museum with collections covering fine art, history, applied arts and numismatics.

The three Jaquet-Droz automatons are on display at Musée d'art et d'histoire all year round. Musée d’ethnographie de Neuchâtel houses around 60,000 objects and 40,000 photographs from all regions of the world, with a particular focus on Africa. At the same time, it offers a critical and original perspective on human societies.

Centre Dürrenmatt Neuchâtel presents Friedrich Dürrenmatt’s paintings in connection with his literary work and also offers temporary exhibitions and events.

Thanks to its glass roof, Neuchâtel’s tourist train offers panoramic views of the pedestrian streets, historic yellow-stone buildings, the Château and the Collégiale.

The 30-metre-long Passerelle de l'Utopie extends 15 metres over the lake and offers views of the city and the shores from a different perspective.

Nature

Neuchâtel Botanical Garden is open all year round, seven days a week, and includes local and exotic plant species, a pond and a stream. It holds temporary exhibitions throughout the year.

The southern shore of Lake Neuchâtel is characterised by nature reserves and is considered an internationally important wintering area for waterfowl.

Parc des Jeunes-Rives connects Neuchâtel’s historic centre with the lake and includes an urban beach, a playground, and facilities for leisure and sport.

Swimming, boat trips, paddleboarding and pedal boating are possible on Lake Neuchâtel.

The Chaumont lookout tower reaches an altitude of approximately 1,200 metres and offers wide-ranging views of Lakes Neuchâtel, Biel and Murten. The La Coudre–Chaumont funicular covers 570 metres of elevation in 13 minutes and opens up a panorama of the Three Lakes Region and the Alpine range at the top.

Activities

The Nature en ville educational trail is an easy hike lasting two to two and a half hours, with eleven information panels on fauna, flora and the urban landscape. The Sentier du Temps descends from Chaumont towards Neuchâtel and traces the development of life on Earth.

Parc Aventure Chaumont offers eleven treetop courses for visitors aged two and over, including rope challenges and numerous zip lines. The Les Chenapans family treasure hunt uses Belle Époque frescoes and riddles to explore Neuchâtel’s historic centre.

The different time indications, age limits and activity types help you organise excursions at your own pace.

Culinary experiences

Food Tour Neuchâtel is an urban culinary route through the Old Town with several tasting stations. It includes local cheese, Neuchâtel dried salami, wine, a main course, coffee or tea, and a piece to take away.

The highlights range from historic spaces and museums to lake activities, routes and high-altitude viewpoints, providing different points of reference when choosing a holiday apartment in Neuchâtel.

Other places

Other location pages in the destination area: Neuchâtel, Saint-Blaise Ne, Thielle-Wavre, Cressier Ne, Enges.

Back to the overarching travel overview: Neuchâtel.

More destinations

More places within the same destination:

Val-De-Ruz, Le Locle, Val-De-Travers.