| Neuchâtel | ||
 | ||
Coat of arms  | ||
| State | Switzerland | |
|---|---|---|
| Region | Western Switzerland | |
| Altitude | 430 m a.s.l. | |
| Inhabitants | 32.664 (2007) | |
| POSTAL CODE | 2000 | |
Position
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| Tourism site | ||
| Institutional website | ||
Neuchâtel is a city of Western Switzerland.
To know
Capital of the canton of the same name, Neuchâtel is located on the north-western shore of its lake, the largest of those that fall entirely within Swiss territory.
Seen from the lake, Neuchâtel looms with a graceful aspect, perched as it is on the southern slopes of the Jura massif covered with woods and meadows just upstream from the town.
It is home to a small university founded in 1838 with 5 faculties (law, literature, science, economics and theology) whose courses are attended by about 4000 students.
Background
Until the eighteenth century the city economy was based on viticulture. The precision mechanical industry, especially watchmaking, established itself in its artisan form at the beginning of the 19th century and disappeared completely in the last quarter of the following century, replaced by micro-technology and high-tech industry. It was precisely the master watchmakers of Neuchâtel who in 1962 decided to launch a joint program for the development of the watch of the future, giving life to the Center Électronique Horloger (CEH). In 1967 the CEH had the first quartz watch certified and in 1984 it merged with two other research institutes to form the Center Suisse d'Électronique et de Microtechnique which contributed to the creation of about twenty companies.
How to orient yourself
Neuchâtel: full screen map.How to get
On the train
- 1 Neuchâtel station (Gare de Neuchâtel). The train ride from Bern to Neuchâtel takes 35 minutes, from Zurich 1 hour and 3/4 minutes, from Geneva or Basel 1 1/2 hours, from Milan and from Paris 4 hours.
How to get around
What see
- 1 Château de Neuchâtel, Rue de la Collégiale 12.
- 2 Eglise Collégiale, Rue de la Collégiale.
- 3 Tour des prisons, Rue Jehanne de Hochberg.
- 4 DuPeyrou hotel.
- 5 Center Dürrenmatt. Inaugurated in 2000 with the aim of divulging the work of Friedrich Dürrenmatt, Swiss writer and painter.
Events and parties
- 2 Festi'neuch.
June. - International festival du film fantastique. July.
- Buskers festival. August.
- Harvest festival (Fête des vendanges). September.
- Horizon Festival. November.
- The Superette. November.
June.What to do
Shopping
- 1 La Maladière Center, Rue de la Pierre-à-Mazel 10, ☎ 41 32 723 24 70. Mon-Sat 08: 30-19: 00.
How to have fun
Night clubs
- Casino de la Rotonde, faubourg du Lac 14 - 2000 Neuchâtel, Switzerland.
Where to eat
Moderate prices
- 1 The South, Rue du Coq-d'Inde 1, ☎ 41 32 710 12 00. Tue-Wed 09: 00-22: 00, Thu-Sat 09: 00-23: 00.
- 2 [link previously not working]Isaana, Rue des Chavannes 25, ☎ 41 32 710 19 19. Tue-Fri 11: 00–15: 00 and 17: 30–22: 30, Sat 11: 00–22: 30, Sun 12: 00–21: 00.
Average prices
- 3 Brasserie Le Jura, Rue de la Treille 7, ☎ 41 32 725 14 10. Mon-Sat 09: 00–00: 00.
- 4 Brasserie Le Cardinal, Rue du Seyon 9, ☎ 41 32 725 12 86. Mon-Sat 08: 30-23: 30.
- 5 Fleur de Lys, Rue du Bassin 10, ☎ 41 32 724 30 30. Mon-Sun 11: 30-14: 00 and 18: 00-23: 00.
- 6 The neuchateloise taverns, Rue de l 'Orangerie 5, ☎ 41 32 725 27 01. Mon-Mar 18: 00-23: 00, Wed-Fri 11: 00-14: 00 and 18: 00-23: 00, Sat 18: 00-23: 00.
- 7 Desperado Mexican Restaurant & Bar, Place Numa-Droz 1, ☎ 41 32 710 00 10. Mon-Thu 11: 00–00: 00, Fri-Sat 11: 00–02: 00, Sun 11: 00–00: 00.
Where stay
Safety
How to keep in touch
Around
Neuchâtel lake
Inland
- 7 Creux-du-Van
- 8 Môtiers
- 9 Avalangin
- 10 Le Locle
- 11 La Chaux-de-Fonds
