Neuchatel
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Neuchatel is a canton and a city in Switzerland.
For La Chaux-de-Fonds, see below or click on the following link: Chaux-de-Fonds.
CouchSurfers
Infos:
The local CS community of Neuchatel and neighborhood try to meet regularly since july 2007. To be aware of what's happening, do not hesitate to join Neuchatel group. In case of emergency Neuchatel CS community can be joined by e-mail: csneuchatel(at)gmail.com
They are so happy to host you in your step in the neighborhood. Just send a friendly personnal and personnalised request.
Stats:
- June 07: 46 members
- October 07: 86 members (56 couches)
Last CS event:
- First CS gathering in Neuchâtel Dinner in Paprika on July 2nd 2007
- Torré Traditionnal BBQ in forest
- Fête des vendanges et son after
- Walk by the river Doubs
- Boire un coup pour se réchauffer!
- 3 birthdays party in Neuchâtel - Nov 10, 2007
- Apprendre à utiliser les fonctions du site couchsurfing
- Xmas market in Alsace dec 8/9
- Soirée 'Repas de Noël'
- 2nd Swiss Couchsurfing Ambassador's meeting
Introduction to Neuchatel
At the centre of the sweep of the Jura Mountains, on the shores of the largest expanse of water entirely within Switzerland, the Neuchâtel Region enjoys a privileged situation in every aspect. It offers an astonishing diversity of charming landscapes within a relatively restricted area. Moreover, a farsighted conservation policy, classing two thirds of the territory as protected areas, guarantees that the countryside will remain intact.
Neuchâtel, the canton with the highest concentration of watchmaking in Switzerland, is also the magnetic pole for microtechnology and nanotechnology with the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology (CSEM), the University Institute of Microtechnology, the Jura School of Engineering (EIAJ), the Neuchâtel Observatory and the Neode Science and Technology Park; a quite remarkable density of research and development and innovative enterprises, the basis of our future. The Neuchâtel know-how and taste for innovation are also being expressed increasingly in the domains of biotechnologies, IT engineering, optics, renewable energies etc.
Architecture
Neuchâtel’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. From the rather anonymous Place Pury – hub of buses and shoppers alike – with the main artery of Rue du Seyon leading northwards, alleys to the west bring you to Place des Halles, perpetually filled with talkers and drinkers spilling out of a handful of cafés. The square itself is overlooked by fine Louis XIV architecture – shuttered facades and the turreted orioles of the sixteenth-century Maison des Halles. You’ll find informal lunchtime boules sessions on the nearby Rue du Coq d’Inde, a broad, tranquil courtyard away from the bustle. A two-minute walk east, on Rue de l’Hôpital, is the grand 1790 Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), designed by Louis XVI’s chief architect Pierre-Adrien Paris.
The highlights of the Old Town are poised on the very top of the hill, accessed by the steeply winding Rue du Château. The Collégiale church, begun in 1185 and consecrated in 1276, is a graceful example of early Gothic. Stairs from Rue du Château bring you up to the east end of the church, with its three Norman apses. The main entrance (daily 8am–6pm), to the west, is crowned by a giant rose window of stained glass. Within the vaulted interior, the nave draws you along to the glowing transept, lit by a lantern tower, and the unique Cenotaph of the Counts of Neuchâtel on the north wall of the choir (shielded for renovations since 1997, and due for re-display in 2000). Begun in 1372, and the only artwork of its kind to survive north of the Alps, the monument comprises fifteen near-life-size painted statues of various knights and ladies from Neuchâtel’s past, framed by fifteenth-century arches and gables. Beside the church is the imposing Château, begun in the twelfth century and still in use as the offices of the cantonal government: entry is only on guided tours, which start from the signposted Door no. 1 (on the hour: April–Sept Mon–Fri 10am–noon & 2–4pm, Sat 10am, 11am & 2–4pm, Sun 2–4pm; free). The nearby turreted Tour des Prisons (daily 8am–6pm; 50c), remains of a medieval bastion, has panoramic views over the town, along with interesting models of Neuchâtel in different eras.
Culture
During the summer of 2002, Neuchâtel was one of five sites which held Expo.02, the sixth Swiss national exhibition, which was subject to financial controversy. The festival of the Fête des Vendanges, representing the wine harvest, is held traditionally in early Fall.
Notable people
Jean Piaget, Robert Miles, and Marcel Junod were all born in Neuchâtel. Friedrich Dürrenmatt lived in Neuchâtel the last 30 years of his life. Roger Schutz, founder of the Taize Community in France, was born on 12 May 1915 at the village of Provence near Neuchatel. He was stabbed to death on 16 August 2005 by a mentally deranged woman during a prayer meeting in Taize's Church of Reconciliation.
How to come to Neuchatel?
- By TGV, Neuchatel is only 4h away from Paris!
- Neuchatel-Bern: 1/2h by car, 40 minutes by car.
- Neuchâtel-Genève : 1h30 by car, 1h10 by train
- Neuchâtel-Zurich : 1h50 by car, 1h30 by train.
Different attractions in the area:
- Les moulins souterrains (The underground mills) du Col-des-Roches
- Les mines d'asphalte (Asphalt mines) au Val-de-Travers
- Le creux du Van (100 meters high cliffs)
- Les gorges de l'Areuse (The Areuse gorges)
- Les gorges du Seyon (The Seyon gorges)
- Le phare de Chaumonts (The lighthouse of Chaumont)
- Le col de la Vue des Alpes (The Alps' view pass)
- Le Laténium
- Several museeums
- Alpin and nordic ski tracks
- La Brévine (la Sibérie de la Suisse/ the Siberie of Switzerland)
La Chaux-de-Fonds
La Chaux-de-Fonds is the third city of Suisse Romande after Geneva and Lausanne regarding to the number of inhabitants (37000). It is situated at 1000 metres height, what makes it the highest city of Switzerland. The inhabitants of the Chaux-de-Fonds assert that it is about the highest European city containing more than 30000 inhabitants, rank which La Chaux-de-Fonfd shares in fact with Ségovie.
The region was first inhabited around 10,000 years ago (Epipaleolithic). A skull and other traces have been found in caves nearby.
In the middle of the 14th century, the forests found there have been colonised from the south. The region was under the authority of the lords of Valangin. Agriculture was the main activity. The first church has been built in 1528. The city became at the end of the 16th century an important crossroad between Neuchâtel and Franche-Comté (France).
The community has grown during the Thirty Years' War, mainly because of its strategic position for trade. But economic activity really begins in the 18th century with the development of lace and watchmaking industry. Pierre Jacquet-Droz and his family is one of the most famous watchmakers of this time. He is best known for his automata. In 1794, the city was devastated by fire. Charles-Henri Junod created the new city's plan in 1835, as a grid like New York. The central avenue is named the Avenue Léopold Robert.
La Chaux-de-Fonds is very close to the Doubs Valley. Le Doubs is a river between Switzerland and France. Its main attraction is "Le Saut du Doubs" a 27 meters high waterfall in a beautiful landscape and you can walk for kilometers in wild and wonderfull sceneries.
There is a lot of beautiful walks to do, in every seasons, in the countryside of La Chaux-de-Fonds, like going to Pouillerel, Le Gros-Crêt, Les Bulles, Les Planchettes and so much more. The countryside has been very well preserved from the civilation and so is really calm and enjoyable.
A free zoo is also available (Rue Alexis-Marie Piaget) with a lots of animals of the area and others like bears, lamas, snakes ans other reptiles, spiders and many more.
During the winter, there are some alpin and nordic ski tracks in the area.
Art & Culture in La Chaux-de-Fonds
The city holds the international watchmaking museum, showing the history of watches. Watchmaking companies such as Accurist have offices in the city.
Art Nouveau had a great influence on architecture and culture in the city. Many builidings have been built in this way and you now can visit the town (with a special map or a guide) to discover the hidden beauty of La Chaux-de-Fonds. For more information, click on the following link: Art Nouveau
The daily newspaper "L'Impartial" has been published in La Chaux-de-Fonds since 1880.
The Wakker Prize was granted to La-Chaux-de-Fonds in 1994.
The alternative culture has well grown in La Chaux-de-Fonds with places like the Bikini Test that provides concerts during the weekends, l'ABC for meal, theatre, movies and exhibitions, 2300 Plan 9, an annual film festival or La plage des six-pompes, an annual arts of the street festival.
For those you like theatre, you can go to L'Heure bleue(Av. Léopold Robert 27-29), TPR(Beau-Sites 30) and Zap theatre(Numa-Droz 137).
For those about to rock and others, music is provided by the Bikini Test(Joux-Perret 3 www.bikinitest.ch), L'Heure bleue, la Cave du P'tit Paris(Progrès 4).
They were natives from La Chaux-de-Fonds
The most famous native sons of La Chaux-de-Fonds are the architect Le Corbusier that built, for example, La Maison Blanche(Chemin de Pouillerel 12), born here as Charles-Edouard Jeanneret in 1887, Louis Chevrolet, born in 1878, founder of the Chevrolet Motor Car Company and Blaise Cendrars, novelist and poet, born as Frédéric Louis Sauser in 1887.
Other notable people born in La Chaux-de-Fonds include Louis-Leopold Robert, a painter, born in 1794, Numa Droz, a politician, born in 1844, and Adrienne von Speyr, a modern Catholic mystic, born in 1902.
Among the watchmakers, are the Gallet family:
Julien Gallet (1806-1849), who moved north from Geneva in 1826 and founded Gallet & Cie; Lucien Gallet (1834-1879), son of Julien, who expanded the company into Chicago; Léon L. Gallet (1832-1899), eldest son of Julien and patriarch figure of the growing company. The company premises on Rue du Parc became too small, and expansion was made by acquiring the company Grumbach & Co., formerly producing watches of the brand name Electa. Gallet & Co. was renamed as the Electa Gallet Watch Manufactory. Léon L. Gallet played an important role in the social life in La Chaux-de-Fonds. He founded together with Longines in St. Imier, the Intercantonal Company for Industrial Development of the Jura area. Léon L. Gallet was marketing his watches in Europe, with a special emphasis in England.
Léon Gallet also commissioned the "Villa Gallet" (which still retains its original name) situated in the "Parc Gallet" in the southern part of the town from architect René Chapallaz, who was Le Corbusier's architecture teacher. The "Villa Gallet" is considered as an important contribution of "Art Nouveau" in La Chaux-de-Fonds.
As every city, La Chaux-de-Fonds owns his Art Museeum (Rue des Musées) which presents the local art that shows and explains the life in this city through the years. It also provides some impermanent exhibitions.
How to come to La Chaux-de-Fonds?
- By train, 30 minutes from Neuchâtel
- By car, 20 minutes from Neuchâtel
- By train and by car, 10 minutes from Le Locle
- By train, circa 2 hours from Besançon (France)
- By train, 1 hour from Bienne-Biel
Tourism information
This is the official website of Neuchatel tourism office
Tips
- Renting bike for freefrom april 26th to october 31st in the port of Neuchatel. Bring 20 CHF of deposit and your ID.
- In La Chaux-de-Fonds, you can rent a bike for free! If you see a pink bike in the street, you can take it and ride to wherever you want. When you don't need it anymore, just lean it against a wall and someone who needs it will take it.
- Internet connections: a free wifi is available at le café/restaurant "Le Petit Paris", Rue du Progrès 4(you have to bring your laptop with you). An cyber café is open daily at La Rue de la Ronde 1.
Events
July
- Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival (NIFFF) in Neuchâtel 01-06.07.08
- Les Promos du Locle 04-05.08.08
August
- La PLage des Six-Pompes in La Chaux-de-Fonds 04-09.08.08
- After de la Plage à Bikini Test, La Chaux-de-Fonds 04-09.08.08
- Buskers Festival, Neuchâtel 12-18.08.08
- After des Digitales at Bikini Test, La Chaux-de-Fonds 30.08.08
September
- Will Haven (USA) at Bikini Test, La Chaux-de-Fonds 18.09.2008
- A Storm Of Light (USA) at Bikini Test, La Chaux-de-Fonds 19.08.08
October
- Great events to come!
November
- Great events to come!
December
- Great events to come!
- New Year party at Bikini Test, La Chaux-de-Fonds 31.12.08
