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Pocket Switzerland

Lake Neuchâtel

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Lake · cantons of Neuchâtel, Vaud, and Fribourg · 429 m

The largest lake lying entirely in Switzerland, at the foot of the Jura.

From the basket

Beneath the Jura lies the largest lake whose shores are all Swiss. From the balloon it stretches out like a long grey-blue mirror, between the wooded chain of the Jura to the north-west and the hills of the Plateau to the south-east. Four cantons share its shores: Neuchâtel, Vaud, Fribourg and, for a very small stretch, Bern.

Along with Lake Biel and Lake Murten, it makes up the area called the Land of the Three Lakes. A canal links it to its neighbour Lake Murten, another sends its water out to Lake Biel, and from there its waters reach the Aare, then the Rhine. Its eastern shore follows the language border: on one side French is spoken, on the other, a little further on, German.

To the north-west, Neuchâtel rises in tiers above the water, with its castle and its yellow stone façades. Further south, the opposite shore keeps long reed beds and calm beaches.

Follow the shore from one end to the other, from Yverdon to the mouth of the canal, then let the wind push you towards the neighbouring lakes.

Sources: Wikipedia, “Lac de Neuchâtel” (in French).

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