Neuchâtel
Fly here
Yellow stone, a castle and a lake, at the foot of the Jura.
From the basket
Neuchâtel is tiered between the lake that bears its name and the first slopes of the Jura. From the balloon the town has a colour of its own: its façades, quays and monuments are built of a yellow limestone, Hauterive stone, quarried close by since Roman times. At sunset the whole town seems gilded.
Perched together on a spur of rock above the old streets stand the collegiate church, the castle and the Prisons Tower. Below them, the lower town stretches down to the lake on land brought in by a river, the Seyon. Higher up, the forests and pastures of the Jura close off the horizon.
From up there the eye runs across the lake to the Prealps and, on a clear day, to the great peaks of the Alps, lined up on the opposite shore. The shores themselves continue as vineyards to the east and to the west.
Fly over the castle hill, then let yourself glide above the golden roofs down to the harbour.
Sources: Wikipedia, “Neuchâtel” (in French).
All around
- Lake Neuchâtel, close by, to the south-west
- Lake Biel, 13 km to the north-east
- Creux du Van, 1463 m, 17 km to the south-west
- Chasseral, 1607 m, 18 km to the north-east
To discover around Neuchâtel
Boudry Castle
A visit to the vine and wine museum in the imposing Château de Boudry is a must for all wine enthusiasts. This region has been home to vineyards and winegrowers for over two thousand years. Of the six million litres of wine produced in the Neuchâtel vineyards in the 17th and 18th centuries, around four million were consumed in the region itself.
Esplanade du Mont-Blanc
The Esplanade is dominated by the monumental sculpture of the Swiss artist René Küng. It forms part of a collection of works including the "Chevalier".
Esplanade Léopold-Robert
Sculpture exhibition space at the Musée d’art et d’histoire. The theme running through this exhibition is the presentation of the human figure in the most varied forms of expression of 20th century art.
Lake Biel viticultural trail
The greatly revamped viticultural trail from Twann to Ligerz will take you through the vineyards above Lake Biel in about an hour.
Neuchâtel clocks in the city of Neuchâtel
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Neuchâtel’s pedestrian precinct in 2019, traders, hoteliers, restaurant owners and companies will join together to create a fun visual presentation in the heart of the old town.
Neuenburg castle and collegiate church
Neuenburg Castle and the collegiate church have shaped the townscape of Neuenburg since the 12th century. The architecturally striking building complex is enthroned on a rocky outcrop above the city.
Old town of Neuchâtel
The old town of Neuchâtel in Switzerland is a historical gem with over a thousand years of history. It is picturesquely situated on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel and offers a charming mix of medieval architecture and a lively atmosphere.
Time Trail in Neuchâtel
Starting in Chaumont, the Sentier du Temps trail takes you on a journey through life's evolution on earth, ending in Neuchâtel.
Source: Switzerland Tourism — myswitzerland.com, licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0.