Neuchatel Switzerland - The City of Microtechnology
Neuchatel Switzerland is an attractive Swiss-French provincial city with a lively atmosphere. The city, small by international standards has only 32,300 residents, including several thousand students at the university that dates back to 1838. The nice location on Lake Neuchatel at the foot of the Jura mountain massif and capital of the Canton with the same name makes it worth a visit. The owners of the town, which developed around the castle at that time, changed quite often. The counts of Neuchatel followed the counts of Freiburg in Breisgau (today Germany) and in 1457 those of Habsburg. From 1504 until 1707, it belonged to the dukes of Orléans-Longueville. After their extinction, it came in a curious and strange way to the "Prussian Hohenzollern". After the French Intermezzo in 1814, it was in Prussian possession and at the same time became a member of the Swiss confederation. The city has positioned itself as the heart of high-tech industry, especially the micro-technology. During the last two decades, it has attracted many leading companies in the high-tech sectors such as biotechnology, machines & equipments, medical technology, IT and clean technologies and of course micro technology. The Canton developed a worldwide recognized know-how in innovation and research & development. However, other major advantages are the approximities of the cities of Geneva with its International Airport which is only 1 hr 17 min. and Zurich with the International Airport about 1 hr. 50 min. from Neuchatel Switzerland. Business people that prefer flying in with their company private jets can approach the airports of Les Eplatures Aerodrome in La Chaux-de-Fonds or the smaller Colombier Aerodrome (Tel: 032 841 38 00) close by. A panorama funicular transports you up to Neuchatel's house mountain, called the "Chaumont" at 1,100 m (3,300 ft) above sea level. Once you are up there, a wonderful all-round view of the Bernese Alps, the Mont-Blanc Massif and the three Jura lakes await you. You might want to consider taking a cruise on board one of the pleasure boats operating on the Lakes Neuchatel Switzerland, Biel and Murten. The Lake Neuchâtel is the biggest lake located entirely in Switzerland. I recommend you to take the opportunity to go on a three-lake-cruise to see many of the small towns and villages situated on-shore.
Places of Interest in Neuchatel Switzerland
Jacquet-Droz Automata Collection International Clock and Watch Museum Château du Neuchatel Across the "Rue du Chateau", a stairway and a road lead to the castle of the counts of Neuchatel Switzerland which it today the seat of the Cantonal government. The west wing is from the end of the 12th-century and the remaining parts are from the 15th- - 17th-century. The partly Romanesque south wing from around1180 owns a richly formed facade with galleries and twin columns. In the castle worth to see are the painting fragments from 15-century in the "Salle Marie de Savoie" and the "Salle des Etats" which is decorated with coat of arms. The chateau is open daily from April to September. L'Eglise Collégiale The Collégiale or Collegiate Church was constructed between 1170 and 1276. The early-gothic church, which has been protestant since the Reformation, has a remarkable cenotaph from 1372 that portrays the Counts of Neuchâtel in 15 carved and painted statues. In the 17-century, wood galleries and round windows were integrated. From the terrace of the church place, you will enjoy a magnificent view over the town. Market Square On the "Rue du Seyon" close to the shopping road is the heart of the town, the nice "Place des Halle" or Market Place with cafes. In this fine Renaissance building of 1575 is also a cafe and on the first floor a fine gourmet restaurant. The market place is surrounded by pretty looking 18th-century houses and has a public market open on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings. Laténium Museum The Laténium Museum was named after the finding site in La Tène which is the name of the Celtic culture from the late Iron Age from Ireland to Romania. It exhibits 50,000 years of prehistory and history which are produced in a new way. During the last years, more than one hundred archaeological finding places could be exposed with land- and underwater escavations, a time span from the Neanderthal until the Middle Ages extensively. The permanent exhibition shows the voyage through time and space, leading the visitor to the tracks of his past. The museum is open from Tue. to Sun. 10:00 - 17:00. Closed on Monday. Chaumont - Neuchâtel's House Mountain A few minutes from the town centre, a panoramic funicular railway takes you from La Coudre to the Chaumont in about 13 minutes. The Jura region has very beautiful scenery especially in the summer and fall. Once you have arrived on top at the funicular station, you see the panoramic tower. From there, you will have a magnificent view over three lakes, the Swiss plateau and further away the Alps. There is also a restaurant just in case you are getting hungry and afterward enjoy a walk along the educational path. For more information call 032 720 06 00 The Best Restaurants in Neuchatel Switzerland
La Maison du Prussien Jean-Yves Drevet, a young French Gourmet chef and owner together with his wife Astrid has a preference for contrasts that attract itself. About seven saisons ago, they took over the hotel "La Maison du Prussien", an elegant building from the 18th-century and the restaurant with the same name in the middle of the greens but surrounded by the traffic. Not from past times is the cuisine from Jean-Yves Drevets. On the menu card, his complicated inspirations are reflected with local and far away products that are mixed with the last shout of the gastro chemistry. In other words you simply will not be disappointed.
Dupreyrou Like La Maison du Prussien, the Hôtel Dupreyrou with its restaurant is also a witness of architecture of the 18th-century. French gardens and an escape of elegant saloons are expecting guests. With the high ceilings, you will feel like you have gone back to the time of classicism. Taking care in this manorial ambiance is the Australian gourmet chef Craig Penlington. He cooks with much creativity intercontinental combinations with a personal touch.
Beau-Rivage The Beau-Rivage was renovated extravagantly and does justice ever since that time as a good 4-star hotel. After a moved past, better times also seem to begin in the restaurant. The chefs at the restaurant offer indeed a small, but fascinating menu card. Apart from the fact that it´s located directly on-shore, one expects more products from the local lakes than only the carefully cooked pikeperch filets. Bon appetit Luxury Hotels in Neuchatel Switzerland
Hôtel Beau-Rivage The Hôtel Beau-Rivage in Neuchâtel offers the most modern rooms and suites with generous marble baths. The hotel and especially the suites are integrated into a historical building directly on the lake. Most of the rooms and suites have sun terraces with dream views over Lake Neuchatel Switzerland.
Palafitte The Palafitte is a unique deluxe hotel in the suburb of Monruz built on piles in the open countryside. The forty junior design pavilion suites accommodate from one to three guests. All suites have a private terrace giving the impression of well-being in a quiet and relaxing lakeside setting. The restaurant offers a fine regional and seasonal cuisine. The hotel also has a elegant and cosy bar called "Le Bar", a place where business people as well as hotel guests meets in a magic atmosphere around the fire.
Note: Many tourists prefer to stay a luxury hotel in the city of Lausanne rather than in Neuchatel Switzerland. Lausanne, located on the Swiss Riviera is only a fourty minute car drive or train ride from Neuchatel Switzerland. Click here to discover the city of Lausanne. Lausanne Hotels Beau-Rivage Palace
Le Mirador Kempinski Lausanne-Palace & Spa The Lausanne-Palace & Spa is the guest house for the International Olympic committee. This luxury hotel has improved immensely and is still getting better. They added for example a new indoor swimming pool, new restaurants, a night-club and you hear jazz everywhere in the hotel complex. Return from Neuchatel Switzerland to Swiss Cities Return from Neuchatel Switzerland to High End Travel Switzerland Home Page
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Originally, the city was mentioned for the first time 1011 as "Novum Castellum".
This position to be competitive is achieved through a local well-educated work force which is linguistically gifted and supported by leading-edge research centres, the micro technology institute of the University, the Engineer´s school and "Neode", a scientific and technological park. Enough reason not just for local but also for international high-tech companies to settle in this area.