La Chaux-de-Fonds
Things to see and do
- La Chaux-de-Fonds Travel guide
- Cities and surroundings (144)
- Tourist attractions (5)
- Travel routes (1)
Organise your stay
Watch Valley :
Nearby tourist sites
Nearby hotels
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Grand Hôtel Les Endroits from182 CHF
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Hotel Club from99 CHF
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Chez Gilles from120 CHF
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Nearby Restaurants
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Le Grillon
Cotation :
Type de cuisine : Traditional -
Rose des Vents
Cotation :
Type de cuisine : French classic -
Brasserie
Cotation :
Type de cuisine : regional
Watch Valley
Watch Valley
By car, 71 km, 1 dayDon't wait another minute to explore this cradle of modern watchmaking in the Jura Mountains. Its wristwatches, pocket watches, clocks and other time-measuring instruments tell a story through the ages of a craft transformed into a flourishing industry in the 17th century. The Watch Valley is also the birthplace of the architect Le Corbusier, who began his career in this precision art. As for Lake Neufchâtel, it is such an enchanting setting that you will forget all about the passing of time.
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Neuchâtel
Founded in 1902, this museum tells the story of how time was measured from Antiquity to the present day, with more than 3,000 valuable pieces from Switzerland or abroad. There is also a clock restoration centre, where you can see craftsmen at work, and a centre of interdisciplinary time studies. In the garden, there is a monumental set of bells by the Italian sculptor Vignando (1980).
Housed in the 18C Monts Castle, this museum contains collections showing the precision work of clockmakers. On the ground floor, in a period apartment, you can see some fine pendulums and an exhibition showing the development of the watch, from its origins to the digital age. Then there are automata, a history of time measurement and a diorama.
Specialised in the music box industry since the mid-19C, the town has a museum that takes visitors into a magical world with some true masterpieces on show. There are music boxes dating back to 1796, automata, phonographs, instruments from salons, fairs and street performers all seem to come back to life.

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