Absinthe drying shed

A rare witness to the agricultural world of the 19th century in the Val-de-Travers, the Boveresse absinthe drying house tells the story of a time when absinthe cultivation shaped the daily lives of many families in the region. Built in 1893 by the Barrelet brothers, this building with its distinctive architecture was dedicated to drying plants—an essential and seasonal stage of agricultural work. Today, it is listed as a historic monument.
The tour highlights how work was organized around absinthe cultivation, the rhythms imposed by the seasons, and the involvement of the entire family at each stage, from growing the plants to drying them.
The visit thus offers a nuanced insight into living conditions, skills, and the rural economy of the Val-de-Travers at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 20th centuries, and naturally complements the experience offered at the Maison de l’Absinthe.