Town

La Chaux-de-Fonds

The capital of the watchmaking industry and the birthplace of Le Corbusier.

La Chaux-de-Fonds
La Chaux-de-Fonds. © Tourisme neuchâtelois
Situated at an altitude of 1,000 meters above sea level, built as regularly as a chessboard, this city is marked by its unique watchmaking industry and tradition which is listed as UNESCO World Heritage site. 
 
Incomparable
The city nestled in the Neuchâtel Mountains, unlike any other, is considered one of the highest located in Europe. Surrounded by fields and forests, it was built almost entirely by and for the watchmaking industry. You will find rectilinear roads throughout the city, which give it its unique appearance. If you climb up to the Espacité Tower or participate in a guided tour, you can appreciate this special chessboard design even better. 

Watchmaking and UNESCO
The urban structure of the watchmakers’ town of La Chaux-de-Fonds has been listed as UNESCO World Heritage since 2009, and it is best explained at the Espace de l'Urbanisme horloger. It takes special understanding to grasp the meaning of a place which breathes in the rhythm of its watches. The superb Musée international d'horlogerie with more than 4,000 exceptional pieces from sundials to atomic clocks will doubtlessly enchant you. 

Art Nouveau 
La Chaux-de-Fonds is also famous for its importance in the world of Art Nouveau in Switzerland, and it has its own style, the 'Pine Tree' style. Decorations are subtly integrated into buildings or building complexes such as the crematory, and will be discovered during a guided tour on this topic. 

Le Corbusier, native of La Chaux-de-Fonds
His real name was Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, and he was born in this town. As a young man, Le Corbusier realised several of his works here, among others the White House, La maison blanche. This avant-garde building is open to the public on weekends.
 
A cultural sprawl 
La Chaux-de-Fonds boasts a rich cultural offer thanks to a neo-Baroque Italian-style theatre, a music hall with exceptional acoustics, cafés and bistros with a unique ambiance, a street festival famous in the whole region, and remarkable museums.

 
City tours La Chaux-de-Fonds
Guided city tour, La Chaux-de-Fonds

The crematorium, stained-glass windows and staircases are to be discovered.

Guided city tour, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Discover the symbiosis between town planning and clock-making, while sitting comfortably.

Visit the former workshop of Rodolphe Spillmann, a wealthy manufacturer of gold watch cases, as well as his former reception room.

Guided city tour, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Discover the watchmaking metropolis of La Chaux-de-Fonds and its architecture.

Guided city tour, La Chaux-de-Fonds

With a guide, discover the early works of Charles-Edouard Jeanneret, the future Le Corbusier.

Guided city tour, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Visit La Chaux-de-Fonds in another way.

Guided city tour, La Chaux-de-Fonds

An exciting guided tour of a masterpiece of Art Nouveau.

Guided city tour

Guided tour on the topic of Le Corbusier combining literature and biking.

Guided city tour, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Offbeat audio-guided visit in the watchmaking metropolis, between reality and fiction.

Guided city tour, La Chaux-de-Fonds

A city built by and for the watchmaking industry, inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List

Museums
Museum, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Explore the environment of La Chaux-de-Fonds residents of yesterday in a 19th century villa.

Museum, La Chaux-de-Fonds

A scientific centre with rich collections

Museum, La Chaux-de-Fonds

A listed historical monument, this museum houses an impressive collection of art.

Museum, La Chaux-de-Fonds

The biggest museum specialised in clock-making in the world: 4,000 exhibits to see!

Museum, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Luminous and white, it`s the first house built by Le Corbusier as an independent architect.

Museum, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Go back in time to the life of clock-making peasants in the Neuchâtel Jura.

Museum, La Chaux-de-Fonds

An original space dedicated to Islamic civilizations.

Museum, La Chaux-de-Fonds

A fantastic multimedia space dedicated to the Watchmaking town planning.

Highlights
Zoo, La Chaux-de-Fonds

A beautiful zoological park in Chaux-de-fonds. Ideal for family outings! Free access.

Museum, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Centre for Contemporary Art.

Guided city tour, La Chaux-de-Fonds / Le Locle

(Re)discover the watchmaking town planning through the inscriptions of authors' phrases on the walls of the cities of Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds.

Cultural Heritage, La Chaux-de-Fonds

First house for which the future Le Corbusier worked.

Watches, La Chaux-de-Fonds

The "Garde Temps" invites you to put yourself in a real watchmaker's shoes.

Museum, La Chaux-de-Fonds

A fantastic multimedia space dedicated to the Watchmaking town planning.

Golf, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Ideal for those who enjoy spending time with friends and family.

Seven walks in the outskirts of La Chaux-de-Fonds

Wellness, La Chaux-de-Fonds

You never feel as weightless as when you’re in the water.

Museum, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Luminous and white, it`s the first house built by Le Corbusier as an independent architect.

Top Events

Accommodation - The latest selection
Bed & Breakfast, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Located east from La Chaux-de-Fonds, right at the starting point of hiking and cross-country skiing trails,...

Hotel, La Chaux-de-Fonds

2 Star-Hotel situated at the heart of the old town. Traditional cuisine, butcher's specialities. Location:...

Hotel, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Why don't take avantage of a first class high level venue, just of the beaten track of social life, which...

Vacation Apartments, La Chaux-de-Fonds

The guest house Le Gros-Crêt" offers 2 spacious apartments of 3.5 rooms in an old farmhouse, with all...

Hotel, La Chaux-de-Fonds

3 Star hotel with 28 rooms. We want you to feel at home, our good name depends on it. No stay would be...

Hotel, La Chaux-de-Fonds

4 stars hotel,located in the main street of the watchmaking metropolis. Combine charms of yesterday and...

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Book online
From CHF 7.- Culture & Museums, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Buy your MUZOO ticket online and receive a hot or cold drink.

From CHF 55.- Food & Drinks, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Real culinary experiences off the beaten path.

From CHF 8.- Urban visits, La Chaux-de-Fonds

Discover the symbiosis between town planning and clock-making, while sitting comfortably.