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Swiss town
Photo: Ypsilon from Finland, CC0 via Wikimedia Commons
Neuchâtel (German: Neuenburg) is a town of 35,000 people (2018) in the western Switzerland. Neuchâtel is part Suisse Romande — the French-speaking Switzerland.
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The old castle, which sits atop a small hill in the centre of town, houses the parliament of the Canton of Neuchâtel, as well as an old medieval cathedral. The city's Old Town also features many centuries-old yellow sandstone buildings and narrow cobblestone streets.
Collegial church
Also part of the castle complex.
Formerly prisoners were locked up here; today tourists can get up and have a view of the town and the lake below.
A large red Catholic church dominates the skyline of northeastern Neuchâtel.
The permanent exhibitions and the large spaces reserved for natural environments of the Jura mountains are open for visitors around the year. Temporary scientific and artistic exhibitions are open from May to October.
Over 2000 herbs, both medical and practical can be seen in this garden of . It includes 350 kinds of sage, 100 kinds of geranium, many mints, rosemaries, thymes, sweet plants and 60 different fig trees. There's also a playground for kids and a small monastery.
The city's casino has 150 slot machines, six game tables, two bars and a restaurant.
An educational park centered around the ruins of a 17th-century water mill. This is also the starting point for a hiking path leading to Valangin.
La Coudre-Chaumont
A funicular up to Chaumont, 1160 m above sea level. The gradient is steep, up to 46%. On the top, there is a viewing tower from where you can see three major lakes, the Alps and even the Mont Blanc massif.
Permanent and temporary exhibitions of artefacts and other objects from around the world - mostly from Africa.
Permanent exhibitions of stuffed Swiss animals in their local environment as well as insects and geology. They also have fossils on display as well as a terrarium. The museum hosts temporary exhibitions too, themed around different animals. There's a café and a shop too.
MAHN
The collection of paintings, though not very big, includes works of Pissarro, Renoir, and some other important artists. Among other exhibits a special place belongs to Jaquet-Droz automata, three 18th-century, life-size clockwork dolls of exquisite complexity: the musician, the draughtsman, and the writer. They can be seen in action on the first Sunday of each month.
In this gallery you can learn about the history of the city from the Middle Ages until today.
The archaeological museum shows 50,000 years of local history and is! located in an archaeological park.
A cultural centre showcasing the life and works of the Swiss author and dramatist Friedrich Dürrenmatt.
A pleasant lakeside mini-golf track for kids.
One can take a stroll along the shoreline paths of Lac Neuchâtel, the largest lake located fully within Swiss borders. The lake is also suitable for swimming, although can be quite chilly. Many hiking and biking trails leads out of Neuchâtel into the surrounding Jura hills to the north and west, including the Creux-Du-Van, one of the symbols of the canton. Sailing on Lac Neuchâtel is also a very popular pursuit during the spring, summer, and fall months, when winds can blow quite strong down the long lake.
A golf course above Neuchâtel, open to everyone.
25-m and 50-m swimming pools, slides, diving boards, wading pool as well as changing rooms and lockers. In the summer there's also a basketball court, ping-pong table and a kiosk and a snack bar.
A role play where your police team is hunting down a fictive criminal around Neuchâtel. Participants search for leads and collect "secret codes" around the city and to successfully complete the mission they need to answer questions about the city's history. It is marketed as a new way to discover the city.
Try some wines from the Neuchâtel region. The local producer's organization has information of wine-related events like wine tastings, open cellars, selling events and gastronomical events.
Randonnée du Chasseral
A hiking path passing Vue-des-Alpes and Chasseral.
One of the local landmarks of the town is the Kebab, or Shawarma, stand, Munzur Kebab, located at the center of Place Pury, and which remains open well into the wee hours of the morning.
Sandwiches made on order and cold and warm drinks, one block from the lakefront.
An Asian restaurant for all budgets.
Paprika is an Indian restaurant that also does take-away. During local festivals, Paprika is often present with a food stand.
Gastronomical restaurant.
Fine dining in an 18th-century palace, also one of the town's landmarks.
Located in the area of the university, and likewise frequented mainly by the university crowd
A combination eatery/brewery, popular among the more trendy locals
A pub in the old town specializing in dozens of varieties of beers, oft frequented by Neuchâtel's English speaking populace.
The five-star hotel "Palafitte" is located at the lake.
A very expensive and high-class affair.
By plane
The nearest major airports are in Geneva and Basel, the one in Bern is chiefly for charter flights.
By car
The A5 motorway between Basel and Geneva passes next to the city. Neuchâtel has nine car parks, six underground and three outdoors.
By boat
Thanks to the many boat lines on the lake, you can easily get into town from places like Estavayer-le-lac, Yverdon-les-Bains, Morat or Bienne.
By bike
Getting around by bike is possible even if you didn't bring one. The local organization Neuchâtel roule rents bikes and biking equipment like helmets and child seats.
By foot
The old town is pedestrianized and pleasant to walk in. The way up to the railway station from downtown is fairly steep, though.
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Bern · Regional · BRN
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