Le Locle can be read as a city of watches—not only through individual exhibits, but also through its urban history. Together with La Chaux-de-Fonds, it forms a UNESCO World Heritage site comprising an exceptional urban ensemble built for the watchmaking industry. In the shared ensemble of Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds, homes designed for home-based work stand alongside patron’s houses, workshops and later factories. Le Locle is considered the birthplace of the watchmaking industry. Those interested in this history can explore it in different ways: through the urban layout, in collections and even by making a mechanical watch.
Watchmaking as urban history
The Musée d’horlogerie in Château des Monts traces 500 years of watchmaking history through its extensive collection. A different perspective is offered by the «Temps et Urbanisme» room in the Hôtel de Ville: on the third and top floor, multimedia terminals present the history of Le Locle’s watchmaking-related urban development. Here, you can discover the long history of watchmaking alongside the development of the city as a watchmaking centre.
The Parcours horloger comprises 39 stops and explores Le Locle’s exceptional watchmaking heritage. The Train touristique offers a 40-minute introduction to why watchmaking-related urban development was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. Both experiences provide an introduction to the subject, but focus on different aspects: one centres on the trail and its stops, the other on a time-limited introduction.
On a tour of the Manufacture Zenith, you’ll encounter various watchmaking professions and the stages involved in making a watch: from designing the movement and machining its components to assembly. At Les Apprentis du temps, visitors can assemble their own mechanical timepiece and then take it home. This activity can be booked year-round.
Art, exhibitions and small discoveries
The Exomusée is a constantly evolving open-air museum featuring murals and graffiti by international artists. You can explore it on your own, on a guided tour or as part of a day programme with the Musée d’horlogerie. The Musée des Beaux-Arts Le Locle focuses on monographic and thematic exhibitions. Another way to explore the city is the «La Chasse au Trésor des Clefs du Locle» treasure hunt: it revolves around 15 keys hidden in the illustrations of Marion Jiranek’s book «Les Clefs du Locle».
Fountains, forest trails and ice sports
The self-guided Parcours des fontaines links 28 fountains where drinking water is available. Nature and exercise are the focus of the Sentier nature: the two-hour walk leads through a wild forest reserve. Several information boards installed in 2005 explain the importance and role of forests. In addition, Le Locle’s recreational facilities include several kilometres of hiking and mountain biking trails. The Parcours des fontaines draws attention to the fountains; the Sentier nature combines a forest walk with information about the importance of forests.
Ice sports are also part of the leisure offering: the covered Patinoire du Communal accommodates all types of ice sports. Its sides are deliberately open, allowing the surrounding nature to remain visible. For a different addition to your cultural programme, Amplitude Vinothèque offers three-day wine tastings around the equinoxes and solstices. This event takes place four times a year; check the individual dates before visiting.
Practical information
To reach the Musée d’horlogerie in Château des Monts, take bus route 341 to the Château des Monts stop. The Moulins souterrains du Col-des-Roches can be reached by PostBus 381 to Moulins souterrains; to reach the Musée des Beaux-Arts Le Locle, take routes 341, 360 or 361 to Marie-Anne Calame. If you plan to use one of these connections, check the timetable for your visit.
Discover more destinations: Les Brenets, Le Locle, Les Ponts-De-Martel, Brot-Plamboz, La Brévine, Le Cerneux-Péquignot, La Chaux-De-Fonds, Val-De-Travers.
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