In Cernier, gardens, hiking opportunities and cultural discoveries come together under one theme, even though they have different visiting times. A central point of interest is Evologia: its grounds cover around 20 hectares and showcase various aspects of the cultural, agricultural and landscape heritage of the Canton of Neuchâtel. When planning your visit, it is worth distinguishing between areas open year-round and seasonal offerings.
Evologia: heritage, gardens and learning opportunities
Evologia is located on the site of the former cantonal agricultural school, founded in 1885–1886. The site also includes the Grange aux Concerts. Its different areas explore a range of themes, including gardens, nature and agriculture, and places for learning and discovery.
The former apple orchard has been transformed into an educational area where visitors can learn about permaculture. A stream, four ponds and a variety of plantings form the backbone of the visit to the project area. If you are interested, check the latest information about how the area is laid out before your trip.
The Jardins Extraordinaires are open to visitors free of charge all year round. During the season, a walk takes visitors past various artistic creations; local flora is also part of the garden experience. Individual installations may be seasonal and change from year to year. So year-round access to the gardens does not mean that every creation is always on display.
Another seasonal offering is the P’tit Parc des paillotes. Developed by the Association Pro Evologia, this animal park works with several breeders from the region. It is open from mid-May to the end of October; visits and admission are free. Check the seasonal programme before your trip if you plan to visit the park.
Guided tours and independent discoveries
Espace Abeilles is an educational apiary near Evologia in Cernier. Guided tours of its gardens and exhibition last around an hour and a half. If you plan to take this tour, check the booking details before you arrive.
For families, Evologia offers four free orienteering games to complete independently. They introduce visitors to the site and the species that live there. The orienteering game Orion le machaon explores the butterfly’s life cycle at six stations and takes visitors along a barefoot trail. In the Jardin de Gulliver, a giant is depicted bound by climbing plants. Alongside guided tours, there are therefore also activities that let visitors explore the site independently.
Hiking around Cernier
The Autour du Seyon hike starts and ends in Cernier. It follows the river and passes through villages and historic sites in the Val-de-Ruz plain. This makes it a distinct hiking option rather than something to conflate with the individual stops on the Evologia site. Trail conditions can change with the seasons; check them before setting off.
There are also hiking opportunities in the wider Val-de-Ruz area, between Chasseral and Vue des Alpes. On Montagne de Cernier, dry-stone walls between Les Vieux-Prés and La Vue-des-Alpes are being rebuilt as part of a project launched in 2014. These regional landscape features complement the riverside route, although they do not have to be part of the same hike.
Churches, village square and local history
Several specific stops make for a cultural walk through Cernier. The Protestant church has modern stained-glass windows by Aloys Perregaux. In the Catholic church, stained-glass windows depict the patron saints of the former parishes of Val-de-Ruz; they date from 1909.
On the village square, Patrick Honegger’s sculpture La petite suite from 1991 stands beside an 18th-century fountain. The Hôtel-de-Ville at Rue de l’Epervier 6 features 19th-century architecture. If you prefer exploring technical collections, the Evologia site is home to Tractorama, where a mechanics enthusiast presents a remarkable collection of vintage tractors to the public.
Fête la Terre is also part of the area’s cultural life: the municipality of Val-de-Ruz takes an active part in it in Cernier. If you would like to plan your visit around the event, check the dates before your trip.
Discover more destinations: Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane, Dombresson, Savagnier, Fontainemelon, Les Hauts-Geneveys, Le Pâquier, Villiers Ne, Fontaines.
For the broader travel overview: Val-De-Ruz.
