Savagnier combines a hike through the Val-de-Ruz with local history that can be read in its schoolhouse, chapels and small community buildings. It also has a natural ice rink, whose operation depends on the weather. When planning, it is worth distinguishing between these offerings: the hike has a stated distance and duration, while conditions are decisive for the ice rink.
Location and landscape on the Chaumont
Savagnier lies at 750 m above sea level in a hollow in the eastern part of the Val de Ruz basin, in the Neuchâtel Jura at the northern foot of the Chaumont. Neuchâtel is about seven kilometres to the north-northeast as the crow flies. Savagnier is a locality in the canton of Neuchâtel and the Val-de-Ruz region; it was also a former Swiss municipality. On 1 January 2013, the former political municipality merged with several other municipalities to form the new municipality of Val-de-Ruz.
The former municipal area included an intensively farmed hollow along the Seyon stream, the wooded steep slope of the Forêt de Savagnier and higher ground on the Jura ridge of the Chaumont. It extended as far as the Grand Chaumont, where Savagnier’s highest point was located at 1,270 m above sea level. This former boundary helps explain the variety of landscapes, from the agriculturally dominated valley floor and wooded slopes to the higher Jura terrain.
A hike on the Grand Chaumont offers views of the Swiss Plateau and the Val-de-Ruz. For regional travel, the Val-de-Ruz can be reached from Neuchâtel by bus to Cernier or by train to Les Hauts-Geneveys, followed by a bus; buses serve the valley. Check the best connection to Savagnier when planning your journey.
Hiking around Savagnier
The “Balade 5 – Par la Rincieure” hike is of moderate difficulty, 9.6 km long and listed as taking 2 hours and 52 minutes. It passes through the Val-de-Ruz and reaches Petit Savagnier in Savagnier halfway along the route. The route’s Savagnier stop is at Petit Savagnier on line 421. This provides a specific connection to the village in addition to the distance and duration details.
The hike explores the relationship between water, human activities and the region’s rural heritage. This gives the tour a thematic framework that goes beyond the route itself. Distances and times may change if routes are modified, so check the latest route information before setting off. The hike on the Grand Chaumont should be considered a separate landscape experience: it is described as offering views of the Swiss Plateau and the Val-de-Ruz.
Village history and community buildings
Savagnier’s current school building dates from 1866 to 1868 and has fully preserved its original architecture. The gable was designed by cantonal architect Edouard Guinand. Together, the construction period, preserved architecture and the architect’s work tell a specific story about the village, without requiring an extensive walking tour.
Smaller public buildings also shaped community life in Grand Savagnier and Petit Savagnier. These include washhouses, pump houses and bakehouses. The communal bakehouse in Grand Savagnier stands next to Maison Leuba and is sometimes used for events. The year of construction and the initials of former governors can be read on some of these community buildings. These details refer to several buildings, not just one.
The village church, originally a chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas, is part of the area’s religious history. The Temple de Savagnier is a chapel that has existed since around 1440. The area had been settled since Roman times; the first medieval mention dates from around 1140. The village’s history thus spans early traces of settlement, religious architecture and the public buildings of village life.
Ice rink and cultural event
The Patinoire de Savagnier is the only ice rink in the Val-de-Ruz and is a natural outdoor ice rink. It is open depending on the weather conditions. If skating is an important part of your travel plans, check the conditions in advance; unlike the hiking route described above, the rink’s operation cannot be assumed regardless of the weather.
The biennial hip-hop cultural event Festi'Valderuz takes place in Savagnier. The programme includes performances by rappers, DJs, graffiti artists, beatboxers and dancers. If you want to combine your trip with the event, check the dates before planning around it.
Discover more destinations: Cernier, Villiers Ne, Fontaines, Dombresson, Le Pâquier, Boudevilliers, Les Hauts-Geneveys, Fontainemelon.
For the broader travel overview: Val-De-Ruz.
