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Neuchâtel
is a well worth visiting village which
is the capital of Canton Neuchâtel, in the French-speaking area of
Switzerland. It's also the biggest town on Lake Neuchâtel, and it's
popular with tourists who come for medieval architecture, boat cruises,
and hiking or bicycling in the surrounding countryside.
Neuchâtel is at least a
thousand years old, with a recorded history dating back to 1011 AD. Over the centuries, Neuchâtel and its canton were
ruled by French nobles and the King of Prussia until the 19th Century.
Nowdays, is an
attractive and lively town of 32,000 residents, including several thousand
students at the University of
Neuchâtel, which dates back to 1838.
Interesting places to visit at Neuchâtel:
The Hôtel de Ville,
or City Hall, built from 1784-1790.
The Fontaine de la
Justice (1545-1547) T
The Fontaine du Banneret (1581)
The Fontaine du Griffon (1664), which have been restored to their
original glory.
The Place des Halles
or Market Square which is surrounded by 18th
Century houses and has a public market on Tuesday, Thursday, and
Saturday mornings.
The Passage des Corbets,
a typical Neuchâtel enclosed courtyard with a spiral staircase not far
from the Place des Halles.
The Château, or
Castle, which was begun in the 12th Century.
The Collégiale or
Collegiate Church, which was consecrated in 1276. The church, which has
been protestant since the Reformation, has a remarkable cenotaph from
1372 that portrays the the Counts of Neuchâtel in 15 carved and painted
statues.
The medieval Tour des
Prisons, or Prison Tower. |
