Agenda

The combined exhibitions at the Musée paysan et artisanale in La Chaux-de-Fonds and the Moulins souterrains du Col-des-Roches at Le Locle give an impression of the daily life and image of Europe of the inhabitants of the Neuchâtel region in the 17th and 18th centuries. What did they know about the political changes and other countries? The exhibitions are based on writings by five regional authors (Jaques Sandoz, Abram Ducommun, Daniel Sandoz, Abram Louis Sandoz, Abram Louis Sandoz and David Pétremand) between the end of the 17th century and the 18th century. Based on these texts, each exhibition develops different themes for diving into the past. It appears that the inhabitants had their eyes wide open and focused on Europe through reliable and efficient sources of information.

The exhibition (Reliquaire en chantier) offers the opportunity to discover the secrets of a medieval relic. The reliquary of St. Mauritius is one of the most valuable treasures of the abbey. After centuries of use and the ravages of time, a thorough restoration is necessary. It started in 2017, and the upper (silver) layers, many gems and other materials were removed. The exhibition shows the treasure in all its parts and the collaboration between experts in history, iconography, dendrochronology and other sciences. In this way, the biography of this treasure can be illustrated even more clearly concerning the (art) history of the abbey. The abbey was founded in 516 and has been in use without interruption ever since.

The Brüschweiler Archive holds the most important archive of the painter Ferdinand Hodler (1853-1918). The exhibition reveals parts of this archive. A dozen paintings, numerous drawings and documents provide insight into the life and work of this artist and his close relations with the canton of Jura. His oeuvre includes portraits, landscapes, figure and history pieces. During his lifetime he was already recognized as one of the most important painters of the European avant-garde.