Photo: www.neuchateltourisme.ch

Neuchâtel and the Belle Époque

The history of Neuchâtel goes back to the Counts of Neuchâtel (until 1395), the German rulers of Freiburg and Hochberg  (1395-1543), the French house of d’Orléans-Longueville (1543-1706), the King of Prussia (1707-1806), the French Prince-Marshal Alexandre Bernier (1806-1813), a Swiss canton in a personal union with the King of Prussia (1815-1856) and finally the formal renunciation of all rights and claims by the King of Prussia in 1857.

Neuchâtel is a republic and canton of the Swiss Federation (the formal name is La République et le Canton de Neuchâtel). The city and its economically thriving hinterland with wine-growing, trade, and watchmaking knew a vibrant Belle Époque.

It is the subject and theme of guided tours by the tourism office in German, Italian, French, and English.

The historical centre, the boulevard, the architecture, the (English) tourism, the many restaurants, the social life, the watch industry and the famous inhabitants and visitors are presented.

(Further information: (www.neuchateltourisme.ch).