Urbanism and the watchmaking industry

11 February 2019

Since 1705, the Neuchâtel Region has been producing watches and clockworks. This watchmaking industry has shaped cities’ living and even town planning.

The cities of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle embodied the urban and architectural unity dedicated entirely to the clock and watch production since they were built by and for this industry.

Before this industrial revolution took off in the nineteenth century, they were small villages, and farming was the most important economic activity. The

Espace de’urbanisme horloger is a multimedia space devoted entirely to the watchmaking town planning of La Chaux-de-Fonds.

This event is the key to understanding the origins of the city’s status as a UNESCO world heritage site and offers an exhibition and a film highlighting the city’s impressive industrial heritage and unique urban concept.

(Source and further information: www.timExplorer.ch).