Urbanism and the watchmaking industry

11 February 2019

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

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

Before the Industrial Revolution took off in the nineteenth century, small villages dominated, and farming was the most important economic activity. The

Espace d’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).