With his walk from the lake and his port, with Your castle, its ancient wall and its church, With its golden stone corners and your careful architecture, Neuchatel is a special city to travel in a weekend. Romanticism is breathed in the air in its squares and parks as well as in the delicate facades that have been able to maintain their stately style
Discover Neuchatel is walking your sidewalks and walks that invite us to stop and breathe the peace of the place.
Here a little information and some images that can help when visiting this particular Swiss city.
Brief history
Neuchatel it means New castle, Because the city begins to be mentioned with the construction of this castle and so it was called. It was believed that it had been built on the structure of a castle before the early 10th century, But currently it is known that NeuchoTel towards the recent construction of the building.
In the thirteenth century it begins to develop The city that sits on the left bank of the Seyon river Financial contributions by Neucho's counts.
During the fifteenth century a devastating fire razes the city and in the mid -16th century the city suffers a important flood that also destroys some bridges and buildings that were built on the river. The city recovers. In the mid -seventeenth century, During the reign of the Orleans - Longeville becomes a principality.
At the beginning of the 18th century the court of the 3 States attributes Neuchatel to the King of Prussia and shortly thereafter the City suffers again a fire.
Just at the beginning of the 19th century Neuchatel, While it is still a principality of the Hohenzoller house, becomes part of the Swiss canton of Neuchatel. Mid -century, Revolutionary troops under the command of Fritz Corvoisier takes the castle and the Republic is proclaimed.
In 2011 The millennium of Neuchel. The city celebrates that it appears for the first time mentioned in writing form in a pact of 1011, thus considering the birth of the city we see today.
Walk on Lake Neuchatel and Esplanada de Mont Blanc - The romanticism of the beautiful epoque
From the port they leave various walks by the Lagos de Neuchatel, Bienne and moral with possibilities of making scales In Yverdon-Le-Bains, Morat and the island of San Pedro.
Continued the tour of the esplanade, They will surprise us, In addition to the views towards the lake and the city with its Care architecture, a series of bronze sculptures of two figures of a Lady and a gentleman who seem to have found themselves and in love in this magical place. She seems to say "I wait for you" ... He seems to think "I have finally found you". Other sculptures of international artists such as VASARELY AND ARP.
Walk without looking at the clock .... Get lost in The views in the immensity of the lake ... enjoy the walk.
We end the way in the Mont Blanc Elected where you can see sculptures by international artists such as Vasarely and Arp, To start later, The tour of the city.
Architecture City
It is advisable to visit, But you can also choose to take the Tourist train that circulates through the callecitas among the most emblematic buildings.
Among the main buildings, monuments and walks of the city we find:
– L’Hotel de Ville built between 1784 Y 1790. Its majestic facade of the face this, It is crowned by a pediment where Minerva is located and the freedom that surrounds the city shield. The ground floor is open to visits.
– THE BAS temple, previously called Temple-Neuf, It is a particular sample of Protestant architecture.
– Source of Justice Made in the mid -16th century it contains a figure that represents justice.
– La Croix-du-Marché In the center of the old city.
– Renaissance facades They can also be observed at several points of the Historic Center.
– The Banneret source has been restored retaining the original tones. Considered one of the oldest sources in the city
– Plaza des Halles which houses buildings with admirable facades such as the des Halles mansion built in the mid -16th century as a market in Renaissance style and where a restaurant will then work.
– Fontana de Griffon, Built in the seventeenth century for water supply.
– Plaza Pury Here we can appreciate a statue to a character that with important economic contributions contributed greatly to the development of the city, This is David De Pure.
Romanticism in every corner
He Castle and collegiate
Continuing a rising tour We will find the magnificent castle, The Church, the old walls and the Torre of the prisoners.
The castle dates from the 12th century. Built around a large patio and a smaller one located north.
On the south facade can be distinguished shields of 12 cantons that remember when the city was occupied by the Confederate.
The north face with a succession of windows, has not varied in volume.
The facade to the east contains great towers and high walls from where protection could be offered to the city.
Al Osete we will find the call part of Roman architecture. Restored facade with yellow stone walls. He Portal is a great fortress framed by two towers in the central part
It is possible to make a guided tour. The schedules for it usually vary according to the stations. The castle is today of the cantonal administration.
The Collegiate
This church was built in the century XII. His facade is splendid. Absides are located in front of the main porch Del Castillo and are ornate with Romanesque details.
If it is possible to observe aerial images, We will discover the magnificence of your roofs.
Inside you can see your vaults original. It develops in three ships, a main to the center and the lateral.
In the choir is the Cenotafio of the Neuchatel counts sculpted in stone dating from the fourteenth century. Today is a Protestant parish headquarters but until the reform of 1530 It was a Catholic Church.
Leaving the splaced of the castle, crossing walls and bridges we will arrive at the Torre de los Prisonos that well the beginning of its construction dates from the 10th century, The tower was built in several stages
Neuchel leaves us an interesting legacy. While the castles and the collegiateness are its main attractions, The city itself, Your careful architecture, The walk through the lake and the romantic of its atmosphere, They make the visit worthwhile.
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sources consulted obtained through information provided by the monuments themselves, museums and sites visited, Tourist Information Offices, uba-fau.