What are the sight seeings in la chaux-de-fonds?

Question

i am going to geneva for a weekend and i am planning to visit la chaux-de-fonds too, if i have enough time. i want to visit the watch museums or factories but are there any more attractions?

Answer 1

La Chaux-de-Fonds, one of Switzerland’s highest towns at about 995 m above sea level, is the birthplace of such famous people as the architect Le Corbusier, car-building pioneer Louis Chevrolet and the writer Blaise Cendrars.

Unfortunately, there are barely any mediaeval buildings in La Chaux-de-Fonds: the town was virtually entirely destroyed by a major fire in 1794. Charles-Henri Junod rebuilt La Chaux-de-Fonds on a chessboard design in imitation of American towns. La Chaux-de-Fonds has a surprising number of Jugendstil buildings and features.

Some things to do:

Musée International de l'Horlogerie (MIH)  Ã¢Â€Â“ over 4000 exhibits provide an impressive history of the measurement of time.

Le Corbusier – most famous son of La Chaux-de-Fonds. A few early buildings by this famous 20th century architect, whose ideas gave rise to such controversy, are to be found here: "Maison Blanche" and "Villa Turque".

Doubs Valley with the "Saut du Doubs" waterfall – the River Doubs runs along the Franco-Swiss border, with a 27 metre high waterfall and the twisting Lac des Brenetsis, a delightful area for boat rides, walks and cycling.

Underground mills at the Col des Roches near Le Locle – the mill and sawmill inside the mountain, powered since the 17th century by an underground watercourse, have been restored and can now be visited.

Some events:

"La Plage des Six-Pompes" – international festival of street theatre in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The town becomes a beach, with sunshades, bars, snack-bars, bathing huts, and numerous lively theatre acts (August).

Louis Chevrolet Event – international vintage car memorial rally from La Chaux-de-Fonds to Beaune (F) in honour of the car-making pioneer Louis Chevrolet, who was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1878 (September).

Swiss Watch Exchange in La Chaux-de-Fonds – collectors’ hearts beat faster at this gathering for expert watch collectors (October).