-
Special offers with steam trains and historic
railcar
--->
For your next stay in the Swiss Jura, think about the
Val-de-Travers, land of contrasts and legends, where the
"green fairy" still clouds the minds !
Located between the French border (the town of Pontarlier)
and the lake of Neuchatel, the Val-de-Travers is full
of natural curriosities and astounding landscapes, made
of fiery mountain streams, secret caves, narrow gorges,
peaceful rivers and superb forests.
Nature-lovers and
walkers will be quickly seduced by the striking beauties
of the landscape, a combination of forests, water, and
mountains, as well as by the opulence of wild life and
flora.
Thanks to ’The
Fairy Land Trip’ you can roam the many beauty spots in a unique
musical atmosphere which combines the subtle tunes whispered to
your ears by the local fairies.
The most famous is
the Green Fairy, after which the long-prohibited spirit absinthe
is named.
The absinthe is
the emblem of the valley. You can learn more about it , its past
and future in thelocal museum at
Môtiers , at the asinthe drying facility at Boveresse or on
Absinthe Day at Boveresse on the third Saturday of June every
year.
Natural curiosities,
astounding landscapes and
activities
in the summer
:
In summer,
a network of cycle tracks and quiet roads
enables you to cycle easily and in safety through the
whole area. Mountain-bikers are able to use specially
marked trails and devote themselves to their favourite
sport.
You can rent a
bike from the railway station at Fleurierand
Noiraigue
and cycle down the valley and hand your bike back at
Neuchâtel station.
As for walkers, they can visit the whole region
thanks to the numerous pedestrian and hiking trails
which cross the Val-de-Travers and the surrounding mountains.
The Creux-du-Van
above
Noiraigue
- altitude 1465 m./4800
ft.
-
a steep,
dramatic-looking curving cliff
(rock
half-circle) of about 300meters in
height.
- nature
reserve with chamois, bouquetins (large mountain-goats), marmots, lynx, etc.
- The Creux-du-Van on
Youtube here
One of the principal beauty spots is without any doubts the
the
Areuse canyon
which separates the Val de Travers from the
area bordering
Lake Neuchâtel
(about 10 kilometres/6 miles).
It offers breathtakingly
beautiful landscapes and
unspoilt nature and wildlife. Detrain at Noiraigue
– large car park next to the station,
restaurant , etc
- proceed to Bôle thenback to Noiraigue or
onward to Boudry where you
can reach Neuchâtel by tram.
-
a three-hour walk whatever the option
The Areuse Canyon on Youtube
here
A shorter option is possible. You may stop at Champ-du-Moulin
and enjoy a meal at the local restaurant and go back to Noiraigue by train from the halt at Champ-du-Moulin.
Champ-du-Moulin : wildlife chalet ‘’La Morille’’ – open every
week end from May 15 to September 15
The lake of Taillères, near La Brevine, renowned
in winter for its record cold temperatures (Switzerland's
Siberia !)
The particulary varied topography allows the practice
of many summer and winter sports.
Other possibilities for leisure activities in the summer
: horse-riding, surfing on the lake of Tailleres,
river fishing(Areuse
truit known as Europe’s best
!), tennis, hang-gliding, climbing,
etc.
Noiraigue :
- via Ferrata du Tichodrome,
above Noiraigue; Sporty climbing trail called
‘Via Ferrata’ – open fromAugust to December .
- guided
walks across the Creux-du-Van wildlife park and down the Areuse
canyon.
Travers :
- the old Asphalt
Mine in "La Presta" - the industrial museum in "La Presta",
-
museum of the Banderette (open only Sundays);
above Travers
Couvet :
- gardened forest; two didactic footpaths located
near the village.
Môtiers :
- the Poëta Raisse, a canyon cut into the rocks
with lots of waterfalls above Môtiers. - Jean-Jacques Rousseau and regional museums - waterfall,
cave and castle
Boveresse:
- absinthe
drying facility museum.
Information :
www.ludivines.ch -
the Monlesi underground glacier, situated in the middle
of pastures near Les Sagnettes, above
Boveresse -
large open-air
swimming pool in sheltered environment located between Boveresse
and Couvet.
Fleurier :
- horse-drawn
rides or horse riding
St-Sulpice :
-
the hydraulic ecomuseum, located near the source of
the Areuse
-
Steam engine depot in St-Sulpice : the historical
steam train circulates between St-Sulpice and Travers every
second weekend (Saturday afternoons and Sundays) from May
to October; prolongation as far as Neuchatel (railtrack overlooking
the Areuse gorges).
Information :
www.vvt.ch
Buttes : - Télérösti : special offer with
train, chair lift Buttes - La Robella and typical meal in
a mountain inn
of the Chassereon
area. - Winter
and Summer toboggan at La Robella – safe,breathtaking900
hundred-yard run for everyone !
Museums and other
activities possibleall year round
The old Asphalt Mine (guided visit of the galleries
of into the depths of the Earth) and the industrial museum
in "La Presta", between Travers and Couvet
(local
Dubied and Bourquin works museums)
Winter
and Summer toboggan at La Robella – safe,breathtaking 900
hundred-yard run for everyone !
Activities in the
winter :
120 km (75 miles) of cross-country skiingandhiking
trails
enable you to discover a natural scenery which has
remained unspoilt in:
- La Nouvelle
Censière / Le Creux-du-Van, south of Couvet – between 3,600 and
4,500ft.
- region of Cernets, north of Les Verrières – between 3,600 and
4,300ft.
- La Brévine valley and Lake Taillères - between 3,500 and
3,800ft.
- border area between La Côte-aux-Fées, l’Auberson et Les Fourgs
between 3,460ft and 3,830ft
There is also downhill skiing in the "Buttes - La Robella -
Chasseron" area (1450 meters altitude)
from mid December to end of March depending on
amonts of snow ;
Toboggans,
snowshoes, snow trekking, sleigh rides, etc. (Buttes, La
Brévine, Les Cernets-Verrières)
Indoor
skating rink in Fleurier (open Octobre to Mars)
Outdoor skating on
Lake Tailleres, near La Brevine.
Other museums
and activities
Ste- Croix(25 km
/ 16 miles) :
-
"CIMA" museum with automatons and musical
boxes .The world’s cradle of musical boxes
and automatons.
L’Auberson, near Ste-Croix
(25 km
/ 16 miles) :
-
musée Baud – musical boxes,
street organs, gramophones.
La Cluse et Mijoux (France
-
25 km
/ 16 miles
)
:
- between les Verrières and
Pontarlier
- Le Château de Joux;
Xth century
stronghold and arm museum
Les Ponts-de-Martel (11
km / 7 miles) : - cheese makers and peat bogs
La Sagne(16
km /
10 miles)
:
- Statue trail
-
local museum
Boudry (12,5
miles)
:
- wine and vineyard museum - tasting of local wines
- Areuse museum
Colombier : (20
km /
12,5 miles)
:
- Military museum and Stage setting museum
Neuchâtel (22 km
/ 14 miles) :
- Castle
-
Dürrenmatt Centre with special
exhibit devoted to literature and arts
- botanic garden
-
arts
and history museum
- ethnography museum
- natural history museum
-
Laténium or museum of archeology including discovery trail
along the shore of Lake Neuchâtel
- cruises on Lake Neuchâtel,
Lake Bienne and Lake Morat
-
Chaumont
: beauty spot overlooking Neuchâtel.
Time Trail,
panoramic funicular.
Cernier(24
km / 15 miles)
:
-
farming and farm handicraft theme park
Chézard-Saint-Martin(24
km /
15 miles)
:
-
organ builder
Valangin (24
km /
15 miles)
:
– Castle and museum : lacework, weapons,
prints, etc.
La Chaux-de-Fonds
(25 km
/ 16 miles)
:
-
Unesco World Heritage Site (Watchmaking
town planning)
-
international watchmaking museum
- natural science museum
-
rural, arts and craft museum
- Bell casting foundry
-
zoo and vivarium .
Le Locle(25 km
/ 16 miles)
:
-
Unesco World Heritage Site (Watchmaking
town planning)
- Underground water mills
- watch-making museum
of Château des Monts
-
arts museum.
Les Brenets, near Le Locle
(
30 km /
19 miles)
: - cruises on Lake Brenets
to the ‘Saut-du-Doubs’.
If you are
interested in visiting
other areas in
Switzerland, go on
here where
you can find any further information about your holiday rentals
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