Neuchâtel is a city in Switzerland which is the capital of the Canton of Neuchâtel. Neuchâtel is also the name of the adjacent lake, Lake Neuchâtel. The city has approximately 31,500 inhabitants (2002), by and large French-speaking, although the city is sometimes referred to historically by the German name Neuenburg; Prussia ruled the area until 1848.
Neuchâtel is located on the northwestern shore of the lake, a few km east of Peseux and west of Saint-Blaise. Its coordinates are 47.0° N 6.9° E. Neuchâtel is well known for its watchmaking and its variety of fondue, fondue Neuchâteloise. Today's main activities include tourism, the University of Neuchâtel with its world class Institute of Microtechnology, the Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnologies (CSEM) a major tobacco manufacturer and several vineyards. Neuchatel is also home to Canadian based school, Neuchatel Junior College whose graduates include Prime Minister Joe Clark's daughter Catherine Clark. During summer 2002, Neuchâtel was one of five sites which held Expo.02, the 6th Swiss national exhibition. Since there is very little land available between the lake on the south and the protected forest hills on the north, the freeway crossing the country from east to west tunnels under the city.
Despite its relatively small population, Neuchâtel has several excellent museums, including the Latenium, Archeology museum focusing on the prehistorical times in the region of Neuchâtel and Hauterive, the MEN, ethnography museum, the museum of art and history includes the very first robots with the Jaquet-Droz programmable androids (made between 1770 and 1774, check the museum web site to have the demonstration information) and the "musée d'histoire naturelle", and a brand new very active theater.
The Old Prison Tower can be visited during summer and offers a superb vista point.
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The Old Prison Tower can be visited during summer and offers a superb vista point.
Robert Miles and Marcel Junod were born in Neuchâtel. Friedrich Dürrenmatt lived in Neuchâtel during 30 years of his life.
The blazon of the town's coat-of-arms is: "Or, an Eagle displayed Sable beaked, langued and membered Gules, escutcheon Or, on a pale Gules three Chevrons Argent". |
