Mountainbiking
Les Brenets
Le Locle
Les Brenets
Les Brenets lies on the lake called Lac des Brenets, created by the River Doubs. Although Les Brenets is now quiet and peaceful, it can look back on turbulent times when the watch industry began to emerge. Plans for a world revolution were even forged here.
Les Brenets was first mentioned in writing in 1325 as «Chez le Bruinet» and at the time had about 31 households. The name can be traced back to the Brenth family. The family however soon died out and Les Brenets then continued under the rule of the Valangin.
In the 18th century, precision engineering began and watch manufacture in particular experienced a veritable boom in Les Brenets and Le Locle. Watch manufacture remains an important element in local economy to this day.
When the village was largely burned to the ground shortly after the revolutionary turmoil of 1848, it was rebuilt on a geometric basis, as was La Chaux-de-Fonds and Ponts-de-Martel. This bold town-planning experiment is still clearly evident today.
Though remote and isolated, the village was the scene of world-historical plans. The anti-authoritarian groups of the Jura Federation around Krapotkin, Bakunin and especially James Guillaume, met here and in Le Locle in the 1880s and proposed far wider-ranging measures instead of the Marxist manifesto.
The Lac de Brenets forms the border between Switzerland and France and in summer is an attractive area for swimming, fishing and canoeing. In winter, when the Doubs freezes over, one of Europe's largest natural ice rinks is formed here.
In the 18th century, precision engineering began and watch manufacture in particular experienced a veritable boom in Les Brenets and Le Locle. Watch manufacture remains an important element in local economy to this day.
When the village was largely burned to the ground shortly after the revolutionary turmoil of 1848, it was rebuilt on a geometric basis, as was La Chaux-de-Fonds and Ponts-de-Martel. This bold town-planning experiment is still clearly evident today.
Though remote and isolated, the village was the scene of world-historical plans. The anti-authoritarian groups of the Jura Federation around Krapotkin, Bakunin and especially James Guillaume, met here and in Le Locle in the 1880s and proposed far wider-ranging measures instead of the Marxist manifesto.
The Lac de Brenets forms the border between Switzerland and France and in summer is an attractive area for swimming, fishing and canoeing. In winter, when the Doubs freezes over, one of Europe's largest natural ice rinks is formed here.
Highlights
- Musée d'Horlogerie – the Le Locle Watchmaker Museum is about two kilometres from Les Brenets. It tells the 150-year history of the watchmaking school.
- Underground mill – in the 17th century a mill was built in a grotto at Col-des-Roches to make use of the water forces found there.
- Tour Jürgensen – the neo-romantic tower stands on a hill in the middle of a forest and affords wonderful views of the surrounding area. According to legend, it was built so that Jürgensen could see his great love, who lived on the other side of the border.
Les Brenets lies on the lake called Lac des Brenets, created by the River Doubs. Although Les Brenets is now quiet and peaceful, it can look back on turbulent times when the watch industry began to emerge. Plans for a world revolution were even forged here.
Les Brenets was first mentioned in writing in 1325 as «Chez le Bruinet» and at the time had about 31 households. The name can be traced back to the Brenth family. The family however soon died out and Les Brenets then continued under the rule of the Valangin.
In the 18th century, precision engineering began and watch manufacture in particular experienced a veritable boom in Les Brenets and Le Locle. Watch manufacture remains an important element in local economy to this day.
When the village was largely burned to the ground shortly after the revolutionary turmoil of 1848, it was rebuilt on a geometric basis, as was La Chaux-de-Fonds and Ponts-de-Martel. This bold town-planning experiment is still clearly evident today.
Though remote and isolated, the village was the scene of world-historical plans. The anti-authoritarian groups of the Jura Federation around Krapotkin, Bakunin and especially James Guillaume, met here and in Le Locle in the 1880s and proposed far wider-ranging measures instead of the Marxist manifesto.
The Lac de Brenets forms the border between Switzerland and France and in summer is an attractive area for swimming, fishing and canoeing. In winter, when the Doubs freezes over, one of Europe's largest natural ice rinks is formed here.
In the 18th century, precision engineering began and watch manufacture in particular experienced a veritable boom in Les Brenets and Le Locle. Watch manufacture remains an important element in local economy to this day.
When the village was largely burned to the ground shortly after the revolutionary turmoil of 1848, it was rebuilt on a geometric basis, as was La Chaux-de-Fonds and Ponts-de-Martel. This bold town-planning experiment is still clearly evident today.
Though remote and isolated, the village was the scene of world-historical plans. The anti-authoritarian groups of the Jura Federation around Krapotkin, Bakunin and especially James Guillaume, met here and in Le Locle in the 1880s and proposed far wider-ranging measures instead of the Marxist manifesto.
The Lac de Brenets forms the border between Switzerland and France and in summer is an attractive area for swimming, fishing and canoeing. In winter, when the Doubs freezes over, one of Europe's largest natural ice rinks is formed here.
Highlights
- Musée d'Horlogerie – the Le Locle Watchmaker Museum is about two kilometres from Les Brenets. It tells the 150-year history of the watchmaking school.
- Underground mill – in the 17th century a mill was built in a grotto at Col-des-Roches to make use of the water forces found there.
- Tour Jürgensen – the neo-romantic tower stands on a hill in the middle of a forest and affords wonderful views of the surrounding area. According to legend, it was built so that Jürgensen could see his great love, who lived on the other side of the border.
Arrival and return Les Brenets
Adresse
Tourisme neuchâtelois
Espacité 1
2302 La Chaux-de-Fonds
Tel. +41 (0)32 889 68 95
info.cdf@ne.ch
www.neuchateltourisme.ch
Espacité 1
2302 La Chaux-de-Fonds
Tel. +41 (0)32 889 68 95
info.cdf@ne.ch
www.neuchateltourisme.ch
