Château et ses fortifications

Neuchâtel Castle (Château de Neuchâtel) crowns a rocky hill in the heart of the old town, overlooking Lake Neuchâtel. It has anchored the city for centuries and today houses the cantonal government. The collegiate church stands beside it, and together they form one of western Switzerland's best-known heritage ensembles.

Why is the city called Neuchâtel?

The name means "new castle". Its Latin form, Novum castellum, appears in a document of 1011 that describes the site as a residence of Rudolf III, the last king of Burgundy. The first fortress sat on a defensible rock, and a small town slowly grew around its garrison.

How did the castle and its defences develop?

After 1033 the stronghold passed to a lineage close to the imperial court, the lords of Fenis (Vinelz). By the mid-12th century they had made Neuchâtel their seat and took its name. Work on the Romanesque part of the present castle began in the last quarter of the 12th century, alongside the collegiate church. The west gate dates from the 12th century; the tower was built in the 12th and 13th centuries and given battlements in the 14th. A wall with two towers later reinforced the dry moat, and around 1400 further towers and fortifications were added to protect the town. In the 15th century Jean de Fribourg and his wife Marie founded the castle chapel.

What should you see?

• The castle courtyard and collegiate church: a Romanesque-Gothic church begun in the late 12th century and generally dated as inaugurated in 1276.
• The Prison Tower (Tour des Prisons): described as the oldest structure in town, with a base going back to the 10th century and upper parts from the 13th and 14th. It served as a jail until 1848. It was closed after a fire in 2015, and plans exist to turn it into a fantasy-art venue tied to the NIFFF film festival.
• The view: from the hill you look across the old-town rooftops to the lake and, in clear weather, the Alps.

How to visit

The castle is a working government building, so not every interior is open daily. The courtyard and surroundings are easy to take in on a walk through the old town. Check the canton's website (ne.ch) for opening hours and guided visits. Allow one to two hours including the collegiate church and the Prison Tower.

Frequently asked questions

Does anyone live in Neuchâtel Castle? No. It is the seat of the cantonal authorities today; in the Middle Ages it was the home of the lords and later counts of Neuchâtel.

Is the collegiate church part of the castle? It stands on the same hill and was built in the same period, but it is a separate building. Visitors usually see both together.

Where does the city's name come from? From the Latin Novum castellum, "new castle", first recorded in 1011.

Is the Prison Tower open? It was closed after the 2015 fire. Check its current status before you go.