Temple

The Reformed Church (Temple) in Fontaines sits in the village of Fontaines, now part of the Val-de-Ruz municipality in the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel. It is a Protestant place of worship with deep roots: a parish already existed here in 1228.

Where is it and how do you find it?

The church stands in Fontaines at roughly 47.044 N, 6.901 E, in the Val-de-Ruz valley between Neuchâtel and La Chaux-de-Fonds. The name "Reformed Church" is generic in this area. Val-de-Ruz was formed in 2013 by merging more than a dozen former communes, and many of its villages have their own temple. This one belongs to Fontaines, not to neighbouring Cernier, Dombresson or Boudevilliers. You can reach the valley by car from Neuchâtel, and local buses link the villages.

What is its history?

The Fontaines parish is recorded from 1228. Back then it also covered Cernier, Fontainemelon and Les Hauts-Geneveys, which had branch churches under it. Before the Reformation the church was dedicated to Saint Maurice. It was rebuilt in the early 16th century, and the tower dates from the 17th. Patronage rested with the priory of Môtiers until 1517, when it passed to the chapter of Valangin.

Parish borders shifted over time. Cernier and Fontainemelon split off in 1875, Les Hauts-Geneveys in 1961. Since 1961 Fontaines has belonged to the Valangin-Boudevilliers parish. A Catholic chapel also served the village from 1850 to 1909.

What else is there to see in Fontaines?

The village has a rich past. In the 18th and 19th centuries it was known for clocks and automata, notably those of the Maillardet family. Traces of a Roman villa have turned up here, and the first communal house dates from 1694. Fontaines was a district seat from 1848 to 1877. In the 20th century it developed watchmaking, parquet flooring, printing and a cement works, and after 1945 it grew into a quiet residential village, with 912 inhabitants in 2000.

When should you visit?

Protestant churches in Switzerland are often open mainly during services and events, so check dates with the Valangin-Boudevilliers parish. The Val-de-Ruz area suits walking and cycling, and the Vue-des-Alpes pass (1,283 m), which the former Fontaines territory reached, offers wide views.

Frequently asked questions

Is this the same temple as in other Val-de-Ruz villages?

No. Val-de-Ruz is a municipality of many villages, each with its own church. This one is in Fontaines.

Which parish does it belong to?

Since 1961, the Valangin-Boudevilliers parish.

How old is the church?

The parish is recorded in 1228, the building was rebuilt in the early 16th century, and the tower dates from the 17th.

Who was the patron saint before the Reformation?

Saint Maurice.