The La Chaux-de-Fonds History Museum traces the development of this watchmaking city, a UNESCO World Heritage Site. In Villa Sandoz, objects, films and documents tell the story of its urban, social and industrial history.
History museums
Main highlights
- Urban history of La Chaux-de-Fonds, from the late 18th century to the present day, across three levels
- Le Corbusier room with models of the villas the architect built in his home town
- Villa Sandoz from 1849, a bourgeois residence by Auguste de Meuron set in a park
Overview
The museum has its origins in the collections of the Cercle patriotique de l’Union, founded around 1831, and of the City’s Education Commission. In 1923, the historical and numismatic collections moved into Villa Sandoz, a bourgeois residence built in 1849 by architect Auguste de Meuron for merchant Edouard Sandoz-Gendre.
Following a complete renovation, it became a museum of urban history focused on La Chaux-de-Fonds. The permanent exhibition “La Chaux-de-Fonds en histoire(s)” covers the period from the late 18th century to the present day. It highlights the men and women who shape the city, along with its economic, political, social, cultural and religious aspects.
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What to see and do
The tour unfolds over three levels. On the ground floor, you discover the city’s beginnings, the fire of 1794 that led to its grid plan, and the rise of the watchmaking industry. The basement continues the chronological story. The first floor hosts temporary exhibitions.
An entire room is devoted to Le Corbusier, born Charles-Édouard Jeanneret-Gris in 1877 in La Chaux-de-Fonds. Models of the villas he built in the city showcase his early works. Other local figures are also featured : Monique Saint-Hélier, Louis Léopold Robert, Numa Droz, Louis Chevrolet and Blaise Cendrars.
A giant touchscreen lets you explore the city’s urban development through digitised maps from different eras. Children can use an activity booklet and games in the galleries. Guided tours are available, including fun tours for children.
Practical information
Getting there : a 5-minute walk from the SBB railway station, in the same park as the International Museum of Horology and the Museum of Fine Arts.
Visit duration : allow 1.5 to 2 hours for all three levels.
Suitable for : adults, families and children, with an activity booklet and games.
On site : the villa is surrounded by a park.
Visitor tips
The exhibits are richly documented, so take time to read the information panels. Round off your visit with a walk through town to see the grid plan and Le Corbusier’s villas.
A Museum Pass lets you combine your visit with other museums in the city, including the International Museum of Horology, the Museum of Fine Arts and the Muzoo.
Nearby attractions
- MUZOO combines a zoo, a museum and an educational space focused on biodiversity and its conservation.
- The MIH International Museum of Horology traces the history of timekeeping, from the sundial to the atomic clock.
- The Col de la Vue des Alpes, on a Jura ridge, offers views across the Alps and walking trails.
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