In Le Locle, the Musée des beaux-arts specialises in original prints and printed art, with a collection of nearly 5,000 works. Discover regional, Swiss and international artists, from Léopold Robert to Picasso, along with temporary exhibitions of modern art.
Fine and applied arts museums
Main highlights
- Temporary exhibitions of 20th- and 21st-century prints, photography and installations
- Nearly 5,000 works by Goya, Toulouse-Lautrec, Matisse, Vallotton and L’Eplattenier
- Triennial of Contemporary Printed Art, founded in 1992 and open to artists from around the world
Overview
The Musée des beaux-arts du Locle (MBAL) was founded in 1862 by Le Locle members of the Société des Amis des Arts de Neuchâtel and students of the drawing school. A first exhibition took place in 1868, followed in 1876 by a permanent exhibition in a room of the local school. Since 1913, the museum has occupied its building on Rue Marie-Anne-Calame.
From 1946 onwards, the museum specialised in original prints. A printing workshop was set up in 1980. Renovated and transformed between 2011 and 2014, the building now offers dedicated reception and educational spaces. Prints make up the majority of the collections today.
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What to see and do
The permanent collection brings together nearly 5,000 works, acquired through donations, bequests, purchases and loans over more than 150 years. A few pieces date from the 17th and 18th centuries, but most span the late 19th century to the present day. Highlights include Charles Clément, Gustave Jeanneret, Charles L’Eplattenier, Léopold Robert, Albert Anker, Goya, Corot, Odilon Redon, Toulouse-Lautrec, Picasso, Matisse and Félix Vallotton.
The museum hosts monographic and thematic temporary exhibitions devoted to 20th- and 21st-century art : prints, photography, painting and installations. Established and emerging artists enter into dialogue with works from the past. The Triennial of Contemporary Printed Art, held since 1992, awards the Prix de la Ville du Locle.
Since 1977, the MBAL has housed the Fondation Lermite, dedicated to the work of Le Locle artist Jean-Pierre Schmid, known as Lermite (1920-1977). The ORBIT_E digital platform extends the programme online.
Practical information
Getting there : in the town centre, a 5-minute walk from the station or 10 minutes via the Le Remontoir funicular. Bus lines stop at gare/centre-ville and Marie-Anne Calame. Car parks nearby.
Accessibility : all floors served by lift, and a disabled parking space opposite the museum. Removable ramps can be installed on request, with one day’s notice.
Ideal for : lovers of art, printmaking and contemporary creation.
Visiting tips
Check the museum’s website before your visit to find out about the current exhibition. The museum closes for a few weeks between exhibition cycles while installations are set up.
For a tour of the two watchmaking towns, combine the MBAL with the Musée des beaux-arts de La Chaux-de-Fonds, devoted to modern art and the Style sapin.
Nearby
- The Col-des-Roches Underground Mills house old hydraulic mechanisms in galleries carved into the rock.
- The Le Locle Watch Museum showcases mechanisms, complications and rare pieces from Le Locle’s watchmaking history.
- The Saut du Doubs is a waterfall on the French-Swiss border, which you can explore on foot or by boat.
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