La Chaux-de-Fonds is the historic city where the famous architect Le Corbusier was born. Since the 17th century, it has also been a center for the production of watches. In 2009, together with the neighboring Le Locle, it was entered on the UNESCO list.
The city has an urban layout unusual for Switzerland. It was built in the 18th century as a result of the reconstruction of La Chaux-de-Fonds after a great fire that destroyed almost all buildings. The new layout was created on the basis of a checkered grid of streets that intersect at right angles and form the same quarters.
Due to the reconstruction in La Chaux-de-Fonds, there are basically no buildings older than the 18th century. There are, however, a lot of buildings erected in the Art Nouveau style. They form the largest collection of such buildings in Switzerland. In addition to tenement houses and public buildings, even a Crematorium in the historic cemetery was built there. The city is also home to the first house designed by Le Corbusier, Maison Blanche.
From the 17th century, La Chaux-de-Fonds and the neighboring Le Locle were a watchmaking center. To this day, there are many independent workshops producing watches here. The big attraction of La Chaux-de-Fonds is the International Clock Museum. There are also other museums of interest, the History Museum, the Museum of Farmers and Craftsmen, the Museum of Natural History, and the Museum of Fine Arts.
The surroundings of La Chaux-de-Fonds form a picturesque, mountainous area of the Jura. There are numerous hiking trails here, and the city can be a good starting point for exploring them. An attraction for a family holiday is the La Chaux-de-Fonds Zoo.
