Wine at Château de Boudry

Château de Boudry dates back to the 13th century and has been demolished, extended and rebuilt several times over the years. It houses a wine cellar and the Musée de la Vigne et du Vin. At the château, you can explore more than 2,000 years of winegrowing and winemaking in the Canton of Neuchâtel. The permanent exhibition uses prints, gouaches, watercolours, oil paintings and documents to show how the wine-growing landscape of the Neuchâtel wine region has evolved and the economic importance of winegrowing to the country. The château brings together architectural history, landscape and knowledge of wine.

The wine cellar offers tastings of most of the country’s wines. If you are planning a wine tasting, it is best to ask about current arrangements in advance. Wine can also be combined with local history elsewhere: a guided tour of the wine-growing village of Auvernier and the surrounding vineyards takes in the historic village, with its winemakers’ lanes, as well as a wine tasting in one of the village cellars. If you are interested in a tour, check the current booking conditions.

Village settings and regional collections

The historic village of Auvernier has cobbled lanes, winemakers’ houses, old fountains, Château d’Auvernier and numerous traditional wine cellars. Its village setting is listed in the Swiss Inventory of Heritage Sites of National Importance (ISOS). Those interested in the links between architecture and wine-making traditions will find both in the village setting and the village cellars described here.

The Caveau de Cortaillod et Bevaix offers a different kind of wine tasting: in a village cellar just a few steps from the lake, wines from several producers in Cortaillod and Bevaix are sampled. While the wine cellar at Château de Boudry offers tastings of most of the country’s wines, the Caveau focuses on producers from these two villages.

The Musée de l’Areuse displays birds and mammals from the region. Its collection includes local prehistoric objects, including finds from archaeological sites in Cortaillod and Auvernier, as well as documents on regional history and folklore. It also features exceptional ethnographic collections from Gabon, Indiennes fabrics, a medal collection and weapons. The subject matter ranges from regional nature and prehistory to history and folklore.

The Musée du Tram in Areuse focuses on historic vehicles: its collection features six motor cars and four trailers from an 89-year period of railway vehicle production in Switzerland. From April to October, the museum offers guided tours and private rides on a historic tram; both must be booked in advance. Check the current reservation conditions beforehand.

The Écomusée de la pêche et des poissons explores fishing in Lake Neuchâtel and French-speaking Switzerland through an extensive collection of objects at a former fishing site. Labels and audio commentary complement the visit. The museum has a permanent exhibition and outdoor information panels that are accessible at all times. It is located in a protected and preserved natural area near the port of Bevaix; check access arrangements before your visit.

Gorges, viewpoints and lakeshore

The hiking route through the Gorges de l’Areuse follows the river through a landscape of stone bridges, footbridges, stairways, rocky gorges and impressive cliffs, and continues to Boudry. From Neuchâtel, you can reach the gorges by train to Noiraigue or Champ-du-Moulin; the return journey is by tram from Boudry. Check the current timetable before setting out. The Via Cluny Stage 6 follows a different route: from Bevaix, it runs along the lakeshore via Pointe de Cortaillod to Corcelles-Cormondrèche, then follows the Areuse for a while towards Boudry.

For a view across the landscape, the circular hike to Rochers de Tablettes leads from Rochefort through the forest to the summit of Tablettes at 1,291 metres and the Rochers de Tablettes viewpoint. From there, you can see across the Val de l’Areuse and Lake Neuchâtel; on a clear day, you can also see the basin of Creux du Van. Conditions in the mountains can vary, so check the latest conditions before your hike.

The lakeshore offers a different landscape: Pointe du Grain is a wooded pebble beach at the foot of the vineyards, with views of the Alps. The Colombier–Bevaix route runs between vineyard slopes and the blue waters of the lake along a straight, easy-to-follow path. Before arriving at the port of Bevaix, it offers a place to swim at Pointe du Grain; swimming conditions can vary.

Discover more destinations: Cortaillod, Bevaix, Montézillon, Gorgier, Boudry, Auvernier, Corcelles-Cormondrèche, Peseux NE

For the wider travel overview: Neuchâtel.