Auvernier combines Neolithic pile-dwelling history with a historic village, wine tours and paths along Lake Neuchâtel. You can choose from a range of activities to plan your stay: local history and architecture, a guided tasting or time by the water. Routes also vary in length and use, so you can tailor your itinerary to your interests.
Pile-dwelling history and village architecture
Auvernier-La Saunerie is one of the Neolithic pile-dwelling sites in the canton of Neuchâtel that form part of the UNESCO World Heritage property “Prehistoric Pile Dwellings around the Alps.” The Auvernier-Les Graviers site has four successive settlement phases dating to the Neolithic. These places bear witness to early settlement history; the Château d’Auvernier marks a much later period: Blaise Junod, governor of the Lordship of Valangin, had it built in 1559.
Other historical details also date back several centuries. A chapel dedicated to Saint Nicholas was built in 1478 in the upper part of the village. Remains dating from the 16th century were discovered in a historic house in Auvernier, including a moulded beam ceiling dated 1504. Another historic house preserves a rare polychrome Renaissance hunting scene painted on plaster. The village is listed in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National Importance (ISOS).
Lanes, winegrowers’ houses and wine
In the historic village, you can stroll along narrow cobbled lanes, past elegant winegrowers’ houses and old fountains. If you would rather discover these places as part of a guided tour, you can join guided walks focused on nature and culture. They take you through lanes and courtyards and along the walls of the vineyards.
A guided tour in Auvernier ends with a tasting in one of the village’s wine cellars. The Caves du Château d’Auvernier welcome visitors to tour their 16th-century cellars. Check with the producer for the current arrangements before visiting. This lets you combine exploring the village with a firsthand look at its wine culture, without having to plan a separate route between several places.
Festivals at different times of year
The Fête du Port d’Auvernier is an annual summer nautical weekend open to residents, families, friends and visitors. Dates vary from year to year. Depending on the edition, the programme may include live concerts, food trucks, children’s activities and a nautical village. At the Fête des Vendanges, stalls, concerts and a parade celebrate the grape harvest; here too, programme items may vary between editions. If a festival is the reason for your trip, check the dates for that year’s event in advance.
Lakeside, paths and getting there
Plage d’Auvernier offers expansive lawns, shade trees and small pebble coves with gentle access to Lake Neuchâtel. An easy, 2.2-kilometre circular route passes through vineyards and woodland above the lake and is suitable for families. For a longer option, the ten-kilometre Sentier du lac Saint-Blaise–Auvernier is paved and can be used on foot or on roller skates. The route length and permitted use give you a practical basis for comparison when planning your time outdoors.
A lakeside cycle path from Neuchâtel to Colombier passes through Auvernier. To travel by tram, Auvernier Littorail is accessible from Neuchâtel, Place Pury Littorail. Boatpark, an app for finding a visitor berth, is available at Port d’Auvernier; check whether the digital service is currently available before making plans. In Auvernier, options range from a walk through the historic village centre to longer routes along the lake.
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