The Areuse spring lies at the foot of a rocky cliff in the north-western part of the Cirque de Saint-Sulpice, at an altitude of 799 metres. Here, a striking landscape meets the local history of hydropower. The Ecomusée de la Haute-Areuse is dedicated to hydropower; its trail leads through the spring’s preserved natural surroundings.

Water and industrial heritage

The Roues de l’Areuse also explore the use of water. Their educational trail has 13 stops. The Roues include two hydropower plants built in 1886 and brought back into operation. The marked Les Roues de l’Areuse circular route begins at Groupe E’s new power plant in Saint-Sulpice. The spring drains a catchment area of nearly 130 square kilometres—another indication of the scale of this water system.

The Portland cement factory is another part of the area’s industrial history. Gustave Dubied founded it in 1877 to establish a new industry in the region; it was created by converting an old mill. When Dubied died in 1899, after a long period of prosperity, the factory was the most important company of its kind in Switzerland. This story adds another aspect of local industrial development to the history of hydropower.

Vehicles and railways

The Musée Oldtimer Volkswagen displays a private vehicle collection dating from 1950 to 1979. It includes almost 170 Volkswagens, including at least 130 Beetles. Across three floors, you can see Beetles, buses, Type 181s, Karmann models, Type 3s, buggies and Porsche 914s, among others. The collection offers both individual well-known models and a broad overview of Volkswagen vehicles from several decades.

There is a special opportunity for children on the ground floor: they can play with unrestored cars, touch them, run around inside them and sit behind the wheel. The first floor houses a Volkswagen-themed bar featuring various brand-related objects and memorabilia. The exhibition thus combines the vehicle display with different ways of engaging with the collection.

The Saint-Sulpice steam locomotive depot houses one of Switzerland’s most significant collections of standard-gauge steam locomotives. Tours are available by reservation in French or German; check the reservation arrangements before you arrive. For a different railway experience, Vapeur Val-de-Travers offers tourist steam train rides on a scenic French-Swiss line that runs through the Areuse Gorges to Lake Neuchâtel.

Routes and practical planning

There are two very different walking routes from the St-Sulpice Terminus bus stop for visiting the Areuse spring and the Ecomusée des Roues de l’Areuse: the return walk to the spring takes about 1.5 hours, while the Ecomusée is a five-minute walk away. Depending on how much time you have, you can choose between the longer walk to the spring and the short walk to the Ecomusée.

Another route passes La Linière farm, pastures and woodland on the way to the Chapeau de Napoléon. It then follows an 800-metre stretch of paved road to the Chapeau de Napoléon, at an altitude of 960 metres. The route combines sections through pastureland and forest with a specific stretch along the road.

From Fleurier, you can reach the steam locomotive depot by bus to the St-Sulpice Bas du Village stop, followed by a five-minute walk. Check the current service before travelling. This makes it easier to plan your journey to the depot, reserve a tour and choose the railway experience you want.

Discover more destinations: Fleurier, Buttes, Môtiers, La Côte-Aux-Fées, Travers Ne, Boveresse, Les Verrières, Couvet.

For the wider travel overview: Val-De-Travers.