Enges: Hiking and Heritage on the Southern Slopes of the Jura

Enges lies at an altitude of 816 metres, about nine kilometres as the crow flies northeast of Neuchâtel. The village is situated on a promontory and in a south-facing hollow on the southern slopes of the Jura, high above the Swiss Plateau. From Enges, you can enjoy views across the Plateau and the Alps. Its location combines the southern slopes of the Jura with open views across the plain. If you choose Enges for a stay, you can compare the trails by route, landscape and stated walking time.

Hiking: Routes and Landscapes

The “Chemin faisant, de Chaumont à St-Blaise” hiking route passes through Enges and offers the chance to experience the contrasting landscapes on the southern slopes of the first Jura range. It is 13.4 kilometres long, with a stated walking time of four hours. These figures provide a concrete framework for planning your time. Check trail conditions before setting out.

On the Chaumont–Cressier hiking route, the trail leads from the Chaumont viewpoint through pastureland and down to Enges. Towards Cressier, the route passes through flowering woodland and pastureland. The descent to Enges is therefore part of a landscape whose described route is shaped by open pastures and stretches of woodland.

The permanent Tour de l’Eau is a hiking trail themed around the floods of June 2021. The Grand Tour de l’Eau follows a different route: it leads to the sources of the Ruhaut and the Mortrux, reaches the area above Enges and then descends to Frochaux. The trails have different emphases: the “Chemin faisant” route has a stated length and walking time; Chaumont–Cressier focuses on its route and landscape; and the Tour de l’Eau on its historical theme. You can therefore choose among the described hikes according to whether a stated time frame, a route through woodland and pastureland, or a thematic focus matters most to you.

Chapelle Notre-Dame des Anges and Local History

The Chapelle d’Enges was dedicated to Notre Dame des Anges on 13 March 1678. A fresco painted by the Polish internee Michel Kali between 1940 and 1945 is located on the east wall of the nave. The tapestry-like image depicts the history of refugees and shows the Three Lakes region, with its three lakes, as seen from Enges. The work thus combines a view of the area with a remembrance of refugee history.

The Chapelle d’Enges features six non-figurative stained-glass windows by the Fribourg artist Emile Aebischer, known as “Yoki”. The provisional edition of the 2012 heritage inventory lists the Chapelle Notre-Dame des Anges as a monument of regional importance. The road from Enges to Hauterive is also part of the village’s history: Polish internees built it during the Second World War.

Until the early 1980s, Enges was predominantly agricultural before developing into a residential community. This development adds a sense of historical change to the picture of the village today: a long-standing agricultural character gave way to a greater emphasis on residential life. Together with its location on the southern slopes, its varied hiking trails and the chapel’s artistic heritage, this makes Enges a destination with attractions spanning landscapes, local history and hiking.

Discover more destinations: Thielle-Wavre, Neuchâtel, Cressier Ne, Saint-Blaise Ne.

For the overview of the wider travel region: Neuchâtel.