Boudevilliers: History, Trails and Cycling

This combination helps you make a practical initial decision about whether you want your stay to focus more on local history, hiking or cycling. The differences below will help you match the activities to your own schedule and interest in physical activity.

Church, Monuments and Architectural History

The church in Boudevilliers is dedicated to Saint James. In 1925, the foundations of a semicircular apse were uncovered beneath the choir of the Temple de Boudevilliers. This find suggests that the church has Romanesque origins. The school building was constructed by Jean Béguin between 1890 and 1892. The names of governors David Jeanberthoud and Jonas-Pierre Guyot appear on the fountain dating from 1740.

A monument in the cemetery commemorates the soldiers of the Armée de l’Est who died in Landeyeux in 1871. It was inaugurated on 23 February 1873. The farms along the former road to Malvilliers are also part of the local landscape. In the public garden is D’eux, a work by Aloïs Dubach from 1992. A biographical connection adds to this history of architecture and remembrance: the geologist, geographer and meteorologist Arnold Henri Guyot was born in Boudevilliers in 1807.

Choose Your Trails and Landscape Carefully

Landscape features include the descent along the Ruz d’Amont to La Borcarderie. The Grandes Pradières pasture is also located in the mountain area of Boudevilliers. Information about the named trails is particularly useful when planning, as their terrain and waymarking differ considerably.

The Chemins Chouettes’ Balade 7, «Perspectives Sud-Ouest», passes through Boudevilliers, Malvilliers and La Jonchère. It is technically easy; check for possible local detours before setting out. The Malvilliers–Boudevilliers educational trail is rated differently: it is fairly challenging and not signposted. A 1:25,000 map of Val-de-Ruz is recommended for navigation; good hiking boots are advisable in wet weather.

The educational trail is divided into 16 stages and leads through the forest and past remnants of granite-block quarrying. Its subject matter includes geology, history and ethnology, as well as forestry and agriculture. Along the way, it also explores the relationship between people and their environment over the centuries. This lets you assess the route not only by its level of difficulty, but also by the topics that interest you along the way.

Cycling and Further Information

The Boudevilliers pump track has riding lanes measuring 180 metres in length and is suitable for cycling enthusiasts of all experience levels. Picnic tables are also available at the pump track. As its dimensions and facilities may change, it is best to check this information before your visit.

In Malvilliers, the Société Neuchâteloise d’Astronomie holds public observing evenings at its observatory two or three times a month on Friday evenings throughout the year, weather permitting. If you would like to plan a visit, check the events calendar and the weather forecast.

For getting around by public transport, bus route 154 runs via Valangin, Boudevilliers, Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane, Coffrane and Montmollin, continuing into the Val-de-Travers. Check the timetable for your specific journey. This will help you choose where to stay based on the trails you plan to visit, the cycling facilities and the historical sites.

Discover more destinations: Montmollin, La Vue Des Alpes, Dombresson, Les Hauts-Geneveys, Le Pâquier, Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane, Fontainemelon, Cernier.

For the broader travel overview: Val-De-Ruz.