Val-de-Travers: Gorges, Absinthe and Gastronomy

In Val-de-Travers, impressive gorges meet a diverse history of culture and gastronomy. Along the trails, you’ll encounter rivers, rock faces and cascades; in museums and through culinary experiences, you’ll discover absinthe, sparkling wine and chocolate. When planning your trip, one clear question can help you decide: would you like to focus on nature experiences, or are you particularly interested in history and local production?

Gorges and trails

The route through the Gorges de l'Areuse follows the course of the Areuse. The trail crosses stone bridges, walkways and staircases, and passes through rocky gorges with impressive cliff faces. The river and the structures along the way together shape the character of this route: it presents the gorge not only as a rocky landscape, but also as a series of different crossings and passages.

The route through the Gorges de la Poëta-Raisse offers a different experience. It begins near Môtiers, at the Rousseau waterfall and the cave of the same name; from there, it leads through narrow gorges and alongside cascades. This gives you a choice of two distinct landscapes: the Areuse is characterized by its river, stone bridges and walkways, while the Poëta-Raisse features narrow passages and waterfalls.

Asphalt history and planning your visit

In Travers, the Mines d'asphalte offer a chance to visit underground galleries. Asphalt was mined there for almost three centuries, and the tunnels bring this long history of use to life. The mines can be visited year-round, in any weather. There is a dedicated railway station at La Presta, where trains stop on request. Check the timetable and the procedure for requesting a stop before you travel.

Asphalt also features in the local cuisine: Café des Mines serves ham cooked in asphalt. As the menu may change, check the latest visitor information if you’d like to include this culinary experience in your plans.

Absinthe, Rousseau and local history

The Maison de l'Absinthe has a permanent exhibition about the drink, its history and legends, and the plant itself. Absinthe’s history in Switzerland also includes its ban in 1910 and its re-legalization in 2005. A cooking workshop shows how absinthe is used in gastronomy, with participants preparing savoury or sweet dishes. As the workshop’s availability may vary, check what’s currently on offer in advance.

The Musée Rousseau in Môtiers explores Jean-Jacques Rousseau’s stay in two rooms of the house where he spent three years in exile. Around 200 original documents are displayed across eight stations. In Champ-du-Moulin, the Maison de la nature “La Morille” presents an educational exhibition about trout, bats and the region’s caves.

Another testament to local history is the Séchoir à absinthe de Boveresse. The building was historically used to dry plants. The Barrelet brothers from Boveresse built it in 1893; it was listed as a historic monument in 1998. These specific sites each offer a different focus: Rousseau’s stay, the history of absinthe, nature, and a building with a historic use.

Sparkling wine and chocolate

In Môtiers, the Mauler name is associated with a long history of sparkling wine: the family has been making wine since 1829. Both Mauler and the Prieuré de St-Pierre offer guided tours followed by tastings. Tour arrangements and tasting options may change, so check in advance if you’re planning a visit.

Chocolate also offers insight into different production methods. Jacot Haute Chocolaterie in Môtiers offers a bean-to-bar experience: you’ll learn how chocolate is made, from cocoa bean to bar, and the role of ethical and ecological sourcing. Together with sparkling wine production and the cooking workshop, this offers a food-focused way to explore the destination that goes beyond tasting to look at ingredients and how they are processed.

Activities in summer and winter

La Robella leisure park offers around ten activities for families, enough to fill a whole day, in both summer and winter. The facilities include a pump track with rollers and banked turns, making it a great place to practise BMX. The range of activities and operating arrangements may change, so check what’s currently on offer before your visit. When planning your stay, you can choose how to balance nature trails, cultural sites and culinary experiences according to what you most want to do.

Discover more destinations

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

For the main travel overview: Neuchâtel.