Boveresse – The History of Absinthe and La Vy aux Moines

Boveresse lies at an altitude of around 735 metres on the northern edge of Val-de-Travers, opposite Môtiers in the Neuchâtel Jura. The Séchoir à absinthe provides a historic point of interest, while La Vy aux Moines is a route through the village. Boveresse is located on this route at kilometre 2 and at an altitude of 735 metres. This point along the route helps visitors place the village within the route’s course.

The History of Absinthe at the Séchoir

The Séchoir à absinthe was built in 1893 by the Barrelet brothers from Boveresse and has been protected as a historic monument since 1998. An educational tour explains the economic importance of the absinthe plant to the region in 1900 and connects the topic with information about growing and drying the plants. The exhibition also includes agricultural vehicles and horse-drawn carts.

The tour is available in French, German and English. Plants used in the production of absinthe grow in the garden around the Séchoir. Visitors can smell them and sometimes taste them too. Alongside the historical context, the plants themselves and their uses are therefore also among the subjects covered during the visit.

The Séchoir is open exclusively to groups of ten or more by prior reservation. Guided tours are available by reservation for groups of ten to 15 people and last 45 to 60 minutes. The absinthe drying shed is easily accessible by public transport. Both group size and the duration of the tour are important points to consider when planning a visit.

La Vy aux Moines: Route and Time Required

La Vy aux Moines can be travelled on foot or by mountain bike. The route is 33 kilometres long and has 940 metres of elevation gain. The full route from Môtiers to Montbenoît is listed as taking ten hours on foot and can be completed in one day. This time estimate refers to the entire walk, not just the section near Boveresse.

To put the two activities in perspective, visitors can compare the duration of a tour at the Séchoir with the time required for the entire route: a 45- to 60-minute group tour compared with ten hours of walking for the full route. These are different activities with different time frames. The route’s length and elevation gain give an indication of its scope; the time estimate refers specifically to walking.

An Old Tree in the Boveresse Forest

Another historical trace is Le Tilleul des catholiques in the Boveresse forest. The tree has stood for more than half a millennium. Its hollow trunk once sheltered a statue of Notre-Dame, where pilgrims would stop and pray for protection. The story links the tree to a religious practice of the past.

Boveresse is therefore home to a range of historical themes: the Séchoir tells the story of absinthe plants, their processing and their economic importance; the Tilleul des catholiques is associated with pilgrims and prayer. Together, these places offer an impression of the different traces left by the area’s history.

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

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