Discover Môtiers: Culture, History and Nature

Môtiers is a clustered village in the western Val de Travers. It lies on the flat valley floor south of the Areuse, by the Bied stream, in the Neuchâtel Jura. If you are looking for a hotel in Môtiers, the village offers a clear cultural focus: historic buildings are complemented by museums devoted to absinthe, regional watchmaking, Rousseau and automobiles. A marked walk through the village and a challenging hike offer different ways to shape your stay.

Monastery complex and historic architecture

The origins of the village are apparently linked to the founding of the Prieuré Saint-Pierre, first mentioned in 1107. Part of the former church’s Romanesque nave remains; exterior arcades are visible on the north side. The rectangular Gothic choir dates from 1514 to 1517. The complex thus brings together architectural features from different periods.

The cellars of the Prieuré Saint-Pierre are also the setting for a visit to Mauler. The offering includes a film, a guided cellar tour and a sparkling wine tasting. Here, architecture and wine come together at the same historic site.

Museums devoted to art, absinthe and regional history

The “La grange” Museum of Australian Aboriginal Art is housed in a former barn dating from 1721 and displays contemporary art by Australian Aboriginal artists. It is part of the historic Château d’Ivernois complex. A former agricultural building was restored between 2003 and 2006 and converted into a museum.

The Maison de l’Absinthe is devoted to the spirit and combines an interactive presentation with a film exploring its many facets. The permanent exhibition covers the product and its history, smuggling, and the science and physics of absinthe.

The Musée régional du Val-de-Travers – Musée des Mascarons is housed in a patrician house rebuilt in the mid-18th century. Its name comes from the masks carved into the window keystones. The permanent exhibition tells the story of watchmaking in the Val-de-Travers across around ten rooms. The temporary exhibition focuses on a topic closely connected to the region.

The Musée Jean-Jacques Rousseau is located in the house where Rousseau lived during his Neuchâtel exile from 1762 to 1765. The exhibition comprises around 200 original documents presented in eight sections. Important for your planning: the museum is closed until the end of 2026.

Around 30 historic automobiles, built between 1897 and 1980, are on display at the Musée de l’automobile “Le Manège”. The museum can be reached by public transport via Môtiers SBB railway station.

Walks and hikes

The Promenade de Jean-Jacques Rousseau runs through the village from the temple to a waterfall known as the “Cascade de Rousseau”. Sixty bronze stones set into the ground mark the route. Another loop, “Des moines à la fée verte”, is an educational, interactive walk from the temple along the Grand-rue. Check in advance whether this walk is currently available.

The Cascade de Môtiers is a mountain waterfall about a ten-minute walk from the village. A natural cave of interest to cavers is located right beside it. For a longer hike, consider the route through the Gorges de la Poëta-Raisse: it is 19 kilometres long, strenuous and relatively challenging, starts and ends in Môtiers, and passes through a succession of narrow gorges and waterfalls. Check seasonal route information before setting out; the short walk to the waterfall and the challenging gorge route require different amounts of time and effort.

Chocolate and outdoor art

Jacot Haute Chocolaterie offers chocolate tastings, either on their own or paired with wines from the region. In the 75-minute “Chocolatier” workshop, you make a chocolate bar and drinking chocolate yourself using chocolate of single origin. As offerings and booking conditions may change, check the latest details as you plan.

Art Môtiers also brings a cultural touch to the outdoors: the exhibition of contemporary Swiss art has been held in Môtiers since 1985, but at irregular intervals. Dates vary from one edition to the next, so check the schedule if you would like to plan your stay around the exhibition.

More destinations

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

Return to the main travel overview: Val-De-Travers.