Gourmet Escapades
Maison de l’AbsintheAbsinthe distillersArtisans of the Val-de-TraversRoute de l’AbsintheAsphalt MinesGourmand TrailCaves MaulerChocolate tastingRestaurants of the Val-de-Travers
Maison de l’Absinthe
Absinthe is an integral part of the Val-de-Travers, its place of origin. Since 2014, the Maison de l’Absinthe in Môtiers offers an exhibition space allowing visitors to (re)discover the history of the beverage, a bar with nearly 30 different kinds of absinthe, a demonstration kitchen as well as a store with regional products.
Several offers are available to visit the exhibition and taste absinthe. Guided tours, with audio-guide or especially for groups are also proposed – without forgetting the culinary workshops which allow to learn how to cook with absinthe.
Open from Tuesday to Sunday, the Maison de l’Absinthe allows visitors to plunge into the fascinating and mysterious universe of the one also called “Green Fairy” or “Blue”.
Absinthe distillers
The Maison de l’Absinthe brings together the various Absinthe distillers in the Val-de-Travers. Several of them offer visits of their distilleries as well as tastings.
Artisans of the Val-de-Travers
Many craftsmen create exceptional products from the local soil. In addition to the famous absinthe, the Val-de-Travers has a lot to offer from a culinary point of view – whether it be its dairy and meat products or its sweets.
Route de l’Absinthe
The Pays de l’Absinthe, a cross-border territory, unites the Val-de-Travers and the Pontarlier region around the common heritage of absinthe. From Pontarlier to the confines of the Val-de-Travers, lovers of the good old “blue” have plenty of chances to delight their taste buds along the Franco-Swiss absinthe route inaugurated in 2009.
Starting from the train station in Noiraigue or the tourist office in Pontarlier, there are 50 km of nicely marked trails to enjoy. All along the way, some 80 producers, restaurateurs, chocolate makers, bakers and butchers offer a taste of their delights. The pace of the walk allows you to discover natural gems, such as fresh springs you can use to mix with some good Absinthe. Also on the menu: visits to museums, medicinal plant cultivation and craftsmen who use the elixir. Numerous lodging and restaurant possibilities are available along the route, which can be split up as you wish.
Asphalt Mines
For nearly 300 years, asphalt was extracted from the mines of the Val-de-Travers and exported throughout the world. In 1986, the exploitation stopped and the Asphalt Mines were opened to the public.
Enter the galleries of these historic mines and learn more about asphalt and its exploitation. Be sure to try the Ham cooked in asphalt at the Café des Mines – or drink a miners’ coffee with a touch of Absinthe.
Gourmand Trail
Enjoy a gourmet moment in the Val-de-Travers, in the land of the “green fairy”. Pass from village to village, according to your desires and your meetings, while letting yourself be surprised by the culinary specialties of the region and the recognized know-how of their producers.
Twenty or so restaurateurs, distillers and craftsmen await you.
Caves Mauler
Mauler sparkling wines have been created at the Prieuré de St-Pierre, in Môtiers, since 1829. Discover this exceptional place and the sparkling world of sparkling wines through a guided tour and a tasting.
Chocolate tasting
In Noiraigue, two chocolate factories invite you to discover their world.
Chocolaterie Seydoux invites you to make your own chocolate plate with the effigy of the Creux du Van! A playful and greedy activity followed by a tasting of the specialities of the house.
Jacot Chocolat offers a visit and a product tasting. From January 2023, the Jacot Museum offers you even more.
Restaurants of the Val-de-Travers
To complete your gourmet visit, there is nothing better than to taste local products in a restaurant, in an authentic and friendly atmosphere. Whether you prefer meat or fish, sweet or savoury – Destination Val-de-Travers has nearly 20 restaurants of all types ready to welcome you!
Other discoveries
The Val-de-Travers has an important gastronomic culture, but not only! Spectacular and enchanting landscapes shape the region – in particular the cirque of the Creux-du-Van or the Gorges de l’Areuse and de la Poëta-Raisse. Not forgetting La Robella, an ideal resort for sportsmen and women.
Destination Val-de-Travers lists all the activities to do in the valley, in summer and in winter. Take a look at it before planning your stay.
For nature lovers
This nature reserve is home to an exceptional fauna and flora, notably chamois and ibex.
The forests of the Val-de-Travers also hide several impressive gorges, among which the Areuse Gorges and the Gorges of Poëta-Raisse. One can also find there the Fontaines aux Fées (fairy fountains)… authentic clandestine absinthe tasting sites. Today, a bottle of absinthe and glasses are still there to welcome visitors thirsty for culture and history!
La Robella is THE resort of the valley. The Buttes-La Robella chairlift operates in summer and winter, to the delight of the most sportive among us. Hiking, mountain biking, downhill skiing, snowshoeing, and sledging are waiting for you!
You can also choose to discover the region by bike or mountain bike, or during guided walks.
For culture lovers
No less than 20 institutions make up the cultural offer of the Val-de-Travers. Festivals, museums, cinema and theatre: you will not have a chance to get bored!
To go back in time, you can board the Val-de-Travers Steam Train, which runs several Saturdays a year on the Franco-Swiss belvedere line, and end your journey at Lake Neuchâtel. For an even more delicious experience, you can enjoy a fondue on board.
If you prefer museums, there is no shortage of them: Maison de l’Absinthe, Maison de l’Industrie, Musée Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Musée des Mascarons, Musée d’art arborigène or Volkswreck Bar & Museum – you are bound to find something to suit you.
Finally, the Totemi routes are ideal for discovering the region on foot… and at a lower cost! These are interactive walks via smartphones, developed in the canton of Neuchâtel. Two thematic walks are proposed in the Val-de-Travers: “From the monks to the green fairy” and “The Presta miners’ garden”.
Recurring events
Absinthe en Fête
After twenty editions, the Fête de l’Absinthe gave way in 2018 to Absinthe en Fête, which takes place every year in June. Inspired by “open cellars”, this event allows visitors to visit several distilleries in the Val-de-Travers during the day, as well as the Maison de l’Absinthe in Môtiers and the Absinthe drying shed in Boveresse.
Growers and other artisans are also part of the event. Several restaurants offer dishes that include absinthe.
Special packages
The Pass’Temps Val-de-Travers package offers you the opportunity to discover the whole region in a more economical way! It includes free use of trains and buses in the valley and surroundings – up to Neuchâtel.
The Neuchâtel Tourist Card is a pass that is given free of charge to anyone staying for at least one night in an establishment in the canton of Neuchâtel. In the Val-de-Travers, it provides free access to public transport in Neuchâtel (train, funicular and bus), entry to museums and a round trip on the Buttes-La Robella chairlift. It is distributed by the accommodation provider upon arrival and is valid from check-in until midnight on the day of departure.
Accommodation in the Val-de-Travers
To take the time to discover the Val-de-Travers in all its forms, several accommodation possibilities are available according to your desires and your budget: hotel, bed and breakfast or farm hotels, everything is possible!
Regional actors
