La Chaux-de-Fonds / Le Locle, Watchmaking Town Planning, UNESCO heritage site in Montagnes region, Switzerland.
La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle are mountain towns laid out in a geometric grid pattern where wide streets separate blocks designed to house watchmakers and their families. Both towns show rows of similar buildings with large workshop windows at street level, creating a distinctive urban structure built around industrial craftsmanship.
Fires destroyed much of both towns in the 1820s, leading to a complete urban redesign that integrated workshops and homes into a single coherent system. This reconstruction turned them into major watchmaking centers and became a model for industrial urban planning across Europe.
Watchmaking remains woven into the daily identity of residents and appears in conversations, local businesses, and the pride people show toward their heritage. The craft shaped how these towns see themselves and continues to influence how visitors and locals move through the streets.
Walking is the best way to explore these towns and observe the street layout and building details up close. The mountainous terrain means some areas involve inclines, but most of the main zones are pedestrian-friendly and several walking routes are available for guided visits.
The workshop windows are positioned exceptionally high and wide to flood work tables with natural light, a practical solution for detailed watchmaking in mountain towns with limited daylight. This thoughtful design allowed craftsmen to maintain precision during long, dark winters.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
