Former "Junker factory", Industrial heritage building in Moutier, Switzerland
The former Junker factory is a multi-story industrial building in Moutier designed for manufacturing automatic lathes, featuring large windows and traditional structural elements typical of that era. The building remains in active production today, preserving its original functional layout and operational character.
Nicolas Junker founded the factory in 1860 and began producing automatic lathes, a technology that transformed Swiss mechanical engineering and manufacturing. The company expanded significantly and helped drive the industrial development of the Jura Valley region throughout the following centuries.
The building reflects how local craftsmanship transformed into industrial production and shaped the region's economy for generations. Walking through the spaces shows the connection between individual innovation and the community that grew around it.
The building can be viewed from outside, but interior access is limited and usually requires advance arrangements or participation in organized tours. The adjoining Villa Junker with its machinery museum provides the best way to understand the factory's history and the production methods used over time.
The factory grounds include the Villa Junker, the founder's elegant residence that was later converted into a museum displaying the technological evolution of automatic lathe manufacturing. This unusual combination of factory and living quarters reveals how closely the entrepreneur was tied to his production operations.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 60,000 contributors worldwide.
