La Tène

La Tène is an archaeological site on the eastern shore of Lake Neuchâtel, where the Thielle river enters the lake through shallow waters. Thousands of objects were discovered here, including iron and bronze items, pottery, textiles, and tools that reveal how people of this period lived.

The site was discovered in 1857 when a fisherman found countless iron objects along the shore. This discovery allowed experts to define and understand an entire cultural period of European history that now bears its name.

The site reveals objects from everyday Celtic life, including weapons, tools, and ornaments that shape our understanding of these ancient communities today. Visitors can see in museums how people lived and worked more than two thousand years ago.

The discovered objects can be viewed today in two museums, one nearby and another in Zurich. Visitors should know that the site itself lies along the lake and is easily reached by public transport.

The name of this place became a scientific standard for an entire historical period, something few archaeological sites have achieved. Experts refer to the era from about 450 BCE to 1 CE as the La Tène culture across all of Europe.