La Presta, Cave entrance at Travers, Switzerland
La Presta is a cave entrance near Travers in the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel, set into limestone formations and leading into a network of natural passages and old mining tunnels. The underground sections connect several areas that were carved out and enlarged over the centuries to extract natural asphalt.
In 1711, a doctor found natural asphalt deposits in this area, and mining operations began the following year. Extraction continued for several centuries and left a deep mark on the local economy.
Walking through the tunnels, visitors can see tools and equipment left from the mining era still in place along the walls. The site gives a concrete sense of how underground work was organized in this part of Switzerland.
Sturdy shoes and a warm layer are a good idea, as the temperature underground stays consistently cool throughout the year. Access to the tunnels is generally done in guided groups, so checking availability before arriving is worth the effort.
A restaurant on the site prepares ham using natural asphalt from the mines as a cooking medium, a method found almost nowhere else in the world. The result is a flavor that visitors can only taste in this specific place.
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