Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle

The Musée d'Horlogerie du Locle is housed in the Château des Monts and contains an extensive collection of watches, chronometers, and mechanical instruments spanning several centuries. The castle building features restored workshop spaces and moving figures that illustrate the daily work of watchmakers.

Founded in 1959, the museum preserves Switzerland's watchmaking heritage and documents how timekeeping technology evolved from medieval times to the modern era. The collection traces changes in techniques and design across the centuries.

The museum displays historical workshop settings and automaton figures that show how watchmaking shaped life in this region. Visitors can see the craftsmanship and precision that defined the local community's identity.

The museum has seasonal opening hours and offers audio guides in several languages to help visitors understand the collection. Before visiting, check the current schedule as the hours change between seasons.

The collection includes a mechanical singing bird mirror crafted by the Rochat brothers, a masterwork of 18th-century French mechanics. This piece blurs the line between watchmaking and decorative art that captivated collectors of that era.

Location: Le Locle

Official opening: 1959

Address: Route des Monts 65

Opening Hours: Mai-October: Tuesday-Sunday,Holidays 10:00-17:00; November-April Tuesday-Sunday,Holidays 14:00-17:00

Website: http://mhl-monts.ch

GPS coordinates: 47.06369,6.74995

Latest update: December 9, 2025 12:28