La Chaux-de-Fonds, one of Switzerland’s highest towns at about 1000 m, is the birthplace of such famous people as the architect Le Corbusier, car-building pioneer Louis Chevrolet and the writer Blaise Cendrars. There are barely any mediaeval buildings in La Chaux-de-Fonds: the town was virtually entirely destroyed by a major fire in 1794. Charles-Henri Junod rebuilt La Chaux-de-Fonds on a chessboard design in imitation of American towns.

The architect Charles Edouard Jeanneret-Gris, known by the name of Le Corbusier, who was born here in 1887, created a few early works in the town of his birth, including the "Maison Blanche" which he built in 1912 for his parents. The "Ville Turque" (1916/17), way ahead of its time, is now a World Heritage Site and since 1987 has been used as a PR centre for the watchmakers Ebel.

Even before Corbusier, one particular style had made its mark on the town: La Chaux-de-Fonds has a surprising number of Jugendstil buildings and features. This style, known as "Style Sapin" in its local permutation, went hand in hand with the development of industrialisation. Today the town is regarded as a major centre for the Jugendstil in Switzerland.

Slightly outside the little neighbouring town of Le Locle, an amazing collection of watches has found a worthy home in the "Château des Monts", a beautiful castle in the style of Louis XVI. The Farm and Craft Museum is housed in an early 17th century farmhouse. Finally, there is the Museum of Fine Art (Musée des Beaux-Arts du Locle) with works by Swiss artists from the 19th and 20th centuries.

The climate in the Jura is harsh. On the lonely heights west of Le Locle is the village of La Brévine, which is called the Siberia of Switzerland, and holds the record for the lowest temperature ever recorded in Switzerland –41.8°. In summer the Jura mountains are a popular place for walking and cycling, while in winter the main sport is cross-country skiing.

• "La Plage des Six-Pompes" – international festival of street theatre in La Chaux-de-Fonds. The town becomes a beach, with sunshades, bars, snack-bars, bathing huts, and numerous lively theatre acts (August).
• Louis Chevrolet Event – international vintage car memorial rally from La Chaux-de-Fonds to Beaune (F) in honour of the car-making pioneer Louis Chevrolet, who was born in La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1878 (September).
• Swiss Watch Exchange in La Chaux-de-Fonds – collectors’ hearts beat faster at this gathering for expert watch collectors (October).

• Clock Museum: Musée International de l'Horlogerie (MIH) in La Chaux-de-Fonds – over 4000 exhibits provide an impressive history of the measurement of time.
• Le Corbusier – most famous son of La Chaux-de-Fonds. A few early buildings by this famous 20th century architect, whose ideas gave rise to such controversy, are to be found here: "Maison Blanche" and "Villa Turque".
• Layout of La Chaux-de-Fonds – following a serious fire in 1794, the town was rebuilt on a chessboard design, following the American example. Nowadays it is considered a major centre for the Jugendstil in Switzerland.
• Doubs Valley with the "Saut du Doubs" waterfall – the River Doubs runs along the Franco-Swiss border, with a 27 metre high waterfall and the twisting Lac des Brenetsis, a delightful area for boat rides, walks and cycling.
• Underground mills at the Col des Roches near Le Locle – the mill and sawmill inside the mountain, powered since the 17th century by an underground watercourse, have been restored and can now be visited.