Areuse Gorges
Overview
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Hint
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Intro
In the Areuse Gorge in the canton of Neuchâtel, you cross the Areuse River 17 times on stone arched bridges and narrow footbridges. Between high limestone walls, it goes down 340 meters, from Noiraigue down to Boudry.
The Areuse Gorges at a glance
The «Gorges de l'Areuse» is located in the Neuchâtel Jura and connects the Val de Travers with the plain on Lake Neuchâtel. For more than 11 kilometres, the water has cut deep into the Jurassic limestone. A marked hiking trail follows the entire length of the Areuse. Together with the nearby Creux du Van natural rock amphitheatre, the gorge is under national landscape protection.
What to experience
Hiking through the gorge (3 hours)
From Noiraigue, the hiking trail disappears between the rocks. You hike along the Areuse via stairs and narrow passages, sometimes close to the shore and then high above the water again. In the case of Saut de Brot, a stone arch spans the narrowest point.
- Good to know: The path is slippery when wet, wear sturdy shoes.
- Tip: Try a freshly caught Areuse trout at the Hôtel de la Truite in Champ-du-Moulin.
Visit the Maison de la nature "La Morille" (30-45 minutes)
In an old half-timbered house near Champ-du-Moulin, you can find out what lives in and around the gorge in the House of Nature "La Morille": The fish of the areuse, bats and the fauna of the nearby caves. It is open on weekends from mid-August to mid-October. Admission during regular opening hours is free.
- Good to know: For groups, the house is also open during the week on request.
- Tip: Plan the visit as a stopover on your gorge hike.
Wine tasting at Boudry Castle (1.5 hours)
At the exit of the gorge lies the wine town of Boudry. In the castle, the Musée de la vigne et du vin is dedicated to viticulture and the art of winemaking. If you get a group of 10 people together, you will be able to taste wines from the region after visiting the exhibition.
- Good to know: The museum welcomes you from Wednesday to Sunday from 2 pm to 5 pm.
- Tip: Combine the museum visit with a walk through the old town of Boudry.
General information
| Season |
April - November
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|---|---|
| Accessibility |
Partially accessible
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Discover the surroundings
Address
Jura & Drei-Seen-Land
2001
Neuchâtel
Switzerland
Phone
+41 (0)32 889 68 90
info@j3l.ch
j3l.ch
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