L'Areuse–Emme–Sihl
Overview
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Distance 38 km
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Ascent 260 m
Intro
The green fairy (absinth) floats through the Val de Travers, the Areuse pushes spectacularly through a gorge, the view to the lake opens, Neuchâtel: above the thousand-year-old castle, below the lively old town and at the harbour a touch of the Mediterranean.
Description
Fleurier is an industrial town that was once home to important factories, including watch manufacturers which exported their products to the Far East. You follow the course of the Areuse on surfaced roads to the nearby village of Couvet. The source of the Areuse rises at 799 metres in the St. Sulpice Klus. The Areuse supplies 70 percent of Neuchâtel’s population with drinking water via water catchments. The hydropower of the Areuse has been used in a variety of ways at all times, whether for factories or for fish farming.
Located in the Val de Travers district, Couvet is known for its absinthe distilleries such as Pernod, Duval and Berger, which existed from the late 18th century to 1910. The origins of the Fée Verte brand are not clearly documented but can possibly be traced back to Couvet.
Not far from Couvet are the asphalt mines of La Presta. For more than 100 years, asphalt was painstakingly mined underground and exported worldwide for road construction. Today, the mines are closed and some of them serve as a museum that is open to the public.
The route continues through green fields along the Areuse. Also nearby is the Creux du Van, a breathtakingly attractive rock circle with a superb all-round view.
Shortly after Noiraigue, the path plunges into forest and the Creux du Van Reserve. The cycle path runs slightly above the Saut de Brot, where an old stone bridge stretches over the Areuse Gorge. Gigantic rock towers rise up at this point.
As soon as the path leaves the forest, the landscape changes completely. The route now continues through vineyards with a view of Lake Neuchâtel and the Alps in the background.
The final section runs through small wine villages down to the shores of Lake Neuchâtel. The final route follows the lake promenade to the Neuchâtel boat station.
An enjoyable tour includes the careful planning of the same. Please inform yourself in advance at the local information center about the route and weather conditions. Depending on the season and weather conditions, this route may be blocked or interrupted
| Start location |
Fleurier
|
|---|---|
| Destination |
Neuchâtel
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| Ascent |
260 m
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| Descent |
560 m
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| Distance |
38 km
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| Distance on tarred ways |
37 km
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| Distance on natural surface |
1 km
|
| Physical requirements |
Easy
|
| Theme |
Along Water
|
Quick Facts
Route number
