The best museums to visit in the city of Neuchâtel

All kinds of contemporary concerts, conferences and talks also contribute to the lively atmosphere of the place, where Dürrenmatt's spirit is never far away.

Although Friedrich Dürrenmatt (1912-1990) was a famous writer and dramatist, he was also a passionate painter throughout his life. The Dürrenmatt Centre is tasked with the mission of making his artwork and thought accessible to all.

Permanent exhibitions: Ancient Egypt, Himalayas (collections from Bhoutan and Tibet), General Charles Daniel de Meuron's 18th century natural history display and the 21st century curios display.

On an elegant promenade, the MAHN - short for museum of art and history - lies right by the port of Neuchâtel. The building, which was planned from the outset as a museum and presents itself in grand shape with Renaissance-style elements, was opened in 1885. Today the MAHN bids a contemporary and extraordinarily versatile program inside its more than 20 rooms.

The changing exhibitions regularly broach new and exciting aspects of the city's history. Also worth seeing are the collections: Comprising images of Pierre-Eugene Bouvier or the watch collections of Ferdinand Berthoud and Abraham-Louis Breguet - and of course the famous automaton by Pierre Jaquet-Droz from the year 1774 that depicts a writer, a draftsman and a musician.

The impressive Château de Boudry, which rises above the Neuchâtel vineyards, is home to a fascinating museum devoted to the development of grape varieties and winegrowing over the centuries. The château also has a wine bar that offers local wines and other products for tasting.

A museum for people of all ages, discovered at the heart of Neuchâtel city. The museum is housed in a historic building that was subject to all-embracing renovations - and in addition to traditional landscape paintings that bring to light the region’s fauna, new rooms dedicated to insects and geology were inaugurated in 2012.