Editing Neuchâtel

{{Short description|Swiss town}}
{{Other uses}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2023}}
{{Use British English|date=February 2014}}
{{Infobox Swiss town
|subject_name = Neuchâtel
|image_photo = Vuevilledeneuchatel.jpg
|image_caption = 
|municipality_type = municipality and city
|imagepath_flag = Neuchâtel-Commune.svg
|imagepath_coa = Neuchatel city coat of arms.svg|pixel_coa=
|canton = Neuchâtel
|iso-code-region = CH-NE
|district = 
|coordinates = {{coord|47|0|N|6|56|E|display=inline,title}}
|postal_code = 2000
|municipality_code = 6458
|area = 18.05
|elevation = 479
|elevation_description = railway station
|highest              = Grand Chaumont
|highest_m            = 1177
|lowest               = Port
|lowest_m             = 434
|population = {{Swiss populations NC|CH-NE|6458}}
|populationof = {{Swiss populations YM|CH-NE}}
|popofyear = {{Swiss populations Y|CH-NE}}
|website = neuchatelville.ch
|mayor = [[Fabio Bongiovanni]] |mayor_asof= January 2017 |mayor_party= PLR
|mayor_title = Le Président du Conseil communal
|list_of_mayors = List of mayors of Neuchâtel
|executive_name = [[#Government|Conseil communal]]
|executive_number_of_members = 5
|parliament_name = [[#Parliament|Conseil général]]
|parliament_number_of_members = 41
|places = La Coudre, Serrières, Pierre-à-Bot, Gorges du Seyon, Chaumont, Petit Chaumont, Grand Chaumont, Peseux, Corcelles-Cormondrèche, Valangin 
|demonym = {{langx|fr|Neuchâtelois(e)}}
|neighboring_municipalities= [[Boudry]], [[Cressier, Neuchâtel|Cressier]], [[Cudrefin]] (VD), [[Delley-Portalban]] (FR), [[Laténa]], [[Milvignes]], [[Val-de-Ruz]], [[Vully-les-Lacs]] (VD)
|twintowns = [[Aarau]] (Switzerland), [[Besançon]] (France), [[Sansepolcro]] (Italy)
}}

'''Neuchâtel''' ({{IPAc-en|UK|ˌ|n|ɜː|ʃ|æ|ˈ|t|ɛ|l}}, {{IPAc-en|US|-|ʃ|ɑː|ˈ|-|,_|ˌ|nj|uː|ʃ|ə|ˈ|-|,_|ˌ|n|ʊ|ʃ|ɑː|ˈ|-}};<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/neuchatel,_lake|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210725071654/https://www.lexico.com/en/definition/Neuchatel,_Lake|url-status=dead|archive-date=25 July 2021|title=NEUCHÂTEL, LAKE English Definition and Meaning &#124; Lexico.com|website=Lexico Dictionaries &#124; English}}</ref><ref>{{Cite American Heritage Dictionary|Neuchâtel|access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/neuchatel|title=Neuchâtel|work=[[Collins English Dictionary]]|publisher=[[HarperCollins]]|access-date=31 May 2019}}</ref> {{IPA|fr|nøʃɑtɛl|lang|LL-Q150 (fra)-Benoît Prieur-neufchâtel.wav}}; {{langx|de|Neuenburg}} {{IPA|de-CH|ˈnɔʏənbʊrɡ||De-Neuenburg.ogg}}) is a [[list of towns in Switzerland|town]], a [[Municipalities of Switzerland|municipality]], and the [[capital (political)|capital]] of the [[cantons of Switzerland|Swiss canton]] of [[Neuchâtel (canton)|Neuchâtel]] on [[Lake Neuchâtel]]. Since the fusion in 2021 of the municipalities of Neuchâtel, [[Corcelles-Cormondrèche]], [[Peseux, Neuchâtel|Peseux]], and [[Valangin]],<ref name="Swiss Federal Statistical Office">{{Cite web |url=https://www.agvchapp.bfs.admin.ch/de/home |title=Applikation der Schweizer Gemeinden |year=2021 | work=bfs.admin.ch | publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office |access-date= 21 January 2021}}</ref> the city has approximately 33,000 inhabitants (80,000 in the metropolitan area).<ref>{{cite web |publisher=[[Federal Statistical Office (Switzerland)|Federal Statistical Office]] |title=Bilanz der ständigen Wohnbevölkerung (Total) nach Bezirken und Gemeinden |date=26 March 2021 |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/en/home/statistics/regional-statistics/regional-portraits-key-figures/communes.assetdetail.15864450.html |access-date=2021-11-13}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |publisher=Neuchâtel |title=FUSION NEUCHÂTEL |date=2021 |url=https://www.neuchatelville.ch/fr/votre-commune/fusion-neuchatel/ |access-date=2021-11-13}}</ref> The city is sometimes referred to historically by the German name {{lang|de|Neuenburg}}; both the French and German names mean "New Castle".

The castle after which the city is named was built by [[Rudolph III of Burgundy]] and completed in 1011. Originally part of the [[Kingdom of Burgundy]], the city was absorbed into the [[Holy Roman Empire]] in 1033. The domain of the [[counts of Neuchatel]] was first referred to as a city in 1214. The city came under [[Prussia]]n control from 1707 until 1848, with an interruption during the [[Napoleonic Wars]] from 1806 to 1814. In 1848, Neuchâtel became a republic and a canton of Switzerland.

Neuchâtel is a centre of the Swiss watch industry, the site of micro-technology and high-tech industries, and home to research centres and organizations such as the [[Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology]] (CSEM), and [[Philip Morris International]]'s ''Cube''.

=={{anchor|Names of Neuchâtel}}Names and etymology==
{{see also|Names of Neuchâtel in different languages}}
''Neuchâtel'' is a medieval toponym derived from the {{langx|fro|neu}} "new" ([[Modern French#Modern French|Modern French]] ''neuf'') and {{lang|fro|[[wikt:châtel|châtel]]}} "castle" (now ''château'') in reference to the 10th century [[Neuchâtel Castle]].{{efn|The city is one of the [[Newcastles of the World]]<ref name="Nom"/> and hosted the 2000 Newcastles of the World summit.<ref>[https://newcastlesoftheworld.com/ Newcastles of the World: About.] Retrieved 1 October 2021.</ref>}}  In French, most adjectives, when used attributively, appear after their nouns; however, the leading position of the adjective is a phenomenon widely attested in the north and east of France, as well as in Belgium and in French-speaking Switzerland ([[Romandy]]).  As with the various other places named [[Neuchâtel (disambiguation)|Neuchâtel]], [[Neufchâtel (disambiguation)|Neufchâtel]], [[Neufchâteau (disambiguation)|Neufchâteau]] of northern France and Belgium, this reflects the Germanic influence on [[Gallo-Romance languages]] retained in the toponymy today.<ref>Walter, Henriette. "Une germanique influence" in ''Le Français dans tous les sens.'' Robert Laffont: 1988. {{ISBN|2253140015}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |language=fr |first1=François |last1=de Beaurepaire |title=Les Noms des communes et anciennes paroisses de la Seine-Maritime |place=Paris |publisher=A. and J. Picard |year=1979 |page=8 |isbn=2-7084-0040-1 |oclc=6403150}}</ref> This contrasts with the [[Occitan language|Occitan]] [[Castelnau (disambiguation)|Castelnau]]s (and the Frenchified [[Châteauneuf (disambiguation)|Châteauneuf]]s) in the south of France.

The German name for the town is ''Neuenburg'', which also translates roughly as "new castle".  The longer form ''Neuenburg am See'' ("Newcastle by [[Lake Neuchâtel|the lake]]") is sometimes used to disambiguate it from the numerous other [[Neuenburg (disambiguation)|Neuenburg]]s, especially [[Neuenburg am Rhein]].  The [[Romansh language]] uses the French ''Neuchâtel'', and occasionanally ''Neuschatel''<ref name="HLS">{{cite web |url=https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/ghh/?ghhterm=Neuch%E2tel |title=Neuchâtel |author=<!--Not stated--> |date=2021 |website=Historische Lexikon der Schweiz |language=de,fr,it,rm |access-date=2021-10-01 }}</ref> and ''Neufchâtel''; contemporary Italian largely uses the French name as well, but occasionally the historic ''Neocastello'' is seen.<ref name="Gout">{{cite web|url=https://www.gout.ch/it/buoni-per-i-giovani|website=Gout.ch |title=La settimana del gusto, Gastronomia per i giovani |language=it |date=2020 |access-date=2021-10-01}}</ref>

Regionally, the [[Franco-Provençal|Romand]] (Arpitan) name for the town is ''Nôchâtél'' in the broad ''[[Franco-Provençal#Orthography|Orthographe de référence B]]''<ref>{{cite book |language  = fr,frp |first1=Dominique |last1=Stich |title=Dictionnaire francoprovençal-français |place= Thonon-les-Bains |publisher=Editions Le Carré |year=2003}}</ref> and is pronounced ''N'tchati'' {{IPA|frp|n̩.t͡ʃa.ˈti|}} locally,<ref>{{cite book | title=Le patois neuchâtelois |place=Neuchâtel |publisher=Imprimerie Wolfrath et Cie |year=1895}}</ref><ref>{{cite book |language  = fr,de,it |first1 = Andres|last1=Kristol |title=Dictionnaire toponymique des communes suisses |publisher=Éditions Payot |place=Lausanne |year=2005 |isbn=2-601-03336-3}}</ref> ''N'tchatai'' {{IPA|frp|n̩.t͡ʃa.ˈtai|}} in [[La Sagne]],<ref name="Rilliot">{{cite web |language=fr,frp |url=http://www.patoisneuchatelois.net/patoisneuchatelois.net/Predji_pate_files/lexique.receuil.fra-patois.ne.montagnes.pdf |title=Lexique français-patois |author=Rilliot, Joël |page=76 |access-date=2021-10-01}}</ref> ''N'tchaté'' {{IPA|frp|n̩.t͡ʃa.ˈte|}} in [[Les Planchettes]]<ref name="Rilliot"/> and ''Nchaté'' {{IPA|frp|n̩.ʃa.ˈte|}} or ''Ntchaté''  in {{ill|Les Éplatures|fr}}.<ref name="Rilliot"/>

===Historic names===
[[File:Neuchatel Merian Est.jpg|thumb|right|300px|Neuchâtel in 1645, showing the spires of [[Neuchâtel Castle]]; ''n.b.'' that the picture is labelled ''Neocomum'' (Latin) and ''Neuenburg am See'' (German)]]

The [[Neo-Latin]] name for Neuchâtel is the [[Ancient Greek|Greek]]-derived ''Neocomum'',<ref>{{cite book |title=[[Lexicon Universale]] |section=Nomenclator |first1=Johann Jacob |last1=Hofmann |author-link1=Johann Jacob Hofmann |year=1698 |location= [[Leiden|Lugduni Batavorum]] |publisher= Jacob Hackium et al. |language=Latin |section-url=https://hdl.handle.net/2027/ucm.5320298560?urlappend=%3Bseq=947%3Bownerid=35311850-987 }}</ref><ref name="Nom">{{cite web |url=https://www.neuchatelville.ch/fr/sortir-et-decouvrir/visiter-neuchatel/reperes-historiques/ |title=Repères historiques: Le Nom |website=Site officiel de la Ville de Neuchâtel |publisher=Centre électronique de gestion de la Ville de Neuchâtel |language=fr |access-date=2021-10-01 }}</ref> and this gives the adjective ''neocomensis'' which appears on the seal of the [[University of Neuchâtel]]<ref name="Nom"/> (in ''Universitas Neocomensis Helvetiorum'') and the English adjective [[Neocomian]], a term for a former [[stratigraphic stage]] of the [[Early Cretaceous]].<ref>{{EB1911|noprescript=1|wstitle=Neocomian}}</ref> Other Latin names seen historically include ''Novum castellum'' in 1011<ref name="Jelmini"/> (upon the presentation of Neuchâtel Castle by [[Rudolph III of Burgundy]] to his wife [[Ermengarde of Burgundy|Ermengarde]]<ref name="Jelmini"/>) and ''Novum Castrum'' in 1143.<ref name="Jelmini">{{cite web |url=https://hls-dhs-dss.ch/fr/articles/002853/2021-09-08/ |title=Neuchâtel (commune) |last=Jelmini |first=Jean-Pierre |date=2021-09-08 |website=Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse |publisher=Académie suisse des sciences humaines et sociales |language=fr,de,it |access-date=2021-10-01 }}</ref>

Historic French names included ''Nuefchastel'' (attested in 1251),<ref name="Jelmini"/> ''Neufchastel'' (1338),<ref name="Jelmini"/> and ''Neufchatel'',<ref name="Nom"/> with modern ''Neuchâtel'' in use by 1750.<ref name="Jelmini"/> In the [[Franche-Comté]], the city was also called ''Neuchâtel-outre-Joux'' ("Neuchâtel beyond [[Vallée de Joux|Joux]]") to distinguish it from another Neuchâtel in that region, now called [[Neuchâtel-Urtière]].

German names of the town included ''Nienburg'',<ref name="Nom"/> ''Nuvenburch'' (attested in 1033)<ref name="Jelmini"/> ''Nüwenburg'',<ref name="Nom"/> ''Welschen Nüwenburg'',<ref name="HLS"/>{{efn|German ''[[Walhaz|Welsch-]]'' refers to the inhabitants of [[Romandy]] ''(Welschschweiz ''or'' Welschland<ref name="HLS"/>)'' and is prefixed to several German-language placenames in Switzerland and beyond (e.g. [[Welschenrohr]] near the language border).}} ''Newenburg am See''<ref name="HLS"/> ("Newcastle by the lake") and ''Welschneuburg'',<ref name="HLS"/> with modern ''Neuenburg'' established by 1725.<ref name="Jelmini"/>

Italian names included ''Neocastello''<ref>{{cite news|author=Umberto Tirelli|url=https://www.corriere.it/cultura/speciali/2010/orologi/notizie/torelli-luogo-neuchatel_4a537ac8-672c-11df-a510-00144f02aabe.shtml |title=Neuchâtel, valle verde tra Dürrenmatt e cacao |work=[[Corriere della Sera]] |language=it |date=2010-05-24 |access-date=2021-10-01}}</ref> (which is occasionally seen in contemporary contexts<ref name="Gout"/>) and ''Nuovo Castello''.<ref>{{cite web|language=it |url=https://archive.org/details/bub_gb_ssEZLFYbuFAC/page/n573 |work=Dizionario universale portatile di lingua italiana, geografia, storia sacra, ecclesiastica e profana, mitologia, medicina, chirurgia, veterinaria, farmaceutica, fisica, chimica, zoologia, botanica, mineralogia, scienze, arti, mestieri, ecc., vol. 2, pag. 571, 1ª colonna in basso |title=Nuovo Castello |author-first=Nicola |author-last=De Jacobis |date=1845 |access-date=2021-10-01}}</ref>

==History==
{{See also|Canton of Neuchâtel#History|l1=History of the canton of Neuchâtel}}

===Prehistory===
[[File:Laténium-dame-Monruz.jpg|thumb|left|120px|[[Venus of Monruz]], dating to the end of the [[Magdalenian]]]]
The oldest traces of humans in the municipal area are the remains of a [[Magdalenian]] hunting camp, which was dated to 13,000 BC. It was discovered in 1990 during construction of the [[A5 motorway (Switzerland)|A5 motorway]] at Monruz (La Coudre). The site was about {{convert|5|m|ft|abbr=on}} below the main road. Around the fire pits carved flints and bones were found. In addition to the flint and bone artifacts three tiny earrings from [[lignite]] were found. The earrings may have served as symbols of fertility and represent the oldest known art in Switzerland. This first camp was used by [[Cro-Magnon]]s to hunt horse and reindeer in the area. [[Azilian]] hunters had a camp at the same site at about 11,000 BC. Since the climate had changed, their prey was now deer and wild boar.

During the 19th century, traces of some [[stilt house]]s were found in Le Cret near the red church. However, their location was not well documented and the site was lost. In 1999, during construction of the lower station of the [[funicular]] railway, which connects the railway station and university, the settlement was rediscovered. It was later determined to be a [[Cortaillod culture]] (middle [[Neolithic]]) village. According to [[dendrochronological]] studies, some of the piles were from 3571 BC.<ref name=HDS/>

A [[Hallstatt culture|Hallstatt]] grave (early [[Iron Age]]) was found in the forest of Les Cadolles.

=== Antiquity ===
[[File:Rudolph III of Burgundy BERTA.jpg|thumb|left|200px|Rudolph and his sister Bertha in the pedigree of the [[Ottonian dynasty]], ''[[Chronica sancti Pantaleonis]]'', Cologne (13th century)]]At Les Favarger a [[Gallo-Roman culture|Gallo-Roman]] and at André Fontaine a small coin depot were discovered. In 1908, an excavation at the mouth of the {{ill|Serrière|fr}} discovered Gallo-Roman baths from the 2nd and 3rd centuries AD.

===Middle Ages===
One of the most important [[Merovingian]] cemeteries in the canton was discovered at Les Battieux in {{ill|Serrières, Neuchâtel|lt=Serrières|fr|Serrières (Neuchâtel)}}. In 1982, 38 graves dating from the 7th century were excavated many of which contained silver-inlaid or silver-plated belt buckles. Also in Serrières at the church of Saint-Jean, the remains of a 7th-century shrine were excavated.<ref name=HDS/>

In 1011, [[Rudolph III of Burgundy]] presented a ''Novum castellum'' or ''new castle'' on the lake shore to his wife, [[Ermengarde of Burgundy|Ermengarde]]. It was long assumed that this new castle replaced an older one, but nothing about its location or design is known. At the time of this gift Neuchâtel was probably the center of a newly created royal court, which was recently developed to complement the other royal estates which managed western estates of the [[kings of Burgundy]].<ref name=HDS/>

The first [[counts of Neuchâtel]] were named shortly afterwards, and in 1214 their domain was officially dubbed a city.

===Early modern era===
For three centuries, the [[County of Neuchâtel]] flourished, and in 1530, the people of Neuchâtel accepted the [[Reformation]], and their city and territory were proclaimed to be indivisible from then on. Future rulers were required to seek investiture from the citizens.

With increasing power and prestige, Neuchâtel was raised to the level of a [[principality]] at the beginning of the 17th century. On the death in 1707 of [[Marie de Nemours|Marie d'Orleans-Longueville, duchess de Nemours]] and [[Princess of Neuchâtel]], the people had to choose her successor from among fifteen claimants. They wanted their new prince first and foremost to be a Protestant, and also to be strong enough to protect their territory but based far enough away to leave them to their own devices. [[Louis XIV]] actively promoted the many French pretenders to the title, but the Neuchâtelois people passed them over in favour of King [[Frederick I of Prussia]], who claimed his entitlement in a rather complicated fashion through the [[House of Orange-Nassau|Houses of Orange and Nassau]]. With the requisite stability assured, Neuchâtel entered its golden age, with commerce and industry (including watchmaking and lace) and banking undergoing steady expansion.

===Modern Neuchâtel===
[[File:ETH-BIB-Neuchâtel-LBS H1-011991.tif|thumb|Aerial view (1949)]]
At the beginning of the 19th century, Prussia sought to obtain [[Electorate of Hanover|Hanover]] whilst still maintaining neutrality and abstaining from the wars waged by Napoleon. [[Frederick William III of Prussia|Frederick William III]] had hoped that Prussia could receive the Electorate of Hanover from France only after the event of a British defeat and a resulting treaty, lest Prussia be forced to enter war alongside France against Britain over the territory, with which Britain had been in [[personal union]] since 1714. To achieve these aims of receiving Hanover with a simultaneous preservation of neutrality, Prussia offered to give up certain exclaves to the French, however, Napoleon exploited Prussia's politically isolated position and forced Prussia to give up more than had been hoped, partake in the [[Continental System|Continental Blockade]], and to officially annex Hanover in the Treaty of Paris on 15 February 1806, resulting in the cession of the principality of Neuchâtel to Napoleon. Napoleon's field marshal, [[Louis Alexandre Berthier|Berthier]], became Prince of Neuchâtel, building roads and restoring infrastructure, but never actually setting foot in his domain. After the fall of Napoleon, Frederick William III of Prussia reasserted his rights by proposing that Neuchâtel be linked with the other Swiss cantons (to exert better influence over all of them). On 12 September 1814, Neuchâtel became the capital of the 21st canton, but also remained a Prussian principality. It took a bloodless revolution in the decades following for Neuchâtel to shake off its princely past and declare itself, on 1 March 1848, a republic within the Swiss Confederation. Prussia yielded its claim to the canton following the 1856–1857 [[Neuchâtel Crisis]].

On 1 January 2021 the former municipalities of [[Corcelles-Cormondrèche]], [[Peseux, Switzerland|Peseux]] and [[Valangin]] merged into the municipality of Neuchâtel.<ref name="Swiss Federal Statistical Office"/> Corcelles-Cormondrèche was first mentioned in the historical record in 1092 as ''Curcellis''. Around 1220 it was mentioned as ''Cormundreschi''.<ref name=HDS_CC>{{HDS|2829|Corcelles-Cormondrèche}}</ref> Peseux was first mentioned in 1195 as ''apud Pusoz'' though this comes from a 15th-century copy of an earlier document. In 1278 it was mentioned as ''de Posoys''.<ref name=HDS_Peseux>{{HDS|2834|Peseux}}</ref> Valangin was first mentioned in 1241 as ''de Valengiz''.<ref name=HDS_Valangin>{{HDS|2870|Valangin}}</ref>

==Geography==
[[File:Neuchâtel.gif|thumb|left|250px|Map of town centre showing the evolution of the shoreline]]
Before the 2021 merger of municipalities, Neuchâtel had an area, {{as of|2009|lc=on}}, of {{convert|18.1|km2|mi2|sp=us}}. Of this area, {{convert|1.84|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 10.2% was used for agricultural purposes, while {{convert|9.74|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 53.8% was forested. Of the rest of the land, {{convert|6.42|km2|mi2|abbr=on}} or 35.5% was settled (buildings or roads), {{convert|0.03|km2|acre|abbr=on}} or 0.2% was either rivers or lakes and {{convert|0.02|km2|acre|abbr=on}} or 0.1% was unproductive land.<ref name=BFS_land>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/02/03/blank/data/gemeindedaten.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office-Land Use Statistics] 2009 data {{in lang|de}} accessed 25 March 2010</ref>

Of the built up area, industrial buildings made up 2.2% of the total area while housing and buildings made up 18.0% and transportation infrastructure made up 10.1%. while parks, green belts and sports fields made up 4.3%. Out of the forested land, 51.8% of the total land area was heavily forested and 2.0% is covered with orchards or small clusters of trees. Of the agricultural land, 1.4% was used for growing crops and 8.0% was pastures. All the water in the municipality is in lakes.<ref name=BFS_land/>

The city is located on the northwestern shore of [[Lake Neuchâtel]], a few kilometers east of [[Peseux, Switzerland|Peseux]] and west of [[Saint-Blaise, Switzerland|Saint-Blaise]]. Above Neuchâtel, roads and train tracks rise steeply into the folds and ridges of the [[Jura Mountains|Jura]] range—known within the canton as the ''Montagnes neuchâteloises''. Like the continuation of the mountains on either side, this is wild and hilly country, not exactly mountainous compared with the high [[Alps]] further south but still characterized by remote, windswept settlements and deep, rugged valleys. It is also the heartland of the celebrated Swiss watchmaking industry, centered on the once-famous towns of [[La Chaux-de-Fonds]] and [[Le Locle]], which both rely heavily on their horological past to draw in visitors. The river [[Doubs (river)|Doubs]] marks for a part the border with [[France]], set down in a gorge and forming along its path a waterfall, the {{ill|Saut du Doubs|fr}}, and lake, the [[Lac des Brenets]].

The municipality was the capital of [[Neuchâtel District]], until the district level of administration was eliminated on 1 January 2018.<ref>[https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/grundlagen/agvch.html Amtliches Gemeindeverzeichnis der Schweiz ] {{in lang|de}} accessed 15 February 2018</ref>

===Climate===
{{Weather box
|location = Neuchâtel, elevation {{convert|485|m|ft|abbr=on}}, (1991–2020)
|metric first = Yes
|single line = Yes
| Jan high C = 3.9
| Feb high C = 5.6
| Mar high C = 10.6
| Apr high C = 15.0
| May high C = 18.9
| Jun high C = 22.9
| Jul high C = 25.3
| Aug high C = 24.7
| Sep high C = 19.8
| Oct high C = 14.1
| Nov high C = 8.1
| Dec high C = 4.6
| year high C = 14.5
| Jan mean C = 1.8
| Feb mean C = 2.6
| Mar mean C = 6.5
| Apr mean C = 10.3
| May mean C = 14.2
| Jun mean C = 18.0
| Jul mean C = 20.1
| Aug mean C = 19.6
| Sep mean C = 15.5
| Oct mean C = 10.8
| Nov mean C = 5.8
| Dec mean C = 2.6
| year mean C = 10.7
| Jan low C = -0.3
| Feb low C = -0.1
| Mar low C = 2.9
| Apr low C = 6.0
| May low C = 9.9
| Jun low C = 13.5
| Jul low C = 15.4
| Aug low C = 15.2
| Sep low C = 11.7
| Oct low C = 8.0
| Nov low C = 3.5
| Dec low C = 0.6
| year low C = 7.2
|precipitation colour = green
|Jan precipitation mm = 69.4
|Feb precipitation mm = 57.8
|Mar precipitation mm = 62.6
|Apr precipitation mm = 67.4
|May precipitation mm = 86.9
|Jun precipitation mm = 86.7
|Jul precipitation mm = 91.6
|Aug precipitation mm = 99.4
|Sep precipitation mm = 77.4
|Oct precipitation mm = 87.6
|Nov precipitation mm = 76.3
|Dec precipitation mm = 92.5
|year precipitation mm = 955.6
| Jan snow cm = 9.8
| Feb snow cm = 7.9
| Mar snow cm = 3.9
| Apr snow cm = 0.4
| May snow cm = 0.0
| Jun snow cm = 0.0
| Jul snow cm = 0.0
| Aug snow cm = 0.0
| Sep snow cm = 0.0
| Oct snow cm = 0.0
| Nov snow cm = 2.5
| Dec snow cm = 8.7
| year snow cm = 33.2
|unit precipitation days = 1.0 mm
| Jan precipitation days = 9.9
| Feb precipitation days = 8.9
| Mar precipitation days = 9.0
| Apr precipitation days = 9.2
| May precipitation days = 11.4
| Jun precipitation days = 10.4
| Jul precipitation days = 10.3
| Aug precipitation days = 10.2
| Sep precipitation days = 8.5
| Oct precipitation days = 10.4
| Nov precipitation days = 9.6
| Dec precipitation days = 10.5
| year precipitation days = 118.3
| unit snow days = 1.0&nbsp;cm
| Jan snow days = 3.4
| Feb snow days = 2.7
| Mar snow days = 1.1
| Apr snow days = 0.3
| May snow days = 0.0
| Jun snow days = 0.0
| Jul snow days = 0.0
| Aug snow days = 0.0
| Sep snow days = 0.0
| Oct snow days = 0.0
| Nov snow days = 1.0
| Dec snow days = 2.6
| year snow days = 11.1
| Jan humidity = 82
| Feb humidity = 76
| Mar humidity = 68
| Apr humidity = 65
| May humidity = 67
| Jun humidity = 67
| Jul humidity = 64
| Aug humidity = 68
| Sep humidity = 73
| Oct humidity = 80
| Nov humidity = 82
| Dec humidity = 83
| year humidity = 73
|Jan sun = 52.5
|Feb sun = 92.4
|Mar sun = 157.0
|Apr sun = 187.8
|May sun = 207.7
|Jun sun = 231.7
|Jul sun = 254.0
|Aug sun = 233.9
|Sep sun = 178.6
|Oct sun = 107.7
|Nov sun = 56.2
|Dec sun = 40.1
|year sun = 1799.6
| Jan percentsun = 20
| Feb percentsun = 34
| Mar percentsun = 45
| Apr percentsun = 49
| May percentsun = 48
| Jun percentsun = 54
| Jul percentsun = 58
| Aug percentsun = 57
| Sep percentsun = 50
| Oct percentsun = 34
| Nov percentsun = 22
| Dec percentsun = 16
| year percentsun = 43
| source 1 = [[National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration|NOAA]]<ref name=NOAA1>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20241213073309/https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/5.5/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Switzerland/CSV/Neuchatel_06604.csv
| archive-date = 13 December 2024
| url = https://www.ncei.noaa.gov/data/oceans/archive/arc0216/0253808/5.5/data/0-data/Region-6-WMO-Normals-9120/Switzerland/CSV/Neuchatel_06604.csv
| title = World Meteorological Organization Climate Normals for 1991–2020
| work = World Meteorological Organization Climatological Standard Normals (1991–2020)
| publisher = National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration
| access-date = 13 December 2024}}</ref>
|source 2 = [[MeteoSwiss]]<ref name=MeteoSwiss>{{cite web
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220120182741/https://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/product/output/climate-data/climate-diagrams-normal-values-station-processing/NEU/climsheet_NEU_np9120_e.pdf
| archive-date = 20 January 2022
| url = https://www.meteoswiss.admin.ch/product/output/climate-data/climate-diagrams-normal-values-station-processing/NEU/climsheet_NEU_np9120_e.pdf
| title = Climate Normals Neuchâtel (Reference period 1991–2020) 
| publisher = Swiss Federal Office of Meteorology and Climatology, MeteoSwiss 
| access-date = 20 January 2022}}</ref>
|date=August 2010
}}

==Politics==

===Coat of arms===
[[File:Neuchatel city coat of arms.svg|thumb|left|100px|Neuchâtel's coat of arms]]
The [[blazon]] of the municipal [[coat of arms]] is ''Or, an Eagle displayed Sable beaked, langued and membered Gules, escutcheon Or, on a pale Gules three Chevrons Argent.''<ref>[http://www.crwflags.com/fotw/flags/ch-ne033.html Flags of the World.com] accessed 25-October-2011</ref>

===Administrative divisions===

===Government===
The Municipal Council ({{lang|fr|Conseil communal}}, CC) constitutes the [[executive (government)|executive]] government of the City of Neuchâtel and operates as a [[collegiate authority]]. It is composed of five councillors ({{langx|fr|Conseiller communal/ Conseillère communale}}), each presiding over administrational sections and services comprising the related commissions. The president of the executive department acts as [[mayor]] (''{{lang|fr|président(e)}}'') and is nominated annually in a tournus by the collegiate itself. In the mandate period January 2021 – June 2022 (''{{lang|fr|l'année administrative}}'') the Municipal Council is presided by ''{{lang|fr|Madame la présidente}}'' [[Violaine Blétry-de Montmollin]]. Departmental tasks, coordination measures and implementation of laws decreed by the General Council (parliament) are carried by the Municipal Council. The regular election of the Municipal Council by any inhabitant valid to vote is held every four years. Any resident of Neuchâtel allowed to vote can be elected as a member of the Municipal Council. Due to the constitution by canton of Neuchâtel not only Swiss citizens have the right to vote and elect and being elected on communal and cantonal level, but also foreigners with a residence in the canton of Neuchâtel and being resident in the canton of Neuchâtel for at least one year for communal elections and votes, and at least five years of residence in the canton for cantonal elections and votes.<ref name=MdE>{{cite web |url=http://www.neuchatelville.ch/droits-politiques |title=Voter? Mode d'emploi |publisher=Ville de Neuchâtel |type=official site |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland |date=2016 |language=fr |access-date=2016-03-27 |archive-date=30 October 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131030232930/http://www.neuchatelville.ch/droits-politiques |url-status=dead }}</ref> The current mandate period is from 2021 to 2024. The delegates are selected by means of a system of [[proportional representation]].<ref name=R>{{cite web |url=https://www.neuchatelville.ch/fr/votre-commune/reglementation/ |title=Réglementation |publisher=Ville de Neuchâtel |type=official site |language=fr |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland |date=2021 |access-date=2021-10-19}}</ref>

{{As of|2017}}, Neuchâtel's Municipal Council is made up of two representatives of the PS/SP ([[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democratic Party]]), two representatives of the PLR/FDP ({{lang|fr|[[FDP.The Liberals|Les Libéraux-Radicaux]]}}), and one member of the PES/GPS ([[Green Party of Switzerland|Green Party]]). The last regular election was held on 25 October 2020.<ref name=EC>{{cite web |url=https://www.neuchatelville.ch/fr/participer/votations-elections/communales-2020/ |title=Élections communales 2020 |publisher=Ville de Neuchâtel |type=official site |language=fr |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland |date=25 October 2020 |access-date=2021-10-04}}</ref>

{|class="wikitable"
|+ ''{{lang|fr|Le Conseil communal}}'' (CC) of Neuchâtel<ref name=CC>{{cite web |url=https://www.neuchatelville.ch/fr/votre-commune/conseil-communal/ |title=Conseil communal |publisher=Ville de Neuchâtel |type=official site |language=fr |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland |date=2021 |access-date=2021-10-19}}</ref>
! Municipal Councilor<br />(''{{lang|fr|Conseiller communal/ Conseillère communale}}'')
! Party
! Head of section (''{{lang|fr|Directeur/Directrice de}}'', since) of
! Elected since
|-
| {{lang|fr|[[Violaine Blétry-de Montmollin]]}}<ref group=CC>Mayor (''{{lang|fr|présidente}}'') for one administrative year</ref>
| {{Color box|{{party color|FDP.The Liberals}}|border=darkgray}} PLR
| Territorial Development, Economy, Tourism, and Built Heritage (''{{lang|fr|Dicastère du développement territorial, de l'économie, du tourisme et du patrimoine bâti}}'', 2021)
| 2016
|-
| {{lang|fr|[[Thomas Facchinetti]]}}<ref group=CC>Vice-Mayor (''{{lang|fr|vice-président}}'') for one administrative year</ref>
| {{Color box|{{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}|border=darkgray}} PS
| Culture, Integration, and Social Cohesion (''{{lang|fr|Dicastère de la culture, de l'intégration et de la cohésion sociale}}'', 2021)
| 2012
|-
| {{lang|fr|[[Didier Boillat]]}}
| {{Color box|{{party color|FDP.The Liberals}}|border=darkgray}} PLR
| Technological Development, Agglomeration, Security, and Finances (''{{lang|fr|Dicastère du développement technologique, de l'agglomération, de la sécurité et des finances}}'', 2021)
| 2020
|-
| {{lang|fr|[[Nicole Baur]]}}
| style="white-space: nowrap;" | {{Color box|{{party color|Green Party of Switzerland}}|border=darkgray}} {{lang|fr|Les Verts}}
| Family, Education, Health, and Sport (''{{lang|fr|Dicastère de la famille, de la formation, de la santé et des sports}}'', 2021)
| 2020
|-
| {{lang|fr|[[Mauro Moruzzi]]}}
| {{Color box|{{party color|Green Liberal Party of Switzerland}}|border=darkgray}} pvl
| Sustainable Development, Mobility, Infrastructure, and Energy (''{{lang|fr|Dicastère du développement durable, de la mobilité, des infrastructures et de l'énergie}}'', 2021)
| 2020
|}
{{reflist|group=CC}}

Daniel Veuve is Town Chancellor (''{{lang|fr|chancelier}}'') since 2021 for the City Council.

===Parliament===
{{Pie chart
| thumb  = right
| caption=The ''{{lang|fr|Conseil général}}'' (CG) of Neuchâtel for the mandate period of 2020–24
| other  = 
| label1 = POP/PdA
| value1 = {{#expr: 1/(41/100) round 1}}
| color1 = {{party color|Swiss Party of Labour}}
| label2 = {{lang|fr|solidaritéS|nocat=y}}
| value2 = {{#expr: 2/(41/100) round 1}}
| color2 = {{party color|Solidarity}}
| label3 = PS
| value3 = {{#expr: 10/(41/100) round 1}}
| color3 = {{party color|Social Democratic Party of Switzerland}}
| label4 = {{lang|fr|Les Verts, Ecologie et Liberté|nocat=y}}
| value4 = {{#expr: 11/(41/100) round 1}}
| color4 = {{party color|Green Party of Switzerland}}
| label5 = pvl
| value5 = {{#expr: 5/(41/100) round 1}}
| color5 = {{party color|Green Liberal Party of Switzerland}}
| label6 = PLR
| value6 = {{#expr: 12/(41/100) round 1}}
| color6 = {{party color|FDP.The Liberals}}
}}
The General Council ({{lang|fr|Conseil général}}, CG), the city parliament, holds [[legislative power]]. It is made up of 41 members, with elections held every four years. The General Council decrees regulations and by-laws that are executed by the Municipal Council and the administration. The delegates are selected by means of a system of [[proportional representation]].

The sessions of the General Council are public. Unlike members of the Municipal Council, members of the General Council are not politicians by profession, and they are paid a fee based on their attendance. Any resident of Neuchâtel allowed to vote can be elected as a member of the General Council. Due to the constitution of the canton of Neuchâtel not only Swiss citizen have the right to vote and elect and be elected on the communal level, but also foreigners in the canton of Neuchâtel having been resident in the canton of Neuchâtel for at least one year for communal elections and votes, and at least five years of residence in the canton for cantonal elections and votes.<ref name=MdE/> The CG holds its meetings in the Town Hall (''{{lang|fr|L'Hôtel de Ville}}''), in the old city on ''{{lang|fr|Rue de l'Hôtel de Ville}}''.<ref name=CG>{{cite web |url=https://www.neuchatelville.ch/fr/votre-commune/conseil-general/ |title=Conseil général |publisher=Secrétariat du Conseil général |type=official site |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland |language=fr |date=2020 |access-date=2021-10-19}}</ref>

The last regular election of the General Council was held on 25 October 2020 for the mandate period (''{{lang|fr|la législature}}'') from 2020 to 2024. Currently the General Council consist of 12 members of [[FDP.The Liberals|The Liberals (PLR/FDP)]], 11 ''{{lang|fr|Les Verts, Ecologie et Liberté}}'' members (an alliance of the [[Green Party of Switzerland|Green Party (PES/GPS)]] and others), 10 [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|Social Democratic Party (PS/SP)]], 5 members of the [[Green Liberal Party of Switzerland|Green Liberals (pvl/glp)]], 2 members of the left party ''{{lang|fr|[[Solidarity (Switzerland)|solidaritéS]]}}'', and one of the [[Swiss Party of Labour|Swiss Party of Labour (PST-POP/PdA)]] (''{{lang|fr|Parti Suisse du Travail – Parti Ouvrier et Populaire}}'').<ref name=EC/>

===Elections===

====National Council====
In the [[2015 Swiss federal election|2015 federal election]] the most popular party was the [[Social Democratic Party of Switzerland|PS]] which received 29.3% of the vote. The next four most popular parties were the [[FDP.The Liberals|PLR]] (22.8%), the [[Swiss People's Party|UDC]] (13.6%), the [[Green Party of Switzerland|Green Party]] (12.1%), and the [[Swiss Party of Labour]] (10.1%). In the federal election, a total of 8,136 voters were cast, and the [[voter turnout]] was 41.4%.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/de/home/statistiken/politik/wahlen/nationalratswahlen/parteistaerken.assetdetail.317521.html |title=Nationalratswahlen 2015: Stärke der Parteien und Wahlbeteiligung nach Gemeinden |format=XLS |type=official statistics |publisher=Swiss Federal Statistical Office, FSO |date=9 March 2016 |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland |language=de, fr |access-date=2017-12-18}}</ref>

===International relations===
* Neuchâtel is a pilot city of the Council of Europe and the European Commission '''Intercultural cities''' programme.<ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.coe.int/t/dg4/cultureheritage/culture/Cities/neuchatel_en.asp |title=Intercultural city: Neuchâtel Canton, Switzerland |author=<!--Staff writer(s); no by-line.--> |work=[[Council of Europe]] |year=2011 |access-date=22 May 2011}}</ref>

====Twin towns – Sister cities====
{{See also|List of twin towns and sister cities in Switzerland}}
Neuchâtel is [[Twin towns and sister cities|twinned]] with:<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.neuchatelville.ch/fr/votre-commune/relations-exterieures/villes-jumelees/ |title=VILLES JUMELÉES |publisher=Ville de Neuchâtel |type=official site |language=fr |location=Neuchâtel, Switzerland |date=2021 |access-date=2021-10-19}}</ref>

*{{flagicon|SUI}} [[Aarau]], Switzerland, 1997
*{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Besançon]], France, 1975
*{{flagicon|ITA}} [[Sansepolcro]], Italy, 1997

====Namesakes====

Neuchâtel was part of the 1998 [[Summit (meeting)|summit]] of worldwide [[Newcastle (disambiguation)|cities named "New Castle"]] with:<ref>{{Cite web|title=Website of the official convention of cities named "new castle"|url=https://newcastlesoftheworld.com/|access-date=2021-05-24|website=newcastlesoftheworld.com|language=en}}</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
|- valign="top"
|
:{{flagicon|GER}} [[Neuburg an der Donau]], Germany
:{{flagicon|SWI}} Neuchâtel, Switzerland
:{{flagicon|FRA}} [[Neufchâteau, Vosges]], France 
:{{flagicon|USA}} [[New Castle, Delaware]], USA
:{{flagicon|USA}} [[New Castle, Indiana]], USA
||
:{{flagicon|USA}} [[New Castle, Pennsylvania]], USA
:{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Newcastle-under-Lyme]], England
:{{flagicon|ENG}} [[Newcastle upon Tyne]], England
:{{flagicon|RSA}} [[Newcastle, KwaZulu-Natal]], South Africa
:{{flagicon|JPN}} [[Shinshiro]], Japan
|}

==Demographics==

===Population===
Neuchâtel has a population ({{as of|{{Swiss populations YM|CH-NE}}|lc=on}}) of {{Swiss populations|CH-NE|6458}}.{{Swiss populations ref|CH-NE}} {{as of|2008}}, 32.1% of the population are resident foreign nationals.<ref name=HDS_superweb>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/infothek/onlinedb/superweb/login.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office – Superweb database – Gemeinde Statistics 1981–2008] {{in lang|de}} accessed 19 June 2010</ref> Over the last 10 years (2000–2010) the population has changed at a rate of 3.9%. It has changed at a rate of 2.4% due to migration and at a rate of 1% due to births and deaths.<ref name=SFSO>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/en/index/regionen/02/key.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office] accessed 25-October-2011</ref>

{{as of|2008}}, the population was 47.7% male and 52.3% female. The population was made up of 10,371 Swiss men (31.5% of the population) and 5,344 (16.2%) non-Swiss men. There were 12,366 Swiss women (37.5%) and 4,892 (14.8%) non-Swiss women.<ref name=NE_STAT>[http://www.ne.ch/neat/site/jsp/rubrique/rubrique.jsp?StyleType=bleu&DocId=40383 Canton of Neuchâtel Statistics] {{webarchive|url=https://archive.today/20121205100621/http://www.ne.ch/neat/site/jsp/rubrique/rubrique.jsp?StyleType=bleu&DocId=40383 |date=5 December 2012 }}, ''République et canton de Neuchâtel – Recensement annuel de la population'' {{in lang|de}} accessed 13 October 2011</ref> Of the population in the municipality, 8,558 or about 26.0% were born in Neuchâtel and lived there in 2000. There were 5,134 or 15.6% who were born in the same canton, while 7,744 or 23.5% were born somewhere else in Switzerland, and 10,349 or 31.4% were born outside of Switzerland.<ref name=STAT2000/>

{{as of|2000}}, children and teenagers (0–19 years old) make up 19.3% of the population, while adults (20–64 years old) make up 63.1% and seniors (over 64 years old) make up 17.6%.<ref name=SFSO/>

{{as of|2000}}, there were 14,143 people who were single and never married in the municipality. There were 14,137 married individuals, 2,186 widows or widowers and 2,448 individuals who are divorced.<ref name=STAT2000>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.3%20-%202000/40.3%20-%202000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=3&openChild=true STAT-TAB Datenwürfel für Thema 40.3 – 2000] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130809142611/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_40%20-%20Eidgen%C3%B6ssische%20Volksz%C3%A4hlung/40.3%20-%202000/40.3%20-%202000.asp?lang=1&prod=40&secprod=3&openChild=true |date=9 August 2013 }}  {{in lang|de}} accessed 2 February 2011</ref>

{{as of|2000}}, there were 15,937 private households in the municipality, and an average of 2. persons per household.<ref name=SFSO/> There were 7,348 households that consist of only one person and 547 households with five or more people. {{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}}, a total of 15,447 apartments (89.9% of the total) were permanently occupied, while 1,429 apartments (8.3%) were seasonally occupied and 311 apartments (1.8%) were empty.<ref name=Housing>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_09%20-%20Bau-%20und%20Wohnungswesen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen.asp?lang=1&prod=09&secprod=2&openChild=true Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB – Datenwürfel für Thema 09.2 – Gebäude und Wohnungen] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140907111534/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_09%20-%20Bau-%20und%20Wohnungswesen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen/09.2%20-%20Geb%C3%A4ude%20und%20Wohnungen.asp?lang=1&prod=09&secprod=2&openChild=true |date=7 September 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 28 January 2011</ref>  {{as of|2009}}, the construction rate of new housing units was 2.5 new units per 1000 residents.<ref name=SFSO/>

{{as of|2003}} the average price to rent an average apartment in Neuchâtel was 921.35 [[Swiss franc]]s (CHF) per month (US$740, £410, €590 approx. exchange rate from 2003). The average rate for a one-room apartment was 451.40 CHF (US$360, £200, €290), a two-room apartment was about 675.66 CHF (US$540, £300, €430), a three-room apartment was about 825.15 CHF (US$660, £370, €530) and a six or more room apartment cost an average of 1647.88 CHF (US$1320, £740, €1050). The average apartment price in Neuchâtel was 82.6% of the national average of 1116 CHF.<ref name=BFS_rent>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/05/06/blank/key/einfuehrung.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office-Rental prices] 2003 data {{in lang|de}} accessed 26 May 2010</ref> The vacancy rate for the municipality, {{as of|2010|alt=in 2010}}, was 0.53%.<ref name=SFSO/>

====Historical population====
The historical population is given in the following chart:<ref name=HDS>{{HDS|2853|Neuchâtel}}</ref>
<timeline>
Colors=
  id:lightgrey value:gray(0.9)
  id:darkgrey  value:gray(0.8)
ImageSize  = width:1100 height:500
PlotArea   = height:350 left: 100 bottom:90 right:100
Legend     = columns:3 left:220 top:70 columnwidth:160
AlignBars  = justify
DateFormat = x.y
Period     = from:0 till:39000
TimeAxis   = orientation:vertical
AlignBars  = justify
ScaleMajor = gridcolor:darkgrey increment:8000 start:0
ScaleMinor = gridcolor:lightgrey increment:1600 start:0
Colors=
 id:TO     value:yellowgreen      legend:Total
 id:FR     value:teal      legend:French_Speaking
 id:GE     value:green      legend:German_Speaking
 id:PR     value:lightpurple      legend:Protestant
 id:CA     value:oceanblue      legend:Catholic
 id:SW     value:red      legend:Swiss
PlotData=
  color:yellowgreen width:40   mark:(line,white) align:center
  bar:1850 from:start till:7901 text:"7,901" color:TO
  bar:1870 from:start till:12934 text:"12,934" color:TO
  bar:1888 from:start till:16565 text:"16,565" color:TO
  bar:1900 from:start till:21195 text:"21,195" color:TO
  bar:1910 from:start till:24171 text:"24,171" color:TO
  bar:1930 from:start till:22668 text:"22,668" color:TO
  bar:1950 from:start till:27998 text:"27,998" color:TO
  bar:1970 from:start till:38784 text:"38,784" color:TO
  bar:1990 from:start till:33579 text:"33,579" color:TO
  bar:2000 from:start till:32914 text:"32,914" color:TO
LineData =
  points:(300,193)(400,230)  color:FR
  points:(400,230)(500,247)  color:FR
  points:(500,247)(600,243)  color:FR
  points:(600,243)(700,287)  color:FR
  points:(700,287)(800,325)  color:FR
  points:(800,325)(900,311)  color:FR
  points:(900,311)(1000,322)  color:FR
  points:(300,132)(400,131)  color:GE
  points:(400,131)(500,136)  color:GE
  points:(500,136)(600,131)  color:GE
  points:(600,131)(700,133)  color:GE
  points:(700,133)(800,136)  color:GE
  points:(800,136)(900,112)  color:GE
  points:(900,112)(1000,107)  color:GE
  points:(100,154)(200,189)  color:PR
  points:(200,189)(300,215)  color:PR
  points:(300,215)(400,247)  color:PR
  points:(400,247)(500,267)  color:PR
  points:(500,267)(600,257)  color:PR
  points:(600,257)(700,282)  color:PR
  points:(700,282)(800,286)  color:PR
  points:(800,286)(900,208)  color:PR
  points:(900,208)(1000,182)  color:PR
  points:(100,97)(200,111)  color:CA
  points:(200,111)(300,111)  color:CA
  points:(300,111)(400,121)  color:CA
  points:(400,121)(500,125)  color:CA
  points:(500,125)(600,123)  color:CA
  points:(600,123)(700,143)  color:CA
  points:(700,143)(800,227)  color:CA
  points:(800,227)(900,209)  color:CA
  points:(900,209)(1000,187)  color:CA
  points:(100,153)(200,191)  color:SW
  points:(200,191)(300,220)  color:SW
  points:(300,220)(400,253)  color:SW
  points:(400,253)(500,275)  color:SW
  points:(500,275)(600,275)  color:SW
  points:(600,275)(700,326)  color:SW
  points:(700,326)(800,359)  color:SW
  points:(800,359)(900,308)  color:SW
  points:(900,308)(1000,295)  color:SW
</timeline>
{| class="wikitable collapsible collapsed"
|-
! colspan="12" | Historical Population Data<ref name=HDS/>
|-
! Year
! Total Population
! French Speaking
! German Speaking
! Protestant
! Catholic
! Other
! Jewish
! Islamic
! No religion given
! Swiss
! Non-Swiss
|-
! scope="row" | 1850
| style="text-align:center;"| 7,901 || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"|7,098 || style="text-align:center;"|789 || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"|7,068 || style="text-align:center;"|833
|-
! scope="row" | 1870
| style="text-align:center;"| 12,934 || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"|11,012 || style="text-align:center;"|2,327 || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"|11,306 || style="text-align:center;"|2,284
|-
! scope="row" | 1888
| style="text-align:center;"| 16,565 || style="text-align:center;"|11,511 || style="text-align:center;"|4,651 || style="text-align:center;"|13,973 || style="text-align:center;"|2,387 || style="text-align:center;"|143 || style="text-align:center;"|94 || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"|14,447 || style="text-align:center;"|2,118
|-
! scope="row" | 1900
| style="text-align:center;"| 21,195 || style="text-align:center;"|15,566 || style="text-align:center;"|4,596 || style="text-align:center;"|17,548 || style="text-align:center;"|3,500 || style="text-align:center;"|232 || style="text-align:center;"|80 || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"|18,108 || style="text-align:center;"|3,087
|-
! scope="row" | 1910
| style="text-align:center;"| 24,171 || style="text-align:center;"|17,543 || style="text-align:center;"|5,161 || style="text-align:center;"|19,750 || style="text-align:center;"|3,944 || style="text-align:center;"|476 || style="text-align:center;"|111 || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"|20,625 || style="text-align:center;"|3,546
|-
! scope="row" | 1930
| style="text-align:center;"| 22,668 || style="text-align:center;"|17,027 || style="text-align:center;"|4,612 || style="text-align:center;"|18,615 || style="text-align:center;"|3,638 || style="text-align:center;"|306 || style="text-align:center;"|63 || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"|20,640 || style="text-align:center;"|2,028
|-
! scope="row" | 1950
| style="text-align:center;"| 27,998 || style="text-align:center;"|21,897 || style="text-align:center;"|4,784 || style="text-align:center;"|21,439 || style="text-align:center;"|5,891 || style="text-align:center;"|308 || style="text-align:center;"|58 || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"| || style="text-align:center;"|26,307 || style="text-align:center;"|1,691
|-
! scope="row" | 1970
| style="text-align:center;"| 38,784 || style="text-align:center;"|26,200 || style="text-align:center;"|5,117 || style="text-align:center;"|21,882 || style="text-align:center;"|15,262 || style="text-align:center;"|2,352 || style="text-align:center;"|59 || style="text-align:center;"|76 || style="text-align:center;"|791 || style="text-align:center;"|30,012 || style="text-align:center;"|8,772
|-
! scope="row" | 1990
| style="text-align:center;"| 33,579 || style="text-align:center;"|24,579 || style="text-align:center;"|2,467 || style="text-align:center;"|13,198 || style="text-align:center;"|13,305 || style="text-align:center;"|4,462 || style="text-align:center;"|55 || style="text-align:center;"|481 || style="text-align:center;"|5,634 || style="text-align:center;"|24,250 || style="text-align:center;"|9,329
|-
! scope="row" | 2000
| style="text-align:center;"| 32,914 || style="text-align:center;"|25,881 || style="text-align:center;"|1,845 || style="text-align:center;"|10,296 || style="text-align:center;"|10,809 || style="text-align:center;"|3,767 || style="text-align:center;"|58 || style="text-align:center;"|1,723 || style="text-align:center;"|7,549 || style="text-align:center;"|22,801 || style="text-align:center;"|10,113
|}

===Language===
Most of the population ({{as of|2000|lc=on}}) speaks [[French language|French]] (25,881 or 78.6%) as their first language, [[German language|German]] is the second most common (1,845 or 5.6%) and [[Italian language|Italian]] is the third (1,421 or 4.3%). There are about six people who speak [[Romansh language|Romansh]].<ref name=STAT2000/>

===Religion===
Neuchâtel was historically Protestant, but Catholics have since formed a plurality due to immigration. From the {{as of|2000|alt=2000 census}}, 10,809 or 32.8% were [[Roman Catholic]], while 9,443 or 28.7% belonged to the [[Swiss Reformed Church]]. Of the rest of the population, there were 374 [[Eastern Orthodox Church|members of an Orthodox church]] (or about 1.14% of the population), there were 80 individuals (or about 0.24% of the population) who belonged to the [[Christian Catholic Church of Switzerland|Christian Catholic Church]], and there were 1,756 individuals (or about 5.34% of the population) who belonged to another Christian church. There were 58 individuals (or about 0.18% of the population) who were [[Judaism|Jewish]], and 1,723 (or about 5.23% of the population) who were [[Muslim]]. There were 99 individuals who were [[Buddhism|Buddhist]], 100 individuals who were [[Hinduism|Hindu]] and 59 individuals who belonged to another church. 7,549 (or about 22.94% of the population) belonged to no church, are [[Agnosticism|agnostic]] or [[Atheism|atheist]], and 1,717 individuals (or about 5.22% of the population) did not answer the question.<ref name=STAT2000/>

===Crime===
{{See also|Crime in Switzerland}}
In 2014 the crime rate, of crimes listed in the [[Strafgesetzbuch (Switzerland)|Swiss Criminal Code]], in Neuchâtel was 140.4 per thousand residents. During the same period, the rate of drug crimes was 16.3 per thousand residents. The rate of violations of immigration, visa and work permit laws was 5.7 per thousand residents.<ref>[https://www.atlas.bfs.admin.ch/maps/13/de/11488_11587_3864_7266/19010.html Statistical Atlas of Switzerland] accessed 5 April 2016</ref>

==Economy==
Neuchâtel is a centre of the watch industry, and is also the site of micro-technology and high-tech industries. It is home to research centres and organizations such as the [[Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology]] (CSEM),<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.csem.ch/ |title=Swiss Center for Electronics and Microtechnology |publisher=csem.ch}}</ref> Microcity innovation pole,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://sti.epfl.ch/research/institutes/imt/ |title=IMT homepage |publisher=epfl.ch}}</ref> University of applied Sciences HE-Arc in Engineering<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.he-arc.ch/en/ingenierie |title=Engineering – Haute-Ecole Arc |date=17 May 2023 |publisher=he-arc.ch}}</ref> and also [[Philip Morris International]]'s ''Cube''.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danielfisher/2014/05/28/philip-morris-international-bets-big-on-the-future-of-smoking/|periodical=[[Forbes]]|date=2014-05-28|title=Philip Morris International bets big on the future of smoking}}</ref> The [[apparel]] company [[heidi.com]] also established its headquarters in the city.

{{as of|2010|In 2010}}, Neuchâtel had an unemployment rate of 7.5%. {{as of|2008}}, there were 46 people employed in the [[Primary sector of the economy|primary economic sector]] and about 14 businesses involved in this sector. 5,658 people were employed in the [[Secondary sector of the economy|secondary sector]] and there were 261 businesses in this sector. 20,472 people were employed in the [[Tertiary sector of the economy|tertiary sector]], with 1,955 businesses in this sector.<ref name=SFSO /> There were 16,353 residents of the municipality who were employed in some capacity, of which women made up 45.4% of the workforce.

{{as of|2008|alt=In 2008}} the total number of [[full-time equivalent]] jobs was 21,624. The number of jobs in the primary sector was 38, of which 20 were in agriculture and 18 were in forestry or lumber production. The number of jobs in the secondary sector was 5,433 of which 4,234 or (77.9%) were in manufacturing, 9 or (0.2%) were in mining and 1,022 (18.8%) were in construction. The number of jobs in the tertiary sector was 16,153. In the tertiary sector; 2,397 or 14.8% were in wholesale or retail sales or the repair of motor vehicles, 796 or 4.9% were in the movement and storage of goods, 919 or 5.7% were in a hotel or restaurant, 766 or 4.7% were in the information industry, 1,077 or 6.7% were the insurance or financial industry, 1,897 or 11.7% were technical professionals or scientists, 1,981 or 12.3% were in education and 2,633 or 16.3% were in health care.<ref>[http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_06%20-%20Industrie%20und%20Dienstleistungen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen.asp?lang=1&prod=06&secprod=2&openChild=true Swiss Federal Statistical Office STAT-TAB Betriebszählung: Arbeitsstätten nach Gemeinde und NOGA 2008 (Abschnitte), Sektoren 1–3] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141225013454/http://www.pxweb.bfs.admin.ch/Database/German_06%20-%20Industrie%20und%20Dienstleistungen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen/06.2%20-%20Unternehmen.asp?lang=1&prod=06&secprod=2&openChild=true |date=25 December 2014 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 28 January 2011</ref>

{{as of|2000|alt=In 2000}}, there were 15,535 workers who commuted into the municipality and 6,056 workers who commuted away. The municipality is a net importer of workers, with about 2.6 workers entering the municipality for every one leaving.<ref name=commuter>[http://www.media-stat.admin.ch/stat/pendler/pop.php Swiss Federal Statistical Office – Statweb] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070804051358/http://www.media-stat.admin.ch/stat/pendler/pop.php |date=4 August 2007 }} {{in lang|de}} accessed 24 June 2010</ref> Of the working population, 33.7% used public transportation to get to work, and 43.4% used a private car.<ref name=SFSO />

==Education==
[[File:Universite neuchatel.jpg|thumb|University of Neuchâtel]]
Neuchâtel is home to the French-speaking [[University of Neuchâtel]]. The university has five faculties and more than a dozen institutes, including arts and human sciences, natural sciences, law, economics and theology. For the 2005–2006 academic year, 3,595 students (1,987 women and 1,608 men) were enrolled. The Faculty of Arts and Human Sciences is the largest school of those that comprise the university of Neuchâtel with 1,500 students. Some courses at the university are taught in English.{{citation needed|date=November 2011}}

Neuchâtel is home to the [[Éditions Alphil]], which is a [[university press]] founded in 1996.

Neuchâtel is home to eight libraries: the Bibliothèque de la Faculté des Lettres, the ''Bibliothèque de l'Institut d'ethnologie et du [[Musée d'ethnographie de Neuchâtel|Musée d'ethnographie]]'', the ''Bibliothèque de la Faculté des Sciences'', the ''Bibliothèque de droit'', the ''Bibliothèque des sciences économiques'', the ''Bibliothèque de la Faculté de théologie'', the ''Service de coordination des bibliothèques'' and the ''Haute école Arc – Santé''. There was a combined total ({{as of|2008|lc=on}}) of 736,773 books or other media in the libraries, and in the same year a total of 58,427 items were loaned out.<ref>[http://www.bfs.admin.ch/bfs/portal/de/index/themen/16/02/02/data.html Swiss Federal Statistical Office, list of libraries] {{in lang|de}} accessed 14 May 2010</ref>

In Neuchâtel about 11,076 or (33.7%) of the population have completed non-mandatory [[Education in Switzerland#Secondary|upper secondary education]], and 5,948 or (18.1%) have completed additional higher education (either [[List of universities in Switzerland|university]] or a ''[[Fachhochschule]]''). Of the 5,948 who completed tertiary schooling, 43.6% were Swiss men, 28.4% were Swiss women, 16.4% were non-Swiss men and 11.6% were non-Swiss women.<ref name=STAT2000/>

In the canton of Neuchâtel most municipalities provide two years of non-mandatory [[kindergarten]], followed by five years of mandatory primary education. The next four years of mandatory secondary education is provided at thirteen larger secondary schools, which many students travel out of their home municipality to attend.<ref>{{Cite report |title=Kantonale Schulstrukturen in der Schweiz und im Fürstentum Liechtenstein / Structures Scolaires Cantonales en Suisse et Dans la Principauté du Liechtenstein |url= http://edudoc.ch/record/35128/files/Schulsystem_alle.pdf |author= EDK/CDIP/IDES |year= 2010 |access-date= 24 June 2010 }}</ref> During the 2010–11 school year, there were 27 kindergarten classes with a total of 527 students in Neuchâtel. In the same year, there were 78 primary classes with a total of 1,424 students.<ref>[http://www.ne.ch/neat/site/jsp/rubrique/rubrique.jsp?CatId=9939 Statistical Department of the Canton of Neuchâtel] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120414213117/http://www.ne.ch/neat/site/jsp/rubrique/rubrique.jsp?CatId=9939 |date=14 April 2012 }} Mémento de l'année scolaire 2010/2011 {{in lang|fr}} accessed 17 October 2011</ref> Secondary schools include the [[Lycée Jean-Piaget]].

Apart from one International Montessori school for kids up to age 11 offering an English and a French class there is no international school in Neuchâtel. Neuchâtel Junior College was founded in 1956 as a non-profit foundation of the Ville de Neuchâtel to provide a unique international education. [[Neuchâtel Junior College]] is a one-year school annually welcoming over 100 students in their final pre-university year to study the Ontario Grade 12 curriculum as well as Advanced Placement.

{{as of|2000}}, there were 3,859 students in Neuchâtel who came from another municipality, while 346 residents attended schools outside the municipality.<ref name=commuter/>

==Transport==
[[File:Bus 107 transN (Neuchâtel).jpg|thumb|transN bus near Neuchâtel train station]]
Neuchâtel has local public transport provided by [[Transports publics Neuchâtelois|Transports publics neuchâtelois]] (transN), the result of the 2012 merge between Transports publics du littoral neuchâtelois (TN) and Transports régionaux neuchâtelois (TRN). transN operates the [[Trolleybuses in Neuchâtel|Neuchâtel trolleybus system]], a [[funicular]], an [[interurban]] [[Trams in Neuchâtel|light rail line to Boudry]] and other lines in the [[Canton of Neuchâtel]]. It serves 25'650'170 people in 2022.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2022 |title=transN - RAPPORT DE GESTION 2022 |url=https://www.transn.ch/fileadmin/transn/pdf/RapportsGestion/RA_2022_prod_web.pdf |access-date=23 February 2024}}</ref>

[[Neuchâtel railway station]] forms part of one of Switzerland's most important railway lines, the [[Jura foot railway line|Jura foot railway (Olten–Genève-Aéroport)]], which is operated by the [[Swiss Federal Railways]]. The station is also a junction for several other lines, including a cross-border line served by the [[TGV]] (High Speed Train), with direct trains linking Neuchâtel to [[Paris]] in four hours.

[[Neuchâtel Airport|Neuchâtel's airport]] is about {{convert|6|km|mi|abbr=on}} away from the center of the city and it takes 9 minutes to get into town with the direct tramway. It is a small airport that does not offer commercial flights. Neuchâtel is also linked to four international airports: Bern, Geneva, Basel and Zürich which are respectively {{convert|58|km|mi|abbr=on}}, {{convert|122|km|mi|abbr=on}}, {{convert|131|km|mi|abbr=on}} and {{convert|153|km|mi|abbr=on}} away by car. Geneva and Zürich airports both have direct trains to Neuchâtel, connecting the cities respectively in 1h 17min and 1h 49min.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.neuchatel-airport.ch/ |title=Bienvenue sur l'Aéroport de Neuchâtel (LSGN) |publisher=neuchatel-airport.ch}}</ref>
Three funiculars serve the city:
* The [[Funambule funicular|Funambule]], linking the lower part of the town, near the university, to the railway station
* The [[Funiculaire Ecluse–Plan]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.funimag.com/suisse/EclusePlan01.htm | title = TN Ecluse – Plan | publisher = Funimag | access-date = 2011-10-13}}</ref>
* The [[Funiculaire de Chaumont|Funiculaire La Coudre–Chaumont]]<ref>{{cite web | url = http://www.funimag.com/suisse/LaCoudre01.htm | title = La Coudre – Chaumont | publisher = Funimag | access-date = 2011-10-13}}</ref>

The Société de Navigation sur les Lacs de Neuchâtel et Morat SA is the boat company which serves 17 towns on Lake Neuchâtel, 6 towns on [[Lake Murten]] and 7 towns on [[Lake Biel|Lake Bienne]] from 6:30am to 9pm. Some boats offer free wireless internet connections.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.navig.ch/navigation.php?id=9&page=accueil&lang=fr |title=Bienvenue à bord |publisher=navig.ch |language=fr |access-date=5 June 2009 |archive-date=24 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170924194255/http://www.navig.ch/navigation.php?id=9&page=accueil&lang=fr |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Sights==

===Heritage sites of national significance===
There are 34 sites in Neuchâtel that are listed as Swiss [[Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance|heritage site of national significance]]. The entire old city of Neuchâtel, the urban village of Corcelles the small city of Valangin, the Bussy/Le Sorgereux region and the La Borcarderie region are part of the [[Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.babs.admin.ch/de/aufgabenbabs/kgs/inventar/a-objekte.html |title=Swiss inventory of cultural property of national and regional significance |date=1 January 2017 |website=A-Objects |publisher=Federal Office for Cultural Protection (BABS) |access-date=6 September 2017 |archive-date=2 September 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902033944/http://www.babs.admin.ch/de/aufgabenbabs/kgs/inventar/a-objekte.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Architecture===
[[File:Collegiale Neuchatel mg 2404.jpg|thumb|upright|Some of the statues in the Cenotaph of the Counts of Neuchâtel]]
Neuchâtel's Old Town has about 140 street fountains, a handful of which date from the 16th century. The Place des Halles is overlooked by Louis XIV architecture – shuttered façades and the turreted orioles of the 16th-century Maison des Halles. To the east, on Rue de l’Hôpital, is the grand 1790 Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall), designed by Louis XVI's chief architect Pierre-Adrien Paris.

The center of the Old Town is located at the top of the hill, accessed by the steeply winding Rue du Château. The Collégiale church, begun in 1185 and consecrated in 1276, is an example of early Gothic. The east end of the church has three Norman [[apse]]s. The main entrance, to the west, is crowned by a giant rose window of stained glass. Within the vaulted interior, the [[transept]] is lit by a lantern tower. The Cenotaph of the Counts of Neuchâtel is located on the north wall of the [[Choir (architecture)|choir]]. Begun in 1372, and the only artwork of its kind to survive north of the Alps, the monument comprises fifteen near-life-size painted statues of various knights and ladies from Neuchâtel's past, framed by 15th-century arches and gables.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}} Beside the church is the Castle, begun in the 12th century and still in use as the offices of the cantonal government. The nearby turreted Prison Tower, which is the remains of a medieval bastion, has panoramic views over the town, along with models of Neuchâtel in different eras.{{citation needed|date=December 2021}}

===Museums===
[[File:Latenium mg 2215.jpg|thumb|right|Park and Museum of the [[Laténium]] museum]]
[[File:Automates-Jaquet-Droz-p1030493.jpg|thumb|Jaquet-Droz mechanical figurine at the musée d'Art et d'Histoire]]
Neuchâtel has several museums, including the [[Laténium]], an [[archeology]] museum focusing on the prehistorical times in the region of Neuchâtel and Hauterive, particularly the [[La Tène culture]], with the [[La Tène (archaeological site)|eponym site]] being a few kilometers away; the [[Musée d'ethnographie de Neuchâtel]] (MEN), an ethnography museum; and the Musée d'Art et d'Histoire, which houses the [[Jaquet-Droz automata|Automates Jaquet-Droz]] (Jaquet-Droz Mechanical Figurines).

===Culture===
[[File:20020717 Expo Neuenburg 15.JPG|thumb|right|National Exposition of 2002]]
During the summer of 2002, Neuchâtel was one of five sites which held [[Expo.02]], the sixth Swiss national exhibition, which was subject to financial controversy.{{clarify|explain what the controversy was, otherwise this is completely meaningless|date=December 2021}} The [[Neuchâtel International Fantastic Film Festival]] is held every year to celebrate fantastic cinema from around the world. The festival of the Fête des Vendanges, representing the wine harvest, is held traditionally in late September.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20010128221200/http://www.fete-des-vendanges.ch/f/programme.htm Programme de la Fête des vendanges de Neuchâtel]. Fete-des-vendanges.ch. Retrieved on 2013-09-07.</ref>

==Sport==
[[File:La Maladiere.JPG|thumb|[[Stade de la Maladière]]]]
[[Neuchâtel Xamax]] is the most important [[Association football|football]] club based in Neuchâtel. It was created in 1970 through a merger between [[FC Cantonal]] (1906) and [[FC Xamax]] (1916). The club plays in [[Swiss Super League]], the highest Swiss football league. The club plays its home matches at the [[Stade de la Maladière]].

HC Uni Neuchâtel plays in the [[Swiss 1. Liga (ice hockey)|MySports League]], the third tier of the Swiss hockey league system. Their home games are held in the 7,000-seat Littoral.

[[Union Neuchâtel Basket]] is the city's top basketball team, which plays in the [[Championnat LNA]], Switzerland's only professional basketball league.

==Notable people==
[[William Ritter (writer)|William Ritter]], [[Jean Piaget]], [[Marcel Junod]], [[Robert Miles]] and [[Yves Larock]] were all born in Neuchâtel. [[Friedrich Dürrenmatt]] lived in Neuchâtel the last 30 years of his life. [[Prens Sabahaddin]], was an [[Ottoman Empire|Ottoman]] sociologist and thinker of the Ottoman dynasty, lived in Neuchâtel the last 25 years of his life.

Hungarian writer [[Ágota Kristóf]] moved to Neuchâtel after fleeing repression following the [[Hungarian Revolution of 1956]]. She lived in the city for the rest of her life, learning and writing books in French.

Canadian illustrator [[John Howe (illustrator)|John Howe]], who illustrated [[J. R. R. Tolkien]]'s work and participated in [[Peter Jackson]]'s ''[[The Lord of the Rings (film series)|The Lord of the Rings]]'' trilogy as chief conceptual designer, lives in the city. It was also the site of a secret first meeting between French novelist [[Honoré de Balzac]] and the married woman who later became his wife, [[Eveline Hanska]].<ref>Maurois, André. ''Prometheus: The Life of Balzac''. New York: Carroll & Graf, 1965. {{ISBN|0-88184-023-8}}. Page 228.</ref> [[Roger Schutz]], founder of the [[Taizé]] Community in France, was born on 12 May 1915 at the village of Provence near Neuchâtel. He was stabbed to death on 16 August 2005 by a mentally deranged woman during a prayer meeting in Taizé's Church of Reconciliation.{{citation needed|date=January 2024}}

The de Pury family, a [[Prussian nobility|Prussian noble]] family, is from Neuchâtel. Swiss merchant and philanthropist [[David de Pury]], a native of Neuchâtel, left a large fortune to the city for public works and charities. His relative, [[James-Ferdinand de Pury]], also a merchant and philanthropist, bequest his [[Villa James de Pury|villa]] to house the town's ethnography museum. Other members of the family who were born or resided in the town include explorer and colonist [[Jean-Pierre Pury]], winemaker and diplomat [[Frédéric Guillaume de Pury]], painter [[Edmond Jean de Pury]], and biblical scholar [[Albert de Pury]].

The de Castello family, a [[French nobility|French noble family]], including winemakers [[Hubert de Castella]] and [[Paul de Castella]], is from Neuchâtel. The de Montmollin family, including the Protestant minister [[David-François de Montmollin]], are also from the town. [[Frédéric Louis Godet]] (1812–1900) was another Swiss Protestant theologian who was born and died in Neuchâtel;<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Godet, Frédéric Louis |volume= 12 | pages = 171–172 |short= 1}}</ref> as was [[Jean-Frédéric Osterwald]] (1663–1747), a further Protestant pastor.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Ostervald, Jean Frédéric |volume= 20 | page = 358 |short= 1}}</ref>

French counter-revolutionary [[Louis Fauche-Borel]] was born and died in Neuchâtel, and [[François Bigot]], the last [[Intendant of New France]], relocated to there after being exiled from France.

[[Abraham Louis Breguet]], the founder of the [[Breguet (brand)|Breguet watch company]] and an esteemed inventor, often regarded as the father of modern horology, was born in Neuchâtel. The company still maintains its headquarters at [[L'Abbaye]], about 40&nbsp;km southwest of Neuchâtel.

The psychiatrist and psychoanalyst [[Silvio Fanti]] was born in Neuchâtel in 1919. He founded and developed [[Micropsychoanalysis]], a new school of [[psychoanalysis]]. Another important psychiatrist, [[Gottlieb Burckhardt]], practiced in Neuchâtel. [[Alexander Agassiz]] (1835–1910), was an American scientist and engineer from the town.<ref>{{Cite EB1911|wstitle= Agassiz, Alexander Emanuel |volume= 1 | pages = 366–367 |short= 1}}</ref>

[[Didier Burkhalter]], 94th [[President of the Swiss Confederation]] was born in Neuchâtel, as was [[Logitech]] founder [[Daniel Borel]].

Footballers [[Max Abegglen]],<ref>{{Cite web |title=Olympic Results – Max Abegglen |url=https://olympics.com/en/athletes/max-abegglen |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=International Olympic Committee}}</ref> [[Jayson Leutwiler]], and [[Yann Kasaï]], as well as Swiss Olympic field hockey player [[Albert Piaget]] were all born in Neuchâtel. It is also the current residence of French tennis players [[Richard Gasquet]], [[Gilles Simon]] and [[Florent Serra]], as well as the Mexican [[Formula 1]] driver [[Sergio Pérez]], and the artist and designer [[Ini Archibong]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2012-06-20 |title=Sergio Pérez a été séduit par Neuchâtel |language=fr |work=Le Matin |url=https://www.lematin.ch/story/sergio-perez-a-ete-seduit-par-neuchatel-839720828928 |access-date=2022-10-17 |issn=1018-3736}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Ini Archibong, designer extraordinaire |url=https://houseofswitzerland.org/swissstories/society/ini-archibong-designer-extraordinaire |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=House of Switzerland |date=30 October 2019 |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Evans |first=Christina Ohly |date=2024-08-30 |title=Ini Archibong's guide to the quiet cool of Neuchâtel |url=https://www.ft.com/content/82535702-f199-4f8c-b3f3-5574e603f3fa |access-date=2024-10-17 |work=Financial Times}}</ref> Anthropologist, artist, and filmmaker [[Véréna Paravel]] was also born in Neuchâtel.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Véréna Paravel and Lucien Castaing-Taylor |url=http://www.documenta14.de/en/artists/13709/verena-paravel-and-lucien-castaing-taylor |access-date=2022-10-17 |website=documenta14.de |language=en}}</ref> It is the birthplace of explorer and lecturer [[Raphaël Domjan]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.raphaeldomjan.com/en/bio/|title=Bio &#124; Raphaël Domjan}}</ref> Swiss [[FIS Alpine Ski World Cup|World Cup]] [[Alpine skiing|alpine ski racers]] and siblings [[Loïc Meillard|Loïc]] and [[Mélanie Meillard]] were born in Neuchâtel.

==See also==
*''[[L'Express (Switzerland)|L'Express]]''

== Explanatory notes ==
{{notelist-la}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |title=Switzerland |publisher = Karl Baedeker |publication-place = Coblenz |year=1863 |chapter-url= https://archive.org/stream/switzerlandwith00firgoog#page/n272/mode/2up |chapter=Neuchâtel }}

==External links==
{{Commons category}}
{{wikivoyage|Neuchâtel}}
*{{cite EB1911 |wstitle=Neuchâtel (town)|volume=19|last= Coolidge |first= William Augustus Brevoort |author-link= W. A. B. Coolidge|page= 424 |short=x}}
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20071029121826/http://en.neuchatelville.ch/ City of Neuchâtel official website]
*{{in lang|fr}} [https://web.archive.org/web/20170911212858/http://tnneuchatel.ch/ Transports Publics du Littoral Neuchâtelois]
*Museums
**[http://www.latenium.ch/ Archeology museum]
**[http://www.men.ch/ Ethnography museum]
**[http://www.mahn.ch/ Art and history museum]
**[http://www.museum-neuchatel.ch/ Museum of natural history]
*[http://www.neuchateltourism.ch/ Neuchâtel Tourism Office]

{{Municipalities of the canton of Neuchâtel}}
{{Cantons of Switzerland}}
{{List of European capitals by region}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Neuchatel}}
[[Category:Neuchâtel| ]]
[[Category:Archaeological sites in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Cities in Switzerland]]
[[Category:Cantonal capitals of Switzerland]]
[[Category:Municipalities of the canton of Neuchâtel]]
[[Category:Canton of Neuchâtel|Neuchatel (capital)]]
[[Category:Cultural property of national significance in the canton of Neuchâtel]]
[[Category:Populated places on Lake Neuchâtel]]
[[Category:1011 establishments]]