Musée international d’horlogerie

About the museum

The museum's collection begins in 1865 with the opening of the La Chaux-de-Fonds watchmaking school: the teachers were to gather watches, movements and instruments for teaching purposes. At the suggestion of the industrialist Maurice Picard, the city decided to establish a watch museum; on 24 March 1902 the authorities signed the founding charter. It was initially housed in rooms of the watchmaking school, where a rich array of donations and purchases soon came together. In 1902, for example, Ferdinand Berthoud's marine chronometer No. 12 of 1774 arrived, followed later by a musical clock by Pierre Jaquet-Droz with carillon and flutes.

The Musée international d'horlogerie opened its doors on 21 October 1974. The reference exhibition "L'Homme et le Temps" shows the history of timekeeping along a common thread in 36 stages, supplemented by thematic niches, a central section with treasures and masterpieces, and the works "La conquête du temps" by Hans Erni, which he created for the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels.

With over 10,000 objects, the MIH, by its own account, holds the world's most important collection on the history of timekeeping. It comprises clocks and watches from the 16th century to today, tools, machines, instruments, automata, models, as well as paintings and graphic art. The institution also includes a restoration centre, a study centre, a carillon and the Swiss Watch Fair.

Highlights

• Reference exhibition "L'Homme et le Temps" with a common thread in 36 stages
• Over 10,000 objects on timekeeping
• Marine chronometer No. 12 by Ferdinand Berthoud (1774)
• Musical clock by Pierre Jaquet-Droz
• Works "La conquête du temps" by Hans Erni
• Carillon and Café des Musées in the Parc des musées

Permanent exhibitions

• L’Homme et le Temps – Reference exhibition on the history of timekeeping: a common thread in 36 stages, thematic niches and a central area with the museum's treasures.
• La conquête du temps von Hans Erni – Three works by the artist Hans Erni, created for the 1958 World's Fair in Brussels.

Founded

1902

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Free admission on Sundays from 10 a.m. to 12 noon from October to March

Free admission at all times (except during the Watch Fair) with, among others, the Neuchâtel Tourist Card, the museum card of the Neuchâtel museums, the Swiss Museum Pass, ICOM/VMS membership, Raiffeisen "PLUS", Swiss Travel System and AG culturel; the Caritas card gives a discount. Payment in CHF and EUR (banknotes only), credit cards, REKA cheques.

Accessibility

• Wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

All areas of the permanent exhibition are wheelchair accessible; only the gallery and the bell tower (Beffroi) are not accessible. A loan wheelchair can be borrowed subject to availability (cannot be reserved in advance). Dogs are only permitted as guide dogs.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Kids’ birthday parties

Workshops for 6- to 14-year-olds (e.g. sundial, gears, water clock; approx. 1.5 hours, with a craft item to take home), also for children's birthday parties; treasure hunt for young visitors throughout the museum.

Getting there & parking

By car, follow the brown signposts at the entrance to the city. Car sharing: Mobility and 2em.

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop
• Coat check
• Lockers

Café des Musées in the Parc des musées, directly accessible from the MIH: Tue–Sun 10 a.m.–5 p.m., Thursday until 7 p.m., light meals and drinks. Eating and drinking in the museum only in the cafeteria; lockers (40 × 40 × 47 cm) in the entrance area; umbrellas and backpacks at the cloakroom.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events

The Café des Musées (26 seats indoors, 40 on the terrace, side room for larger groups) can be used for breaks, aperitifs, birthdays and private and professional events.

Plan your visit