The Hero of Escalade
During the 1602 Escalade, a soldier named Mercier saved Geneva by cutting the rope that held the heavy herse, a wooden and iron gate, which then fell and blocked the entrance to the city, preventing…
Porte Neuve · · 🏛️ Legendary
Discover 60 curated stories about La Chaux-de-Fonds in the Canton of Zurich, Switzerland — covering hidden gems, dark history, legends, weird facts and funny anecdotes.
During the 1602 Escalade, a soldier named Mercier saved Geneva by cutting the rope that held the heavy herse, a wooden and iron gate, which then fell and blocked the entrance to the city, preventing…
Porte Neuve · · 🏛️ Legendary
Georges Schneider, also known as 'Le Grand Georges', tragically died in a hunting accident in 1963 at the age of 38, shocking the sports world and the city of La Chaux-de-Fonds.
La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 💀 Dark history
A devastating storm with wind gusts of up to 217 km/h ravaged La Chaux-de-Fonds, leaving a trail of destruction and claiming one life, with the city's president describing the scene as 'like arriving…
La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 💀 Dark history
In 1910, absinthe was banned, but the tradition of drinking it has been preserved in the Val-de-Travers region, where locals still distill and consume it using a special glass and fountain.
Val-de-Travers · · 🤯 Weird
Dr. Alexandre Favre, a resident of La Chaux-de-Fonds, was involved in a scandalous case that was discussed in a book by Prof. Dr. A. Forel, a former director of the psychiatric hospital in Zurich.
La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 💀 Dark history
The Musée international d'horlogerie in La Chaux-de-Fonds has a carillon monumental, a massive musical instrument with 14 meters in length and 9 meters in height, installed on the parvis of the museu…
Musée international d'horlogerie · · 🤯 Weird
The Musée international d'horlogerie was built with a unique, avant-garde design, featuring a partially underground structure with a volume of 20,000 cubic meters, blending into the surrounding park.
Musée international d'horlogerie · · 🔍 Hidden gems
During World War II, a Sperrstelle, or barrier, was constructed on the Vue des Alpes to secure Switzerland's western border, consisting of bunkers, tank barriers, and barricades.
Vue des Alpes · · 💀 Dark history
The Point-de-mire, a historic landmark, was used to define the exact time by studying the position of the sun at noon. This unique method was employed in the 19th century, and the stone still stands…
Point-de-mire · · 🔍 Hidden gems
In 1602, the Duke of Savoy, Charles-Emmanuel, had a dream in which he saw an eagle flying over Geneva, which he interpreted as a sign to attack the city. However, his plan failed, and the Genevans we…
Geneva · · 💀 Dark history
In 1602, the citizens of Geneva, including women, defended their city against the Savoyard attack by throwing torches and hot soup, leading to the defeat of the invaders. One legendary figure, a woma…
Genève · · 🏛️ Legendary
In 1602, a brave and courageous woman, Dame Royaume, threw a heavy pot from her window on the Corraterie, hitting and knocking out one of the invading Savoyard soldiers trying to climb the walls of G…
Corraterie · · 😂 Funny
A mysterious suicide occurred at 111, rue des Vignes, where a 28-year-old man named Jacques Verdier was found dead with a cryptic note and a sealed envelope addressed to the commissaire de police.
Rue des Vignes · · 💀 Dark history
Richard Wagner composed parts of his famous opera 'Die Walküre' in a small house near the 'grüner Hügel' in the Enge district, where he lived with his friend Otto Wesendonk's family from April 1857.
Enge district · · 🏛️ Legendary
Mathilde Wesendonk, the wife of Otto Wesendonk, was the muse and confidante of Richard Wagner, and their friendship led to a deep and intimate exchange of letters and ideas, which were later publishe…
Zurich · · 🏛️ Legendary
Mathilde Wesendonk gave Richard Wagner an American gold pen, which he used to write the entire orchestral score of 'Die Walküre', a manuscript that is now considered a masterpiece of calligraphy.
Zurich · · 🏛️ Legendary
Georges Schneider, a renowned Swiss skier, was triumphantly welcomed back to La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1950 after winning the world championship in slalom at Aspen, USA.
La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 🏛️ Legendary
In 1950, approximately 12,000 people gathered in La Chaux-de-Fonds to celebrate Georges Schneider's world championship win, marking one of the largest public gatherings in the city's history.
La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 🏛️ Legendary
The former Churchill Pub at Léopold-Robert 24 in La Chaux-de-Fonds was the target of an arson attack in the night of October 14-15, 1986, which completely destroyed the building.
Churchill Pub · · 💀 Dark history
A devastating cyclone hit La Chaux-de-Fonds on June 12, 1926, toppling trees and causing widespread destruction, as depicted in a drawing by Édouard Kaiser fils.
La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 💀 Dark history
In 1926, a devastating cyclone destroyed the Geiser farm at Valanvron, killing six livestock who were trapped under the rubble and later had to be burned due to decomposition.
Geiser farm · · 💀 Dark history
The Temple National in La Chaux-de-Fonds was incendié on July 16, 1919, and an ardoise from the temple, painted by Édouard Kaiser, still exists today.
Temple National · · 💀 Dark history
A devastating cyclone struck La Chaux-de-Fonds on August 23, 1934, causing widespread destruction and damage, with winds reaching speeds of 30 to 40 meters per second.
La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 💀 Dark history
The cyclone of 1934 was not an isolated event, as a similar disaster occurred in 1926, and another one struck the city on July 24, 2023, following a similar path of destruction.
La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 💀 Dark history
Ulrich Blaser, a renowned gymnast from La Chaux-de-Fonds, won multiple championships, including the European title in 1906 and the world title in 1911, and was crowned federal champion in three disci…
La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 🏛️ Legendary
A devastating cyclone hit La Chaux-de-Fonds on June 12, 1926, destroying several farms, including the Taillard farm, and leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.
La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 💀 Dark history
A devastating cyclone struck La Chaux-de-Fonds on June 12, 1926, destroying the Geiser farm and killing a 6-year-old boy, Fernand Gerber, with flying debris from a house roof.
La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 💀 Dark history
On June 12, 1926, an agriculturist, M. Geiser, was buried under the debris of his collapsing house but was rescued despite severe injuries.
La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 💀 Dark history
The Temple national in La Chaux-de-Fonds burned down on July 16, 1919, leaving only ruins behind.
Temple national · · 💀 Dark history
The Grande Fontaine in La Chaux-de-Fonds was originally intended to feature 12 nude nymphs, but the artist was censored and replaced them with tortoises, which were seen as a symbol of collective wor…
La Grande Fontaine · · 🤯 Weird
The first aviation meeting in La Chaux-de-Fonds took place in 1912 at the terrain des Éplatures, now the site of the regional airport, and was attended by the famous aviator Attilio Maffei.
Terrain des Éplatures · · 🏛️ Legendary
A tragic accident occurred at the Les Mélèzes swimming pool in La Chaux-de-Fonds when a boy jumped from the 5-meter tower and landed on a 67-year-old man, causing fatal injuries.
Les Mélèzes swimming pool · · 💀 Dark history
A 49-year-old man's attempt to produce 'Honey Oil' in his Limmattal apartment ended in a kitchen explosion, causing around 40,000 francs in damage.
Limmattal · · 💀 Dark history
In a surprising display of speed, Armand Duplantis outran Karsten Warholm in a 100m sprint at the Letzigrund stadium in Zurich, finishing in 10.37 seconds.
Letzigrund stadium · · 🏛️ Legendary
The town of Môtiers is home to the 'Absinthe House', which was opened in 2014 to promote the culture, economy, and tourism of the region. The house showcases the history and production of absinthe, a…
Môtiers · · 🏛️ Legendary
In the village of Boveresse, the old absinthe drying facility was saved from destruction by the regional museum and is now used to promote the region's absinthe production. Visitors can learn about t…
Boveresse · 🔍 Hidden gems
The city of La Chaux-de-Fonds was devastated by a fire in 1794, which led to its rebuilding in a grid-like plan, a unique feature among Swiss cities. This design was implemented by Charles-Henri Juno…
La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 🔍 Hidden gems
Blaise Cendrars was born in the bourgeois multi-family house at Rue de la Paix 27, where his family lived, and later became a famous writer, known for his adventurous life and literary works.
Rue de la Paix 27 · · 🏛️ Legendary
The last bear in the region was killed in 1770, marking the end of an era for the local ecosystem.
Creux-du-Van · · 💀 Dark history
A sapeur named Jean Pilloud died in 1940 after falling from the rock face of the Creux-du-Van.
Creux-du-Van · · 💀 Dark history
The train station features three monumental wall paintings, 'Le travail', 'Le jour et la nuit', and 'Les loisirs', created by artist Georges Dessouslavy between 1950 and 1952.
Bahnhof La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Bahnhof La Chaux-de-Fonds has a unique tunnel and bridge system, including the Pont du Manège, which was built in 1893 to connect the train station to the Saignelégier line.
Bahnhof La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 🏛️ Legendary
A unique boundary stone, shaped like a cathedral, can be found on the border of La Sagne and Le Locle. This limestone stone has no inscription and features arcs at its angles, making it a one-of-a-ki…
La Sagne - Le Locle border · · 🤯 Weird
The boundary stone 'borNE-BE.desReprises' is one of the only remaining stones from the 1663 plan of Robert & De La Tour, marking the border between Valangin and the Bishopric of Basel.
borNE-BE.desReprises · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Genevans celebrate the failure of the Duke of Savoy's attack with a traditional dish called 'Marmite de l'Escalade', which consists of a hearty soup made with vegetables, meat, and bread.
Geneva · · 😂 Funny
Richard Wagner dedicated his 'Faust-Ouvertüre' to Mathilde Wesendonk, but later decided against it, instead giving her the manuscript with a personal dedication.
Zurich · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Wesendonk family's villa on the 'grüner Hügel' in the Enge district was built in 1857, and Richard Wagner lived there with the family for some time, composing music and sharing ideas with Mathild…
Enge district · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Ponts-Sagne-Chaux-de-Fonds train line, nicknamed 'La Peuglise', was inaugurated on July 26, 1889, with a ceremony attended by many curious onlookers and featuring a train decorated with flowers.
Ponts-Sagne-Chaux-de-Fonds train line · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Cercle Montagnard, a liberal organization, was founded in 1873 and celebrated its 50th anniversary in 1923 with a banquet at the restaurant Astoria, located at 14 rue de la Serre.
Restaurant Astoria · · 🏛️ Legendary
The site of the former Churchill Pub, where a fire occurred in 1986, was later redeveloped into the Tour Espacité in 1994.
Avenue Léopold-Robert · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The building at Avenue Léopold-Robert 24 in La Chaux-de-Fonds was destroyed by a fire on the night of October 14-15, a significant event in the city's history.
Avenue Léopold-Robert 24 · 💀 Dark history
The café du Linage, located on the route du Mont Racine, was a favorite spot of Ernest Kraft and his friends, where they would often enjoy a meal and drinks, as seen in a 1938 photo of Kraft and his…
Café du Linage · · 😂 Funny
The Temple National in La Chaux-de-Fonds suffered a major fire, prompting a tombola to be organized for its reconstruction.
Temple National · 💀 Dark history
The Tour du Casino in La Chaux-de-Fonds was the first tower built in the city, with 12 floors and a commercial ground floor, showcasing the city's architectural style of the 1950s.
Tour du Casino · · 🏛️ Legendary
La Chaux-de-Fonds was recognized by UNESCO for its horological heritage, leading to the city being placed under UNESCO's control, with restrictions on building modifications, including the installati…
La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 🔍 Hidden gems
The Père Noël visited La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1974, accompanied by pères Fouettard.
City center · · 😂 Funny
The Bahnhof La Chaux-de-Fonds building was designed by architects Ernest Prince and Jean Béguin and constructed between 1901 and 1904.
Bahnhof La Chaux-de-Fonds · · 🏛️ Legendary
The Patinoire des Mélèzes, home of the HC La Chaux-de-Fonds ice hockey team, has a capacity of 5,225 spectators.
Patinoire des Mélèzes · · 🏛️ Legendary
A boundary stone, erected in 1833, features an inverted 'L' inscription, likely due to a mistake by the stone carver. This unusual error can be found on the border of La Sagne and Le Locle.
La Sagne - Le Locle border · · 🤯 Weird
The '4.C.V' boundary stone was placed on August 15-16, 1834, to mark the jurisdictional limit between the municipalities of La Chaux-de-Fonds and Valangin.
4.C.V · · 🔍 Hidden gems
💀 Dark history · 😂 Funny · 🔍 Hidden gems · 🏛️ Legendary · 🤯 Weird
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