ChauxdeFonds

La Chaux-de-Fonds is a Swiss city in the canton of Neuchâtel, located in the Jura mountains near the French border. It sits on a high plateau at about 1,000 meters above sea level and serves as the capital of the district of La Chaux-de-Fonds. The city has a long-standing association with the watchmaking industry, which has shaped its economy, culture, and urban form.

In 2009, La Chaux-de-Fonds and the adjacent town of Le Locle were inscribed on the UNESCO World Heritage List for their watchmaking town planning. The designation highlights a distinctive grid-like street pattern and a functional division of zones for housing, workshops, and services, laid out to accommodate industrial activity on the steep hillside and to foster daylight and organization for workers.

Today, watchmaking remains a central element of the local economy, complemented by precision engineering and related services. The city is home to the International Museum of Horology (Musée International d'Horlogerie) and to educational institutions that train watchmakers and technicians. French is the predominant language, and the population includes a mix of local residents and a substantial international workforce linked to the watch industry.

La Chaux-de-Fonds is connected by rail and road to the surrounding region and Swiss cities, and it maintains a distinctive cultural heritage tied to its clock and watchmaking traditions.