Laténium, Neuchâtel, Switzerland

The Laténium is a museum of Swiss archaeology as well as the history of man in the Lake Neuchâtel region. The museum covers history from the Ice Age to Renaissance period (around AD 1600). The larger exhibitions are on the Gallo-Romans, Celts, and Bronze Age. The Laténium museum has numerous interactive displays, which can entertain adults and children of all ages. A large park (free) between the museum and the shores of Lac de Neuchâtel has further archeological displays including reconstructed houses from the Bronze Age. The Laténium and park is a great day-trip destination and popular with families.

References:

lake-geneva-switzerland.com

Museums in Switzerland

User Reviews

Veronika Němcová (2 years ago)
Perfect exposition, no boring! I miss a lot english subtitles and bistro was not also perfect. The exterier is beautiful!

Joshua Christian Drewlow (3 years ago)
Very interesting to dive into this museum of Swiss history! Students can enter cheaper.

Javier Goiri (3 years ago)
Extremely well organised and interesting museum. With amazing archeological pieces of great quality.

Sven Jungo (3 years ago)
Beautiful place. Very informativ and the outside area invites you to stay for a while.

Nick Sommers (3 years ago)
Great insight into the life of the Celts with reconstructed houses in the park outside.

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Photo from Flickr, copyright Monceau

Historic Site of the week

Kisimul Castle

Dating from the 15th century, Kisimul is the only significant surviving medieval castle in the Outer Hebrides. It was the residence of the chief of the Macneils of Barra, who claimed descent from the legendary Niall of the Nine Hostages. Tradition tells of the Macneils settling in Barra in the 11th century, but it was only in 1427 that Gilleonan Macneil comes on record as the first lord. He probably built the castle that dominates the rocky islet, and in its shadow a crew house for his personal galley and crew. The sea coursed through Macneil veins, and a descendant, Ruari ‘the Turbulent’, was arrested for piracy of an English ship during King James VI’s reign in the later 16th century.

Heavy debts eventually forced the Macneil chiefs to sell Barra in 1838. However, a descendant, Robert Lister Macneil, the 45th Chief, repurchased the estate in 1937, and set about restoring his ancestral seat. It passed into Historic Scotland’s care in 2000.

The castle dates essentially from the 15th century. It takes the form of a three-storey tower house. This formed the residence of the clan chief. An associated curtain wall fringed the small rock on which the castle stood, and enclosed a small courtyard in which there are ancillary buildings. These comprised a feasting hall, a chapel, a tanist’s house and a watchman’s house. Most were restored in the 20th century, the tanist’s house serving as the family home of the Macneils. A well near the postern gate is fed with fresh water from an underground seam. Outside the curtain wall, beside the original landing-place, are the foundations of the crew house, where the sailors manning their chief’s galley had their quarters.

Do you know an ancient castle or magnificent church near you?

Why not share it with other people interested in history? You can add your own historic sites and attractions to SpottingHistory.com.

It's absolutely free, easy, and doesn't even need registration!

Upload data

Laténium

Address

Details

More Information

Rating

Interesting Sites Nearby

User Reviews

Featured Historic Landmarks, Sites & Buildings

Great Spa Towns of Europe

History of Guernsey & Jersey

Most beautiful castles in Lithuania

Historic Site of the week

Kisimul Castle

Looks like you are a history fan!