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.

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Cesis Castle

German crusaders known as the Livonian Brothers of the Sword began construction of the Cēsis castle (Wenden) near the hill fort in 1209. When the castle was enlarged and fortified, it served as the residence for the Order's Master from 1237 till 1561, with periodic interruptions. Its ruins are some of the most majestic castle ruins in the Baltic states. Once the most important castle of the Livonian Order, it was the official residence for the masters of the order.

In 1577, during the Livonian War, the garrison destroyed the castle to prevent it from falling into the control of Ivan the Terrible, who was decisively defeated in the Battle of Wenden (1578).

In 1598 it was incorporated into the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth and Wenden Voivodship was created here. In 1620 Wenden was conquered by Sweden. It was rebuilt afterwards, but was destroyed again in 1703 during the Great Northern War by the Russian army and left in a ruined state. Already from the end of the 16th century, the premises of the Order's castle were adjusted to the requirements of the Cēsis Castle estate. When in 1777 the Cēsis Castle estate was obtained by Count Carl Sievers, he had his new residence house built on the site of the eastern block of the castle, joining its end wall with the fortification tower.

Since 1949, the Cēsis History Museum has been located in this New Castle of the Cēsis Castle estate. The front yard of the New Castle is enclosed by a granary and a stable-coach house, which now houses the Exhibition Hall of the Museum. Beside the granary there is the oldest brewery in Latvia, Cēsu alus darītava, which was built in 1878 during the later Count Sievers' time, but its origins date back to the period of the Livonian Order. Further on, the Cēsis Castle park is situated, which was laid out in 1812. The park has the romantic characteristic of that time, with its winding footpaths, exotic plants, and the waters of the pond reflecting the castle's ruins. Nowadays also one of the towers is open for tourists.

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