Le Landeron

Town Canton of Neuchâtel · Region: Littoral · 4'684 inhabitants (31.12.2025)

Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Le Landeron

The place name appears around 1209 in the form « Landiron », the name of a meadow mentioned in a charter of the abbey of Saint-Jean de Cerlier (Erlach) granting a fishing right. The site, then uninhabited, is a morainic islet rising from a marshy plain on the bank of the Thielle. The meaning of the word « Landiron » is not explained. Before the town was founded, the inhabitants of the area lived on the hillside, in places known by the generic name of Nugerol (« Nogerolis »), mentioned from 866.

Founding of Le Landeron

Before the town was founded, the houses stood on the hillside under the generic name of Nugerol, in particular in a fortified small town at the place called la Tour. That town was destroyed after 1309 and, in 1316, an arbitration by the Duke of Austria even forbade its rebuilding. On 1 September 1325, Count Rodolphe IV of Neuchâtel, known as « Rollin », bought a meadow in the plain to build a fortified town there, erected in 1328-1329. The site, close to the Thielle and Lake Biel, marks the eastern border of the county of Neuchâtel facing the prince-bishopric of Basel. From its foundation Le Landeron was the seat of a châtellenie, a role it kept until 1848; several neighbouring villages, including Cressier, depended on it. The older parish church had probably been founded by the abbey of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune.

History of Le Landeron

Late Bronze Age. A grave is made at Les Carougets.

around 961-957 BC. A pottery workshop is active on the bank of the Thielle.

1st-4th century. A Roman villa is attested at Les Carougets. A Roman villa is also reported on the site of Nugerol, on the hillside above present-day Le Landeron (to be cross-checked).

Early Middle Ages. Hut floors attest an early medieval settlement.

866. First known written mention of the place, under the name "Nogerolis" (Nugerol).

early 11th century. The parish church, probably founded by the abbey of Saint-Maurice d'Agaune, is acquired through an exchange by the advocate Rodolphe.

around 1209. First mention of the place name « Landiron » (a meadow), in a charter of the abbey of Saint-Jean de Cerlier granting a fishing right.

1260. Count Rodolphe III of Neuchâtel is said to have granted franchises to Nugerol (to be cross-checked).

after 1309. The fortified small town of Nugerol, at the place called la Tour, is destroyed.

1316. An arbitration by the Duke of Austria forbids the rebuilding of Nugerol.

1 September 1325. Count Rodolphe IV of Neuchâtel ("Rollin") buys a meadow in the plain and founds Le Landeron as a replacement fortified town; the town becomes the chief town of a châtellenie on which several neighbouring villages, including Cressier, will depend.

1328-1329. Construction of the town's fortifications and castle.

1373. Countess Isabelle of Neuchâtel concludes a combourgeoisie (joint-citizenship alliance) with Soleure, to which Le Landeron and Cressier are attached.

1449. Le Landeron signs a combourgeoisie treaty (perpetual alliance) with the town of Soleure, which obliges it in particular to provide soldiers.

around 1450-1455. Construction of the Hôtel de Ville and the chapelle des Dix Mille Martyrs, on land donated by Jean de Fribourg; the chapel is consecrated in 1455.

1523-1562. Around 590 men from Le Landeron fight under the colours of Soleure during military campaigns.

1530-1541. Le Landeron resists the Reformation and defends its religious particularism; a « plus » (vote) of 1541 is said to have maintained Catholicism (to be cross-checked). The town becomes a Catholic island in largely Protestant Neuchâtel territory.

1556. Only Lignières, which belonged to the parish, goes over to Protestantism.

1628-1662. Around forty witchcraft trials are documented in Le Landeron.

1647. Creation of the carved panelling for the twelve councillors in the courtroom of the Hôtel de Ville.

1681. Foundation of the chapel of Combes.

1695. The chapel of Combes is served by the Capuchins.

1707. Le Landeron submits, like the rest of the principality, to the King of Prussia.

around 1750. The castle, owned by the prince of Neuchâtel (the king of Prusse, Frédéric II), is ceded to the bourgeoisie of Le Landeron.

1751 and 1761. Two fires devastate part of the town.

1829. Construction of the new parish church of Saint-Maurice.

1848. End of the châtellenie system following the Neuchâtel revolution and the proclamation of the Republic; Le Landeron ceases to be an administrative chief town.

1859. Arrival of the railway; the current station is built in 1869-1870.

1868. Division of the communal property with Cressier.

1875. Creation of the municipality.

1889-1891. Addition of neo-Gothic elements to the south façade of the castle.

1894. Creation of a Protestant parish.

1905. The Hôtel de Ville is listed as a cantonal historic monument.

1907. Restoration of the Hôtel de Ville, directed by the architect Eugène Colomb.

1922. Restoration of the wall paintings of the Hôtel de Ville by Alfred Blailé.

1973. First edition of the Brocante du Landeron, which became one of the largest flea markets in Switzerland.

1974. Connection of Le Landeron to the A5 motorway.

1980-1981. Creation of the Fondation de l'Hôtel de Ville, a new restoration campaign and the opening of the museum.

1910-2000. The primary sector falls from 320 jobs in 1910 to 45 in 2000; the Le Landeron vineyard, the second largest in the canton, accounts for about a tenth of Neuchâtel's vines.

1991. Inauguration of the Deux-Thielles school centre.

2010. The castle, until then owned by the corporation of Saint-Maurice, is transferred to the commune of Le Landeron.

2016. Le Landeron joins the association "Les Plus Beaux Villages de Suisse".

2025. The town celebrates the 700th anniversary of its founding with events evoking the Middle Ages.

Population of Le Landeron

591

1750

956

1850

1'423

1900

1'724

1950

3'000 (approximately)

1970

4'227

2000

4'680

2022

4'684

2025

Historic sites in Le Landeron

The Old Town (the Bourg). The fortified medieval core of Le Landeron, structured since the 14th century into two rows of houses bordering a central street, framed by gates. Its overall layout has remained remarkably well preserved since its founding in 1325.

The Hôtel de Ville. Built from the mid-15th century on land donated by Jean de Fribourg, it brings together under one roof the chapelle des Dix Mille Martyrs (consecrated in 1455) and the premises of civil power, including a courtroom adorned with wall paintings of the Judgment of Solomon (1530) and Renaissance wood panelling (1647). It today houses the communal museum and the municipal authorities.

The Château du Landeron. Built of limestone from 1325 as a residence for the count of Neuchâtel during his travels and as a storage place for tithes, it also served as a prison in the 16th century. Remodelled with neo-Gothic elements between 1889 and 1891, it has belonged to the commune since 2010 and today houses a theatre, a music school and function halls.

The Chapelle des Dix Mille Martyrs. Integrated into the ground floor of the Hôtel de Ville and consecrated in 1455, it owes its name to the medieval cult of the Dix Mille Martyrs (Ten Thousand Martyrs) and preserves painted decorations rediscovered in 1954.

The church of Saint-Maurice. Catholic parish church built in 1829, a testament to Le Landeron's fidelity to the Catholic faith since the 16th century.

The historic fountains of the town. Around twenty fountains punctuate the streets of the Old Town, contributing to the heritage character of the built ensemble.

The gates and fortified remains of the town. The old access gates to the fortified town partly survive and recall the defensive function of the town founded in 1325 on the border of the county of Neuchâtel.

Remains in Le Landeron

The site of Nugerol. On the hillside above Le Landeron, the dwellings of the area were grouped under the generic name of Nugerol, in particular in a fortified small town at the place called la Tour. Destroyed after 1309, it could not be rebuilt following an arbitration by the Duke of Austria in 1316; its inhabitants moved to the new town founded in 1325. A Roman villa and a 12th-century tower are also reported there (to be cross-checked).

The fortifications of the town. Elements of the ramparts and gates of the fortified town built in 1328-1329 survive in the urban fabric of the Old Town, although the ensemble was partly remodelled after the fires of 1751 and 1761.

The castle. A defensive and residential structure from the 14th-15th century, the castle is itself a major remnant of the 1325 comital founding, despite its later alterations (neo-Gothic façade of 1889-1891).

Sources

Localities of the municipality with a page

Combes

Other villages near Le Landeron

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