Le Locle

Le Locle is a municipality in the Canton of Neuchatel in Switzerland, set in the Jura Mountains a few kilometres from La Chaux-de-Fonds. It is known as a centre of Swiss watchmaking and is even cited as the birthplace of the industry, with roots dating back to the 1600s, when Daniel Jeanrichard, a self-taught watchmaker, encouraged farmers of the area to make watch components during the long winters. Makers such as Tissot, Zenith, Ulysse Nardin and Montblanc have had manufactures there, and the history of the trade is shown at the Musee d'Horlogerie du Locle in Monts Castle, a country manor on a hill north of the town. In the twentieth century micro-mechanical industry was added. Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds have jointly received recognition from UNESCO for their watchmaking planning and buildings. The place is first mentioned in 1332 as dou Locle. About 9,864 people lived there in December 2020.