La Presta Asphalt Mines
Mines d'asphalte de la Presta
An old mine that supplied asphalt for the streets of London and New York. Visitors can don hard hats to explore the galleries, then taste ham cooked in hot asphalt.
The Presta asphalt mines were worked from 1711 to 1986. The natural asphalt they produced was laid on the streets of London, Paris and New York. The guided tour takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Visitors wear hard hats to enter roughly 1 km of underground galleries, learning about mining methods and the lives of the miners. The mine restaurant's signature dish is ham cooked in hot asphalt, a truly unique specialty. Admission is about CHF 20. Take a train to Travers, then transfer by bus. The mines are often visited together with the Absinthe Museum and Val-de-Travers on a day trip to the valley.
Opening hours
Daily guided tours Apr–Oct; weekends Nov–Mar
Nearby sights
- Maison de l'Absinthe, Val-de-Travers
- Creux du Van
- Grandson Castle
- Gorges de l'Areuse
- Vue des Alpes
- Valangin Castle
- Ethnography Museum of Neuchâtel
- Neuchâtel Castle & Collegiate Church