Maison de l'Absinthe, Val-de-Travers
Maison de l'Absinthe
A themed museum in Val-de-Travers, the birthplace of absinthe, housed in the old courthouse. It tells the story of the 'Green Fairy': its creation, its ban and its revival.
Absinthe was born in the Val-de-Travers in the late 18th century. After Switzerland banned its sale nationwide in 1910, locals kept distilling it in secret for nearly a century, until it was legalized in 2005. The Maison de l'Absinthe, housed in the old courthouse in Môtiers, uses interactive exhibits to tell this 'underground history'. It includes a recreated courtroom where home distillers were once tried. The visit ends with a tasting of several local absinthes (the tasting costs about CHF 15 to 20). The valley also has several distilleries that can be visited, as well as the 'Absinthe Trail', which links the distilleries with the wormwood fields. Closed on Mondays.
Opening hours
Tue–Sun 10:00 am–6:00 pm (shorter hours in winter)
Nearby sights
- La Presta Asphalt Mines
- Grandson Castle
- Creux du Van
- Gorges de l'Areuse
- Vue des Alpes
- Valangin Castle
- Ethnography Museum of Neuchâtel
- Neuchâtel Castle & Collegiate Church