Musée international d'horlogerie (MIH), La Chaux-de-Fonds

Location

La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland

Address

Rue des Musées 29, 2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds

Opened

1902

Type

Museum

Official website ↗

History of the museum

The collection was started in the last quarter of the 19th century by the town's School of Watchmaking, mainly as teaching material. On 24 March 1902 the town authorities signed the foundation deed of the Watchmaking Museum. It was enlarged in 1907, 1952 and 1967 and adopted the name Musée international d'horlogerie in 1968.

The present building, by architects Pierre Zoelly and Georges-J. Haefeli, was inaugurated in 1974, when the museum already held more than 3,000 objects. Mostly underground and set into the slope of a park, it is built in exposed concrete. It won the Prix de l'architecture béton in 1977, and the museum's design team received the European Museum of the Year award (1977 prize). A monumental animated carillon by Onelio Vignando has stood on the forecourt since 1980.

What you can see

The collection of about 10,000 objects covers watches and clocks from the 16th century to today, Swiss and international, along with tools, machines, instruments, automata, models, reconstructions of lost objects, paintings and engravings. The permanent exhibition is called L'Homme et le Temps (Man and Time). Highlights include:

• The Astrarium of Giovanni Dondi (Padua, 1365–1380), reconstructed by Luigi Pippa in Milan in 1985.
• Automata by Maillardet, including the "great magician" and "little magician", and Robert-Houdin's "Mysterious clock".
• Clocks and automata by Pierre Jaquet-Droz and Breguet.
• An early marine chronometer by Ferdinand Berthoud.
• Georges-Frédéric Roskopf's pocket watch "La Prolétaire", a milestone of affordable watchmaking.
• A jumping hours watch by Paul Lullin, the automaton watch "Arms in the air" by Robert et Courvoisier and François Ducommun's Copernicus tellurium.
• François Junod's automaton "Turk drinking coffee on a flying carpet" (2000).
• Three frescoes by Hans Erni, La conquête du temps, made in 1958 for the Swiss Pavilion at the Brussels World's Fair.

Part of the restoration center's workshop is visible to visitors. In 2026 the temporary program includes the annual show of new acquisitions (until 27 February 2027).

Why it matters for watch collectors

Because it is not tied to a brand, the MIH is a neutral reference for the whole history of timekeeping, from medieval astronomical clocks to industrial production. Collectors can trace how escapements, complications and manufacturing methods developed, and see mass-market pieces such as Roskopf's next to luxury work. Since 1993 the museum has awarded the annual Prix Gaïa for contributions to watchmaking in craftsmanship, research and entrepreneurship. La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle have been a UNESCO World Heritage Site since 2009 for their watchmaking town planning.

Visiting

The museum is at Rue des Musées 29, 2300 La Chaux-de-Fonds; the town lies at the junction of four railway lines. As of 2026, according to the official website:

• Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday 10:00 am–5:00 pm; closed Mondays.
• Admission: adults CHF 15; reduced (students up to 25, AVS pensioners) CHF 13; ages 12–15 CHF 7; families CHF 30. Free on Sundays 10:00 am–noon from October to March, and with the Neuchâtel Tourist Card.
• Museum pass: the Pass Musées La Chaux-de-Fonds (adults CHF 20) is valid for two consecutive days and includes four other museums in the town.
• Guided tours: by advance booking, CHF 130 per guide (up to 20 people).

Opening hours, prices and exhibitions change. Please check the official website before your visit.

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