The building was constructed primarily underground to minimize its visual impact on the surrounding park and to provide natural seismic and thermal stability for delicate clock movements.
The collection includes the 'Merveilleuse,' a complex astronomical clock created by Louis Recordon in 1789 featuring a perpetual calendar and lunar phases.
The museum serves as the headquarters for the International Committee of Museums of Science and Technology (CIMUSET) for horology.
It houses an extensive documentation center containing rare manuscripts and historical patents related to watchmaking inventions.
The site operates an active restoration laboratory that accepts commissioned work on historical timepieces.
The museum collection features 'La Pendule Sympathique' by Breguet, a system where a master clock regulates a portable watch.
The Musée international d'horlogerie (MIH) is a subterranean architectural landmark located in La Chaux-de-Fonds, Switzerland, dedicated entirely to the history and science of time measurement. Designed by architects Pierre Zoelly and Georges-Jacques Haefeli, the museum is built into a hillside to preserve the town's park landscape while providing a temperature-controlled environment for sensitive horological artifacts. The collection spans from antiquity to modern atomic timekeeping, featuring over 4,500 items including sundials, water clocks, and intricate mechanical timepieces. It functions as both a public museum and a center for technical research, restoration, and education. The facility houses a specialized laboratory for the conservation of historical watches and complex clockwork mechanisms. Permanent exhibits explore the sociological, artistic, and technical evolution of clocks throughout human civilization. The building's unique design incorporates natural light through skylights while shielding the delicate exhibits from direct solar radiation. The museum is located in the heart of the UNESCO World Heritage area famous for its urban watchmaking history.
The central atrium staircase that provides a view of the tiered subterranean levels and the massive, hanging pendulum clocks.
Use the audio guide to better understand the complex technical mechanisms behind the most significant historical timepieces.
Take advantage of the museum's specialized library if you are interested in the technical history of watchmaking.
Allow extra time to walk through the surrounding Parc de l'Arèthe, which is integrated with the museum architecture.
Do not attempt to touch the glass display cases, as the movement of air and vibrations can affect the calibration of high-precision historical clocks.
Closed on Mondays.
