The museum holds over 3,000 objects in its permanent exhibition, selected from a collection of approximately 550,000 items.
The building was designed by architect Italo Rota and features an expansive use of wood and glass to blend into the shoreline environment.
The park houses a 'dugout canoe' reconstruction, utilizing techniques based on archaeological finds from the nearby lakebeds.
The site exhibits a reconstructed Neolithic village, providing a tangible sense of the scale of prehistoric pile dwellings.
The museum serves as the headquarters for the Cantonal Archaeological Service of Neuchâtel.
The La Tène site, after which the museum is named, was discovered in 1858 when low water levels in Lake Neuchâtel revealed ancient weapons and artifacts.
The museum’s design won the Council of Europe Museum Prize in 2003 for its innovative presentation of archaeological heritage.
The Laténium is the largest archaeological museum in Switzerland, located directly on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel in Hauterive. It derives its name from the nearby La Tène archaeological site, which provided the type-site for the European Iron Age La Tène culture. The facility integrates an indoor museum with a 30,000-square-meter park featuring reconstructed prehistoric structures and natural habitats. The permanent exhibition covers over 50,000 years of regional history, spanning from the Paleolithic era to the medieval period. The building architecture incorporates large glass surfaces to maintain a visual connection between the artifacts and the surrounding lake landscape. The collection includes exceptionally preserved organic materials, such as wooden structures and textiles, recovered from local lacustrine settlements. The museum actively conducts research and serves as a center for experimental archaeology.
The lakeside path within the park, looking back toward the museum building's glass façade with the lake in the foreground.
Prioritize the outdoor park walk after viewing the indoor exhibits to better understand the reconstructed dwellings.
Check the museum's digital calendar for experimental archaeology demonstrations, which often occur on weekends.
Use the free lockers provided in the entrance area to enjoy the exhibition without carrying heavy bags.
Do not rush through the indoor galleries, as the chronological narrative is complex and requires time to contextualize the artifacts.
Closed on Mondays throughout the year.
Maintain a quiet volume inside the exhibition halls; photography is generally permitted without flash.
