Moulins souterrains du Col-des-Roches

Rounding out the list of most beautiful caves in Switzerland is Col-des-Roches. Hydropower is nearly hard to harness if brooks and rivers only stream sluggishly above ground. As a result, residents of the Le Locle Valley began to use underground streams. This is how the "Col-des-Roches" cave mills came to be.

How the underground workshop was established almost 400 years ago beggars comprehension. Despite this, water-powered mills and sawmills may be found in natural and man-made tunnels and karst caverns. Volunteers renovated the cave factory, which is the only one in Europe, and it is now available to the public.

The underground mills provide insight into a period of area history. The usage of hydropower is demonstrated at a museum on the working and purpose of the mills, which allows visitors to get insight into the Jura's unique character. The repaired mill and sawmill machinery may be seen in the grottoes and tunnels.

Bring a warm sweater because the cave is frigid, with an average temperature of 7°C.

In 1653 and 1660, the natural cave was turned into a water-powered subterranean mill, and it now houses remnants of 17th, 18th, and 19th century equipment. Hydraulic energy is used to reassemble a flour mill on many storeys. Visitors may learn about the key topics of a rich and little-known regional history at this place, which is unique in Europe. The permanent display covers the site's history as well as key subjects such as agriculture, milling, baking, hydraulic energy, electricity, and boundaries.

Location: Le Locle Valley