24^th of April – 25^th of September 2011

The authorities of the city of Neuchâtel have decided in spring 2009 to celebrate, through events planned from April to September 2011, the year of the thousandth birthday of the appearance of the name of the city in an historical text

The festivities of the Millennium will take place from April to September 2011. The month of April being a month during which the good weather comes back and the climate being quite temperate, the 24^th of this very month is a red-letter day. In fact, it is the date of the manuscript seen as the act of foundation of the city of Neuchâtel. Therefore, the beginning of the Millennium will be on the 24^th of April 2011.

The celebration of the grape harvest on the 25^th of September will end the festivities of the Millennium. It seemed inconceivable to end this event without the celebration of the grape harvest included in the festivities. The month of September 2011 is synonymous with the inauguration of the TransEurope project, at Crêt-Taconnet.

“Neuchâtel from another point of view!”

The general theme of the project called “Neuchâtel from another point of view!” aims to reassess the city of Neuchâtel through a different and fresh look from the citizens on themselves, as well as from others on Neuchâtel.

Glowing, partying and dreaming about the future

The project of the festivities of the Millennium has different objectives. Firstly, it wants to increase the visibility and the influence of Neuchâtel by promoting its identity of a one-thousand-year-old city. It also wishes to reinforce the citizens’ feeling of belonging to their city, by asking them to join the events. It should stimulate a reflection on the present, the past and the future of the city. Its realization will rally the resources and the strengths of Neuchâtel, as well as its surroundings. It is about realizing activities and events within a realistic framework of management by asking a public and private financing.