During guided visits to Les Mines d'asphalte in Travers, the galleries of La Presta are explored, where asphalt was mined from 1712 to 1986.
You may be planning your stay in Travers with a hotel and want to find and book accommodation for it.
History and Townscape
The Temple of Travers was built in 1569 on the site of a medieval chapel. Its bell tower dates from 1632 and was raised after the fire of 1865. The first written mention of Travers is found in a document from 1202.
The Château of Travers was formerly the residence of the Lords of Travers and dates from the 16th to the 18th century. A stone bridge with four arches dating from 1665 is considered unique in the region. The townscape of Travers reflects the character of a Jura industrial village.
The fire of 1865 affected 101 of the 124 village houses in Travers and destroyed almost all of them.
Mining History
A visit to the mine includes the exhibition Asphalt Story. The tourist route at the mines combines a museum section with a section in an underground gallery. Visitors can continue to the Jardin des Mineurs with an explorer kit.
Nature and Trails
South of Travers, the museum at La Banderette interprets the Creux du Van through wolf populations, geology and Jura karst.
The Chemin de l'Areuse No. 304 leads from Travers to Couvet through a landscape described as unspoilt nature and a peaceful setting. The trail has 50 m of ascent and 50 m of descent; technically, it is considered easy, but physically difficult.
Regional Speciality
In Val-de-Travers, jambon cuit dans l'asphalte is listed as a local speciality at Café des Mines.
