| Boat pier |  |
| The pier in La Neuveville is served by two different companies, BSG (Lake Biel Navigation) and LNM (Lakes Neuchâtel and Murten Navigation). The Three Lakes region, which extends along the Aare to Solothurn, is the longest waterway in Switzerland! |
| Chemin des Rives | |
| The underpass leads to a small port. On the left, Chemin des Rives runs along the lake shore to Chemin de Saint-Joux, the small beach of the same name and the sports fields. If you continue straight ahead, you reach the boat pier and you can stroll along Quai Moeckli. |
| Park of the small port | |
| Closing the west of the small harbour, a tiny park offers a beautiful view of the long peninsula of Isle of Saint-Pierre, a narrow strip of land that connects the island dear to Jean-Jacques Rousseau with the village of Erlach, at the western end of Lake Biel. |
| Port Rousseau (1) | |
| We are now passing the first pier of Port Rousseau, the marina of La Neuveville. Its name evokes the writer Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1712-1778), who spent two months on the island of Saint-Pierre during his exile in Switzerland. |
| Port Rousseau (2) | |
| We are still here on Quai Moeckli but, in the middle of the marina, it will change name and become Promenade Jean-Jacques Rousseau, still in homage to the famous writer-philosopher. |
| Promenade Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1) | |
| The small mountain you see on the horizon is the hill of Jolimont, above Cerlier (Erlach). On its left, you can see the strip of land that connects the island of Saint-Pierre to the western end of the lake. |
| Promenade Jean-Jacques Rousseau (2) | |
| The small mountain you see on the horizon is the hill of Jolimont, above Cerlier (Erlach). On its left, you can see the strip of land that connects the island of Saint-Pierre to the western end of the lake. |
| Promenade Jean-Jacques Rousseau (3) | |
| We go around the marina and arrive at the large lawn in front of a hotel-restaurant whose name we let you guess... |
| Promenade Jean-Jacques Rousseau (4) | |
| To finish the walk, we will now cross the lawn and enjoy the marvellous panorama of Lake Biel while evoking the memories of Jean-Jacques Rousseau. |
| Promenade Jean-Jacques Rousseau (5) | |
| "(...) I would willingly go and sit by the lake, on the shore, in some hidden refuge; there, the sound of the waves and the agitation of the water, fixing my senses and driving out of my soul all other agitation, plunged it into a delicious reverie, where the night often surprised me without my noticing it." Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Reveries of the Solitary Walker (posthumous work published in 1782) |
| Promenade Jean-Jacques Rousseau (6) | |
| "From time to time some faint and short reflection arose on the instability of the things of this world, of which the surface of the waters offered me the image; but soon these light impressions faded away in the uniformity of the continuous movement which rocked me (...)" Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Reveries of the Solitary Walker (posthumous work published in 1782) |
| Quai Moeckli (1) | |
| In the distance, far left, you see the island of St. Peter, which is in fact a peninsula that runs to Erlach (Cerlier) on the right, at the foot of the hill of Jolimont. The island can be reached by boat or by bike. |
| Quai Moeckli (2) | |
| Along the shaded quay, numerous benches invite you to take a break and admire the superb view of the blue waters of Lake Biel. |
| Quai Moeckli (3) | |
| Behind a flower bed, two naked girls remind us that La Neuveville is surrounded by vineyards and make us want to taste the local fruit... |
| Sailing club harbour | |
| Our virtual stroll starts (or ends) here, near the small harbour of the sailing club. Further on, there are large public car parks (and a campsite). Feel free to leave your car here, as parking is much more difficult in the city. |
| The small port | |
| Good to know: at the other end of this charming little port there is a refreshment stand at the edge of water, open from April to September. But our walk does not pass there, it continues towards the boat pier. |
| Underpass | |
| As in other places on the northern shore of Lake Biel, Villeneuve is cut off from its lakeside by road and rail, but a few underground passages allow access. |
