It all began in 1844, when the authorities decided to attract artisans through tax incentives. The success was phenomenal: the town had 800 watchmakers by 1860 and by around 1900, the industry was already employing 3,400 people. For over 150 years, the town has been beating to the rhythm of watches. It is this diversity – combining world-class Manufactures, subcontractors and home-based work – that has shaped its identity. As Mayor Glenda Gonzalez Bassi pointed out at the press conference launching the project : “The city has developed thanks to watchmaking. It has shaped our identity and plays a part in our future.”
The preservation of this heritage is now based on a multi-modal approach. The public can explore the local industrial history through six themed urban walking tours set out in a guide published by the Swiss Society for Art History (GSK). On the ground, QR codes displayed on various buildings create a direct link to the interactive map on the website www.villehorlogere.biel-bienne.ch. In addition, the Nouveau Musée Bienne offers a dynamic animation of its urban model, enabling visitors to visualise this industry’s concrete impact on the city’s expansi