Le Locle, Sidmouth’s Swiss twin
Sidmouth is twinned with a town in Switzerland called Le Locle.
It is famous for its watchmaking, which has been practised in the area for hundreds of years. It also has UNESCO World Heritage status.
History
The watchmaking industry in Le Locle began in the 17th century with Daniel Jeanrichard, who was a farmer and self-taught watchmaker.
There were around 77 watchmakers in the town in 1750, and more than 800 by 1800 as watchmaking slowly replaced the more traditional trades of farming and lace-making.
The work was done by hand at first but factories were brought in in the late 19th century.
Brands such as Zodiac, Tissot, and Mont Blanc have been active in the town.
Geography
Le Locle stands at 3,100 ft above sea level, in contrast to Sidmouth's 30ft.
It is situated close to the border with France.
Its climate is similar to Sidmouth's, but it gets much colder in winter with average lows of -6°C.
Population
Le Locle has a population of 9,864 as of 2020. Sidmouth's population is slightly larger at 12,569 as of 2011.
Eighty-eight per cent of the population speaks French, four per cent Italian, and 1.9 per cent German.
Twenty-six per cent of the population are foreign nationals, as of 2008.
How can I get there?
Le Locle has a railway station. Train journeys from the nearby capital Bern take just over one hour, as does driving.
Train journeys from Geneva or Zurich to Le Locle take around two to two-and-a-half hours.
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