CHAUX-DE-FONDS, LA

town, Neuchtel canton, western Switzerland. It is situated in the Jura Mountains, near the French border, northwest of Neuchtel city. First mentioned in the 14th century, it was chartered in 1656 and was almost completely rebuilt after a fire in 1794. The watchmaking industry was established there in the early 18th century, and the town is now the headquarters of the Swiss Watch Chamber of Commerce and a centre of Swiss watch manufacturing. It has schools of watchmaking, music, art, and commerce and several museums. Machinery and printing are also significant. The population is chiefly Protestant and French-speaking. Pop. (1991 est.) 36,131.