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( Canton of Neuchâtel)
Neuchâtel (French Canton de Neuchâtel; German Kanton Neuenburg) is a canton of western Switzerland. In 2007, its population was 169,640. The capital is Neuchâtel. The canton of Neuchâtel is located in the west of Switzerland. To its northeast it borders the canton of Bern, to the northwest France. The Lake Neuchâtel lies southeast of the canton, while the canton of Vaud is southwest of the canton of Neuchâtel. The canton lies in the central area of the Jura Mountains. Lake Neuchâtel drains the lands in the south, whilst the River Doubs drains the northern areas. The canton is commonly divided into three regions. The viticultural region is located along the lake. Its name derives from the many vineyards found there. The region called Les Vallées lies further north. The two largest valleys of the canton of Neuchâtel lie in this region the Ruz Valley and the Val de Travers. Both valley lie at about 700 m. The highest region of the canton, however, is the Neuchâtelois Mountains at 900 m to 1065 m. This region is made up of a long valley home to La Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle and La Brévine. The name of the canton goes back to the Roman designation of Novum Castellum (new castle). Rudolph III of Burgundy mentioned Neuchâtel in his will in 1032. The dynasty of Count Ulrich von Fenis took over the town and its territories in 1034. The dynasty prospered and by 1373 all the lands now part of the canton belonged to the count. In 1405, the cities of Berne and Neuchâtel entered a union. The lands of Neuchâtel passed to the lords of Freiburg about a century later, and then in 1504 to the French house of Orléans-Longueville.
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