Looking to refresh the games at home without piling up purchases? Ludotène, the toy library of La Tène, offers games and toys in Marin for all ages and all occasions, from toddlers to adults. The catalogue can be consulted online, which is handy for spotting something you fancy before coming to borrow on site, at Rue de la Fleur-de-Lys 7.
The doors are open two late afternoons a week, on Mondays and Thursdays from 15:30 to 18:00, plus one Saturday morning a month, from 10:00 to 12:00. Enough to fit the visit into the family schedule, between school pick-up and dinner.
More than just a lending counter, the toy library sees itself as a place of discovery and a meeting point across the generations, where young and old share the pleasure of play.
Kids activities nearby
Family outing ideas around the toy library.
Want a day by the lake without spending a dime? La Plage de La Ramée, in La Tène, unfolds its vast expanse of sand and lawn along the shores of Lake Neuchâtel. With its playground and shaded areas, it is one of the most beautiful public and free beaches in the region for a family outing.
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Want a day by the water, with no entrance fee and space for the kids? The Plage de Saint-Blaise, on the north shore of Lake Neuchâtel, welcomes you with its lawn, shaded trees, and small gravel beach. A classic for families from the Neuchâtel coast.
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Looking for a free outing where the kids can climb and slide while you enjoy the view of the lake? The playground at the Port de Saint-Blaise welcomes you by the water, just steps away from the boats, featuring a zip line, swings, and a large sandbox.
View detailsNearby toy libraries
Other toy libraries in the same canton.
Ludothèque Pestalozzi
Neuchâtel, 2000
In the heart of Neuchâtel, at Faubourg du Lac 1, the Pestalozzi toy library shares premises with the library of the same name. So you can drop in for stories as much as for games: hiring a game costs between 1 and 6 francs, while borrowing books and DVDs remains free, with a maximum of two reservations per user. The doors are open Tuesday to Friday from 13:30 to 17:30, and on Saturdays from 10:00 to 13:00, a welcome slot for families with busy weekdays. School classes and groups are welcomed by appointment, with a guided visit and dedicated borrowing slots. A great way to introduce children to the principle of lending, applied here to games as well as books.
Ludothèque La Neuveville
La Neuveville, 2520
In the heart of La Neuveville, at Rue du Marché 10, the toy library works like a lending library for games: you borrow, play as a family, then bring the box back and discover another one. The collection holds around 1,200 games for all ages and all tastes, from board and party games to strategy, cooperative, construction and outdoor games. The toy library welcomes families three times a week: Tuesday and Thursday in the late afternoon, plus Saturday morning, a handy slot for picking out something to fill the weekend. Beyond lending, the team organises monthly games evenings and regularly holds a stand at markets around the region, a chance to discover new titles and share a few rounds.
Ludothèque La Colombine
Fontainemelon, 2052
Families in the Val-de-Ruz have their go-to address for games in Fontainemelon: the Ludothèque La Colombine, at Chemin de Bellevue 3, lends games and toys to the whole valley. The premises are reached from Rue du Temple. Three sessions a week leave plenty of choice: Mondays and Thursdays from 15:00 to 18:00, plus Saturday mornings from 09:30 to 11:30 for an unhurried family visit. The toy library is closed during the school holidays. Borrowing a game also means having the right to get it wrong: if a game doesn't catch on, you bring it back and try another, no abandoned boxes pile up, and every visit rekindles the children's curiosity.
