In 2015, Lucie Nicolas left her job as a dancer, choreographer, and dance school director in Paris to move to the canton of Neuchâtel.
Life in Paris was starting to take its toll, and Lucie felt the need for more nature and open space. Her husband’s job transfer to Switzerland turned out to be a real opportunity for a change of lifestyle and sparked her entrepreneurial spirit. She then decided to open an arts and wellness center in Marin-Epagnier, which she has been running since 2018.
How did you discover Neuchâtel?
When my husband was transferred from Paris to a company in Solothurn, we decided to settle in the canton of Neuchâtel instead. We were looking for a French-speaking area to send our children to school, and I was already familiar with the Lake Neuchâtel region because I’d been there once on vacation when I was a child. I had very fond memories of it. It was the combination of the city, the lake, and the nearby mountains that tipped the scales. We fell in love with the place right away. It’s important to feel at home where you live.
What was your first reaction when you arrived in the canton?
It felt like I was on vacation every day. The weather was absolutely beautiful when we arrived in the summer of 2015, and being in the city of Neuchâtel right next to the lake was magnificent. The cobblestones in Neuchâtel’s narrow streets reminded me of the cobblestones on the streets of Paris. That’s what they had in common.
What was the hardest part of this life change?
To rebuild our professional and social networks. The seasons are very distinct in Switzerland, and once fall arrives, people tend to stay home more. Stores close early, and our first winter was quite cold and damp, which took us by surprise. But after that, we met up with friends and got to know our neighbors in Hauterive. The welcome we received was very warm and positive.
What made you decide to start a dance school here?
After spending some time at home, I felt the urge to get back to something, to have a social life of my own. So I started teaching dance classes again. I saw that there were already dance schools in the canton, and I wasn’t necessarily interested in opening another one. But renting studios to teach private lessons was complicated—the schedules didn’t always work for me. I figured that if demand for classes grew, I could rent my own space—which is exactly what I did.
Is it easy to start a business in Switzerland?
It’s extremely simple. It took me barely 24 hours to set it up. From an administrative standpoint, it’s very fast compared to France. On the other hand, the region is fairly small, and the challenge is breaking into the market as a new player and carving out a place for yourself. It’s not that simple when you’re not from here and your professional network is primarily based in Paris and throughout France. The administrative terms are also very different from those in France (SCAV, SCAN, “maison des habitants,” etc.). We didn’t always know who to contact. And I was also surprised by the cost of commercial rent in Switzerland. It was a bit like in Paris.
What do you like most about the canton of Neuchâtel?
I appreciate the relaxed way of life that we had lost while living in Paris. There’s something about this place where people take the time to get together and do things as a group. One image that really stuck with me—and that really captures the spirit of Neuchâtel—is that of large picnics by the lake, with different groups of people sharing the available grills. That sense of camaraderie.