Cernier (French pronunciation: [sɛʁnje]) is the former capital of the district of Val-de-Ruz in the Canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland .

The municipalities of Boudevilliers , Cernier, Chézard-Saint-Martin , Coffrane, Dombresson , Engollon , Fenin-Vilars-Saules , Fontainemelon , Fontaines, Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane , Les Hauts-Geneveys , Montmollin , Le Pâquier, Savagnier and Villiers merged on 1 January 2013 into the new municipality of Val-de-Ruz.

Cernier is first mentioned in 1324 (1324) as Cernies.

Cernier had an area, as of 2009, of 9.1 square kilometers (3.5 sq mi). Of this area, 4.98 km2 (1.92 sq mi) or 54.7% is used for agricultural purposes, while 3.44 km2 (1.33 sq mi) or 37.8% is forested. Of the rest of the land, 0.68 km2 (0.26 sq mi) or 7.5% is settled (buildings or roads) and 0.01 km2 (2.5 acres) or 0.1% is unproductive land.