Bevaix

Bevaix is a municipality in the district of Boudry in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland.

Geography

Bevaix is 475 m above sea level. M., 11 km southwest of the capital of the canton of Neuchâtel (air line). The village covers an Jurasüdfuss the upstream level, which is about 50 m higher than the shores of Lake Neuchâtel.

The area of ​​10.8 km ² large municipality area includes a section on the northwestern shore of Lake Neuchâtel in the area of ​​Pointe du Grain. The lake has only a narrow, partly marshy and lined with reeds shoreline, behind the land quickly rises to around 50 meters on the level of Bevaix. To the west of the municipality of soil over the densely wooded hillside ( Forêt de Bevaix ) extends to the Montagne de Boudry on the anticlines of the Jura. This is where having 1,335 m above sea level. M. reached the highest point of Bevaix. From the municipality surface 1997 13 % came from settlements, 48 % of forest and shrubs, 38% to agriculture and slightly less than 1% was unproductive land.

To Bevaix include the hamlet of L' Abbaye (471 m above sea level. M. ) on the edge of the level before the steep drop to the lake of Neuchatel some holiday and weekend houses by the lake with individual farms and a youth hostel called La Rouvraie. Neighboring communities of Bevaix are Gorgier, Boudry and Cortaillod.

Population

With 3807 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Bevaix one of the larger municipalities in the canton of Neuchâtel. Of the residents, 86.6 % are French-speaking, German-speaking 5.1 % and 2.4 % Italian-speaking (as of 2000). Since 1950, a strong increase in population was associated with a tripling of the population of Bevaix recorded.

Economy

Bevaix until the 20th century, a predominantly coined by agriculture village. In the vicinity of the place farming is operated, the steep south-facing slopes along the lakeshore and in erosion valley east of the village are ideal for viticulture. The industry today is focused on micro-engineering and construction. In La Tuilerie lakeside there is an old brick and brick factory. In recent decades, Bevaix has developed into a residential community, many of the wegpendeln employed and work mainly in the region of Neuchâtel.

Traffic

The community is a very good transport developed. It lies on the main road 5 of Neuchâtel to Yverdon. For some time there is a local village bypass. On the route of the bypass the A5 motorway was built, which was opened to traffic in May 2005. On 7 November 1859, the railway line Yverdon- Neuchatel opened with a station in Bevaix. For the dispersion in public transport, the bus line that runs from Boudry via Bevaix to Saint -Aubin- Sauges provides.

History

Bevaix can look back on a very long urban tradition, which is attested by finds of remains of riparian settlements from the Neolithic and the Bronze Age. A menhir and a burial urn field culture are also to settle in this time. Even during the Roman and the Burgundian period, the area was inhabited by Bevaix.

The first written mention of the village was 998 under the name of Villa Bevacensi, as the Priory Bevaix was founded by a noble named Rudolf and with a goods possession, which corresponded approximately to the present-day municipal boundaries, equipped. The monastery belonged first of Cluny Abbey, but came in 1139 (then the name Betuaci appeared ) to the monastery Romainmôtier. Since 1263, the Prior, the Lords of Gorgier and those of Colombier shared control of the monastery property. The patronage of the monastery held the Counts of Neuchâtel. Already at the beginning of the 15th century the priory was in poor condition and fell apart after the Reformation. Today at the site of the former monastery is a homestead.

After the dissolution of the Priory, the Lords of Colombier took control over Bevaix, 1564 came the possession of the Counts of Neuchâtel. Since 1648 Neuchâtel principality and 1707 was linked by personal union with the Kingdom of Prussia. 1806, the region was ceded to Napoleon I. and came in 1815 during the Congress of Vienna to the Swiss Confederation, whereby the kings of Prussia until 1857 Neuchâtel trade also prince of Neuchâtel remained. Bevaix made ​​it civilly a Mairie, which in 1832 merged with the Bailiwick of Boudry castle.

Attractions

The Reformed village church of Bevaix was built in 1605 and contains Romanesque parts of the former priory. Next to the church stands the Hôtel de Commune from the 18th and 19th centuries. The castle is a baroque mansion built in 1722. In the center a few houses from the 17th to 19th centuries have been preserved, including the Maison Chambrier of 1746-47.