Couvet

Couvet

Couvet was until December 31, 2008, a municipality in the district of Val -de- Travers in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland.

Since January 1, 2009 Couvet belongs together with Boveresse, buttes, Fleurier, Les Bayard, Môtiers, Noiraigue, Saint- Sulpice and Travers merged to Val -de- Travers.

Geography

Couvet lies on 735 m above sea level. M., 24 km west-southwest of the capital of the canton of Neuchâtel (air line). The industrial community extends in the central Val de Travers on both sides of Areuse and on the fan page of Bach's Sucre, in the southwestern Neuchâtel Jura.

The area of ​​16.4 km ² large former municipal area comprises a section in the middle part of the Val de Travers and geologically belongs to the Jura folds. The main part is occupied by 500 to 800 m wide, flat valley floor of the Areuse that still flows through the community area of West southwest east-northeast. Due to the alluvial fan by the incoming from the north Sucre has piled up at Couvet when he joined the Val de Travers, the Areuse is urged here on the southern edge of the valley. To the south, the municipality handed over a first gentle, but at the top steep and densely wooded hillside up to the high plateau of Nouvelle Censière (up to 1,110 m above sea level. M. ), which lies on the anticlines of Chasseron - Soliat chain.

In the north, the municipality of soil in the headwaters of Sucre, who dug with its tributaries several erosion valleys in the north of the Val de Travers following Jura chain stretched. Therefore, the terrain here is strong in relief with the heights of Mont de Couvet ( 1,024 m above sea level. M. ), Malmont ( 1,182 m above sea level. M. ), Trémalmont ( 1'277 m above sea level. M. ) and Cret you cervelet ( with 1'294 m above sea level, the highest point of Couvet. ); in some places the rocks of Malmkalks come to light. In the north, the area extends into the trough of the Bois de Halle. At these altitudes there are extensive Jura high grazing pastures with the typical tall spruce trees that are either individually or in groups. From the municipality surface 1997 10 % came from settlements, 45 % of forest and woody plants and 44% to agriculture; slightly less than 1 % was unproductive land.

To Couvet the hamlet Plancemont included (873 m above sea level. M. ) on a projection on the northern slope of the valley of the Val de Travers and some Hofsiedlungen and mountain farms. Neighboring communities of Couvet were Môtiers, Boveresse, La Brevine and Travers in the canton of Neuchâtel and Provence in the canton of Vaud.

Population

With 2755 inhabitants ( end of 2007) Couvet was one of the larger municipalities in the canton of Neuchatel. Of the 85.1 % inhabitants are French-speaking, 4.6 % and 4.1 % speak Italian- Portuguese (as of 2000). The population of Couvet showed in the last 150 years strong fluctuations, which reflect the economic situation of the village in the Val de Travers. Particularly large growth rates were recorded in the first decade of the 20th century, and from 1950 to 1970, as the previous high was reached.

Economy

Until the beginning of the 18th century was marked Couvet mainly from agriculture; next developed since the 16th century various commercial and craft shops. Of particular importance was initially producing earthenware and tile stoves, mid 18th century, a Indienne manufactory and lace making.

Couvet developed from the mid-18th century rapidly into an industrial community. It created numerous workshops for the manufacture of tools for the watch industry. The absinthe distilleries Pernod, Duval, Berger were to 1910 located in Couvet. In the 19th century, the village experienced a further boost by the introduction of new industries (printing, card factory, brickyard ). East of the village of La Presta asphalt mine in 1840 with the exploitation started. 1867 Strickmaschinenfabrik E. Dubied was founded.

Today Couvet offers around 1,200 jobs. With 5 % of the workforce who are still employed in the primary sector, agriculture (crops mainly at higher elevations in the valleys, dairy farming and livestock ) is still a certain role in the occupational structure of the population. About 40 % of the working population is employed in the industrial sector, while the service sector, 55% of workers in united (as of 2001).

Today's industry encompasses companies in construction, computer science, the packaging industry, wood processing, precision engineering and the manufacture of knitting machines and watch accessories. Couvet is home to the district hospital, which opened in 1860. More and more residents commute into the region of Neuchâtel to work.

Traffic

The former municipality is traffic moderately well developed. It lies on the main road from Neuchatel on the border crossing Les Verrières to Pontarlier in France. On July 25, 1860, the inauguration of the railway line from Auvernier found to Les Verrières instead of a train station in Couvet, which today forms part of the line Neuchâtel - Pontarlier. Located in the upper part of the village station was subsequently repealed. On September 24, 1883, Travers valley line was - Saint- Sulpice opened. This line with a station near the old village center is now run by the regional transport companies transport Régionaux Neuchâtelois (TRN SA). For the dispersion in public transport bus routes that serve the routes of Couvet to Fleurier and La Brevine provide.

History

The oldest evidence of human presence in the municipality of Couvet date back to the Paleolithic era. The Grotto of Plaints was inhabited in the Mousterian around 50,000 and 40,000 years ago before Christ.

First mentioned is the place in 1300 under the name Coves. Later, the names Coves ( 1380 ) and appeared Covet ( 1470 ). The place name comes from the Latin word cupa ( barrel, large wooden vessel ).

Couvet belonged in the Middle Ages, first to the priory of Saint- Pierre in the neighboring municipality Môtiers. From the 14th century it was a member of the corporation of the Six Communes of the Val -de- Travers. Since the mid-14th century it was subject to 1848 the Kastlanei Vautravers. During this time, the County of Neuchâtel held the sovereignty over the territory. 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, the kings of Prussia until 1857 Neuchâtel trade also prince of Neuchâtel remained.

The rapid industrialization at the end of the 18th century made ​​Couvet Fleurier next to the center of the Val de Travers. Couvet however, the machinery industry, unlike in Fleurier, with its watch industry was predominant. In the 19th century several absinthe distilleries were established so that Couvet became the center of absinthe production. The absinthe plant ( Artemisia absinthium ) was grown on large areas in the area. Due to the economic crises during the 20th century, each having numerous plant closures result, it came several times to severe population declines. However, by attracting new industries which temporarily high unemployment could be recaptured.

Attractions

The Reformed Church of Couvet was built in 1658, today's front tower dates from the period 1756-1766. Hôtel Communal with a small portico was built in 1739, the Maison de l' Ecu de France in the year 1690th In the old town and in its vicinity are preserved stately homes and mansions from the period of industrialization, including the Hôtel de l' Aigle (1778 ) and the manor Le Marais from the 18th century. The Chapel of the Free Church was built in 1876, while the Catholic chapel dates from 1943.

Personalities

• Ferdinand Berthoud (inventor of the marine chronometer )
• Henri Edouard Dubied (textile industrialist )
• Alfred Rosselet ( radiologist, Rector of the University of Lausanne )
• Denis de Rougemont ( political philosopher )
• Emer de Vattel ( international law )