Fleurier

View from the Chapeau de Napoléon on Fleurier

Fleurier 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 Fleurier belongs together with Boveresse, Buttes, Couvet, Les Bayard, Môtiers, Noiraigue, Saint- Sulpice and Travers merged to Val -de- Travers.

Geography

Fleurier lies at 741 m above sea level. M., 28 km west-southwest of the capital of the canton of Neuchâtel (air line). The industrial community extends in the western Val de Travers at the outlet of Areuse from the Klus of Saint- Sulpice, in the southwestern Neuchâtel Jura.

The area of ​​7.7 km ² large former municipal area includes a portion of the western Val de Travers, which has a roughly 1 km wide flat valley floor here. From the southwest joins the Vallon du Buttes, which is drained by the river Buttes. To the north of the municipality floor reached up to the edge of the plateau at Haut de la Vy (up to 1,060 m above sea level. M. ), in the west of the anticline of the Montagne de Buttes (up to 1,040 m above sea level. M. ). In the south, the area includes a portion of the densely forested northern slope of Chasseron chain on with 1'330 m above sea level. M. the highest point of Fleurier is achieved. In this slope has the Bach Bied which opens at Môtiers in the Areuse, a deepened erosion valley in the course of millions of years, part of which is in the field of Fleurier. From the municipality surface 1997 17 % came from settlements, 53 % of forest and shrubs, 29% to agriculture and slightly more than 1% was unproductive land.

To Fleurier included some Hofsiedlungen and individual farms on the lower northern slope of the Chasseron chain. Neighboring communities of Fleurier were Buttes, Saint- Sulpice, Boveresse and Môtiers in the canton of Neuchâtel and Romairon, Mauborget and Fontaines- sur -Grandson in the canton of Vaud.

Population

With 3518 inhabitants ( end of 2007) Fleurier was the biggest community of the Val de Travers and was also one of the larger municipalities in the canton of Neuchatel. Of the residents 88.1 % are French, 3.3 % Italian-speaking and 2.8 % portugiesischsprachig (as of 2000). The population of Fleurier increased mainly in the second half of the 19th century greatly. During the 20th century, various fluctuations were recorded before the population in the late 1960s rose to a high of 4300 inhabitants. After a significant decline by 1980, a stagnation occurred since then.

Economy

Fleurier was until the mid-18th century, a small farming village. The first important source of income outside agriculture was the peak production, from 1730 summed up the watchmaking foot in Fleurier. End of the 18th century a rapid industrialization, which led to a great economic upturn in the course of the 19th century. Already at this time, the industry concentrated in Fleurier in several industries; there were besides the watches and textile factories and a brick factory, a printing shop, a laboratory for the production of herbal remedies, to the prohibition of absinthe production in 1908 of several absinthe distilleries, a gas plant, a tobacco factory, a match factory and a bicycle factory. This diversity led to a crisis in one sector could be largely offset by the other branches of industry. This was Fleurier - unlike the neighboring communities - hardly affected by emigration after 1900.

Today, the industry is focusing on the mechanics, manufacture of precision tools and microtechnology. The once well-known watch industry was in the meantime almost disappeared, experienced by the residents here Parmigiani and the movement - production of the brand Chopard since the mid- 1990s, another boom. Both companies now employ over 350 people. Many other jobs are in the service sector, while agriculture only about 1% of the working population.

Education

Fleurier is an important educational center with primary, secondary and high school. Previously, there was also a teacher training college, a trade school and a watchmaker and mechanic school.

Traffic

Fleurier is a road junction in the Val de Travers. It lies on the main road from Neuchatel on the border crossing Les Verrières to Pontarlier in France and also has connection with Sainte -Croix and Le Locle. On July 25, 1860, the railway line from Auvernier to Les Verrières opened with a station in Boveresse, who served initially for Fleurier. The inauguration of the valley line Travers - Saint- Sulpice with a railway station in Fleurier took place on 24 September 1883. On September 11, 1886, the route was finally Fleurier - Buttes opened. Today the regional trains run from Travers to Buttes, the line to Saint- Sulpice is shut down. For the dispersion in public transport bus routes provide to Couvet, Les Verrières and La Brevine.

History

The first written mention of the village dates back to 1284 under the name Flurye. Fleurier belonged to the 14th century Priory Saint- Pierre in the neighboring village of Môtiers, after which it was subordinate to 1848 Kastlanei the Val- de -Travers. 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. End of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century Fleurier was also known as a tourist.

Attractions

The present building of the Reformed parish church dates from 1827, the church tower from the year 1900. Built in 1858 Catholic church was restored in 1972. A beautiful view of Fleurier offers from Chapeau de Napoléon, a pulpit on the limestone south of the Klus of Saint -Sulpice, about 220 m above the valley floor. At the time of rain tourism was even a cable car to the viewing platform for discussion.

Pictures

Temple

Rue du Temple

Grave: Ch.Ed.Guillaume

View of the Chapeau de Napoléon

Personalities

• Daniel Bovet
• Charles -Edouard Guillaume
• Yvan Perrin (born 1966 ), Swiss politician (SVP ), born in Fleurier
• Léon Savary, journalist and writer, born in 1895 in Fleurier