Montalchez

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

Geography

Montalchez is located on 656 m above sea level. M., 17 km southwest of the capital of the canton of Neuchâtel (air line). The farming village extends into Béroche the Jura south slope, in a scenic location around 230 m above the lake level of Lake Neuchâtel.

The area of ​​6.4 km ² large municipality area includes a section on the southeast slope of the anticline Soliat. The communal land ranges from small valley at La Fin lingerie to the northwest over the gently rising slope in the area of the village and the densely wooded escarpment Côte de Montalchez up on the broad crest of Soliat. On the Cret Teni is a height of 1'419 m above sea level. M., and on the summit of Soliat (highest point of the municipality ) 1'465 m above sea level. M. reached. Here there is an extensive Jura mountain meadows with the typical tall spruce trees that are either individually or in groups. The northern boundary extends a short distance along the rock arena of the Creux du Van. From the municipality surface 1997 4 % came from settlements, 39 % of forest and woody plants and 57% to agriculture.

To Montalchez include numerous individual farms on the southern slope of the Jura and the Jura hills. Neighboring communities of Montalchez are Fresens, Saint- Aubin- Sauges and Gorgier in the canton of Neuchâtel and Provence in the canton of Vaud.

Population

With 257 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Montalchez one of the smallest municipalities in the canton of Neuchâtel. Of the 97.3 % inhabitants are French-speaking, German-speaking 1.6 % and 0.5 % in English (as of 2000). 1851 Montalchez counted 320 inhabitants. During the 20th century, the population has greatly decreased due to emigration, only in recent years has made a slight upward trend observed.

Economy

Even today Montalchez is a predominantly coined by agriculture village. In the lower areas there is arable, while predominantly the Jura hills cattle breeding and dairy farming. Outside of agriculture hardly jobs in the city are available, which is why numerous persons in employment wegpendeln.

Traffic

The community is located off the major thoroughfares, the main access is from Saint- Aubin. More road connections are available with Provence and Fresens. Montalchez is connected through the bus line that runs from Gorgier to Provence to the network of public transport.

History

The municipal area traces of Roman trade route Vy d' Etra and the remains of a Burgundian necropolis are preserved. The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1340 under the name of Villa de Montallichie. The name was probably derived from the Roman personal name Allicus.

Montalchez belonged since the 14th century to the reign Gorgier that came as a fief to the counts of Neuchâtel 1344. 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.

Attractions

Montalchez shows a closed village landscape with typical farmhouses from the 18th and 19th centuries. The village does not have its own church, it belongs to the parish of Saint- Aubin- Sauges.