Prêles
The village Prêles in the spring, from the southeast
Prêles was until December 31, 2013 municipality in the administrative district in the canton of Bern Bernese Jura in Switzerland. From German Swiss German name of the Prägelz is usually ( bern German Präguz ) used. On 1 January 2014, merged Prêles with the other two former municipalities Diesse and Lamlingen merged to Plateau de Diesse.
Geography
Prêles is located on 822 m above sea level. M., 10 km west-southwest of Biel (air line). The village is located in a panoramic position on a slight elevation at the southern edge of the plateau of the Montagne de Diesse ( German Tessenberg ) above Lake Biel. On a clear day the view from Prêles on the Swiss Plateau and the Alps ranges.
The area of 7.0 km ² large municipality territory, which includes the ridge of Prêles, which is the closest to Lake Biel Juraantiklinale. The eastern boundary of the municipality is the steep drop to Twannbachschlucht that breaks through this anticline. In the north and west, the area extends to the plateau of the Plateau de Diesse ( 800 m above sea level. M. ). The highest elevation of Prêles is located 926 m above sea level. M. at the height Sur la Roche southwest of the village. From the municipality surface 1997 10 % came from settlements, 27 % of forest and woody plants, 62 % in agriculture and somewhat less than 1% was unproductive land.
To Prêles the hamlet of Châtillon include (812 m above sea level. M. ) on the Plateau de Diesse, since 1929, a reform school for young people, as well as several individual farms. Neighboring communities of Prêles were up on December 31, 2013 Nods, Diesse, Lamlingen, Twann - Tüscherz, Ligerz and La Neuveville in the canton of Bern and Lignières in the Canton of Neuchâtel.
Population
With 912 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Prêles belongs to the medium-sized towns in the Bernese Jura. Of the 65.5 % inhabitants are French-speaking, 30.5 % and 0.9 % German-speaking Italian-speaking (as of 2000). The population of Prêles amounted in 1850 to 330 residents in 1900 to 375 inhabitants. During the 20th century, a continuous increase was recorded, especially since 1980 ( 649 inhabitants).
Policy
The voter shares of the parties at the national elections of 2011 were: SP 27.0 %, SVP 23.7 %, 14.3 % GPS, FDP 11.6 %, 5.6 % BDP, EDU 5.0 %, 4.5 % glp, EPP 3.7 %, CVP 1.9 %.
Economy
Prêles was marked up in the middle of the 20th century mainly by agriculture. Since about 1980, the village developed into the residential community, which led to a marked increase in population. Southwest of the village was a vast new residential district. Today, there are jobs in the mechanics and the local industry. But many of the working commuters and work in Biel or in the region of La Neuveville.
Transport and Tourism
The community is located off the major thoroughfares on a main road that leads from La Neuveville on the Plateau de Diesse and to Frinvillier. From La Neuveville post bus to Prêles course, which also serves the other Bernese communities of the Plateau de Diesse. 1912, the cable car from Ligerz was opened to Prêles. This web Ligerz - Tessenberg train, standing at the beginning of the opening up of the tourist Tessenberg Mount ( construction of hotels and holiday homes).
History
The first written mention of Prêles under the name prales place in the year 1078th In the following years, the name Préelle ( 1294 ) and Bredel ( 1352) developed over Prelos ( 1195) to Prêles. The place name is derived from the Latin word pratellum (small meadow). Both the chapter of Saint -Imier and the monastery of Saint Johannsen owned goods in Prêles. From the 12th to the 15th centuries the nobles de Perls are mentioned. The place belonged to the Prince-Bishopric of Basel, which was primarily responsible for judicial and military matters, while the city of Bern, represented by the mayor of Nidau, the ecclesiastical affairs regulated. From 1798 to 1815 Prêles belonged to France and was initially part of the Département du Mont Terrible, which was connected to the 1800 Haut -Rhin. By the decision of the Congress of Vienna, the place came in 1815 to the canton of Bern to the District Erlach and 1846 the new district of La Neuveville. 1861 were numerous houses a village destroyed by fire.
Attractions
Prêles has a well-preserved village with farms that emerged after the fire in 1861. The village has no church of its own, it belongs to the parish Diesse.