Sonvilier
Sonvilier, from the Château d' Erguël from
Sonvilier is a municipality in the administrative district in the canton of Bern Bernese Jura in Switzerland. The former German name Sumwiler is no longer used today.
Geography
Sonvilier is located on 802 m above sea level. M., 12 km east-northeast of La Chaux -de-Fonds (air line). The village is located in the central part of the Jura latitudinal Vallon de Saint -Imier, on both sides of Suze ( Suze French ), between the Jura chains of the Montagne du Droit in the north and in the south of Mont - d'Amin.
The area of 23.8 km ² large municipality area includes a portion of the carrying of the Schüss valley basin of the Vallon de Saint- Imier. To the south, the area extends to the anticline of Mont - d'Amin on which to 1,269 m above sea level. M. the highest point of Sonvilier is achieved. In the north of the municipal area over the steep southern slopes of the Montagne du Droit enough on the broad ridge of this chain (up to 1,220 m above sea level. M. ). To the north of the Montagne du Droit adjoins the valley of La Chaux- d'Abel, belongs geographically to the Franches- Montagnes ( German free mountains). This over 1000 m high plateau is part of the Jura plateau, on the overground endorheic depressions alternating with peaks of more solid limestone. On the Plateau Jura and on the ridges of Montagne du Droit and Mont- d'Amin be extended Jura high grazing pastures with the typical tall spruce trees that are either individually or in groups. From the municipality surface 1997 4 % came from settlements, 35 % of forest and shrubs, 60 % to agriculture and slightly less than 1% was unproductive land.
To Sonvilier include the scattered settlement of La Chaux- d'Abel ( 1,040 m above sea level. M. ) on the Plateau Jura north of the Montagne du Droit and many individual farms, which are widely scattered in the valley and on the Jura hills. Neighboring communities of Sonvilier are Renan and Saint- Imier in the canton of Bern, in the Canton of Jura and Les Bois Val -de- Ruz in the canton of Neuchatel.
Population
With 1209 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Sonvilier one of the larger towns in the Bernese Jura. Of the 76.8 % inhabitants are French-speaking, 17.7 % and 1.9 % German-speaking Italian-speaking (as of 2000). The population of Sonvilier already reached its peak around 1860. It was then recorded by strong emigration a striking decrease DASAT 60%. Since 1980, only small variations are registered.
Policy
The voter shares of the parties at the national elections of 2011 were: SVP 30.0%, SP 20.7 %, GPS 11.9 %, BDP 8.0 %, EDU 7.3 %, EPP 6.6 %, FDP 6.5 %, Les Rauraques 2.5 %, glp 1.8 %, AL 1.6 %, PdA 1.1 %, CVP 0.4 %.
Economy
Sonvilier was marked up in the first half of the 19th century mainly by agriculture. Then with the introduction of the watch industry began a rapid economic recovery. Today only a few jobs in the field of watchmaking available ( Chopard ), more important are the construction and mechanics, there are also a sawmill. Agriculture also plays a significant role, with livestock and dairy farming predominate. Many working population commuters and work in La Chaux -de-Fonds or in Saint -Imier.
Traffic
The community is conveniently comparatively quite well developed. It lies on the busy busy main road from Biel to La Chaux -de-Fonds. On April 30, 1874, the railway line from Biel was opened with a station in Sonvilier by Convers.
History
The first written mention of the village under the name Sunvilier goes back to the year 1298. The originating from the area of Besançon Lords of Arguel founded in the late 11th century south-east of Sonvilier Erguel the castle was the seat of power Erguel. Since 1264 this rule was under the Bishopric of Basel, where the city of Biel always exerted greater influence over time. From 1797 to 1815 belonged Sonvilier 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 Courtelary.
Attractions
The Reformed village church was built in 1832 and renovated in 1931. Since 1838 Sonvilier forms an independent parish, previously it was part of the parish of Saint- Imier. The rectory was built in 1839 in the classical style. The site of Sonvilier is characterized by a juxtaposition of old farmhouses ( 17th to 18th century), cubic tenements ( late 19th and early 20th century) and industrial buildings. From the former Château d' Erguel the ruins and the round keep are obtained. Between Sonvilier and Renan is the Hospice du Pré aux Bœufs. In the Jura hills are numerous characteristic farmhouses from the 17th to 19th centuries. The oldest farm is La Grande Coronelle, which was built in 1621.