Champoz

Champoz is a municipality in the administrative district in the canton of Bern Bernese Jura in Switzerland.

Geography

Champoz is located on 849 m above sea level. M., 6 km west-southwest of Moutier (air line). The farming village extends north of the Longitudinal Valley Vallée de Tavannes on the broad saddle between two Jura chains.

The area of ​​7.1 km ² large municipality territory comprises the saddle of Champoz and to the northeast towards Moutier gradually deepening valley. In the east the area extends to the crest of the Jura chain of Mont Girod (up to 1,037 m above sea level. M. ) and up to the western edge of the Klus of Court (French Gorges de Court ), a typical transverse valley of the Birs by the Graitery chain. To the north, the municipality's territory extends beyond the escarpment of the Forêt du Droit up to which abdachenden east crest of Moron. Here is located at 1,250 meters above sea level. M. the highest point of Champoz. Both the crest of Moron and the Montgirod, typical Jura high pastures with standing individually or in groups large spruce trees. From the municipality surface 1997 4 % came from settlements, 50 % of forest and shrubs, 45 % to agriculture and slightly less than 1% was unproductive land.

To Champoz include several individual farms. Neighboring communities of Champoz are Bévilard, Malleray, Souboz, Perrefitte, Moutier, Court and Sorvilier.

Population

With 156 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Champoz one of the small communities of the Bernese Jura. Of the 90.7 % inhabitants are French-speaking and German-speaking 9.3 % (as of 2000). The population of Champoz amounted in 1850 to 190 residents in 1900 to 191 inhabitants. After a declining trend was observed in total before from 1980 (116 inhabitants) again began a population increase.

Economy

Champoz is still strong dominantly agricultural village with dairy farming, cattle breeding and agriculture. Outside the primary sector, there are few jobs in the village. Many workers are therefore commuters and work in the communities of the Vallée de Tavannes or in Moutier.

Traffic

The community is located off the major thoroughfares. The main access route is from Champoz Bévilard, which lies on the main road from Delémont to Biel / Bienne, a narrow road also leads up to the village of Moutier. Champoz has no access to public transport.

History

Champoz occupies the site of a Roman observation post, which controlled the road from Moutier to Tavannes. At this time, the gorge of Courtland was not accessible. The first written mention of Champoz took place in 1365 under the name Champo. The village belonged to the late 18th century to the provost Moutier- Grandval. During the Swabian War of 1499, the town was devastated by troops of the Emperor Maximilian I.. From 1797 to 1815 belonged Champoz 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 in 1815, the village came to the Canton of Bern to the district of Moutier.

Attractions

In Champoz there are some typical old farm houses with storage buildings from the 17th and 18th centuries. The building of the village school with bell tower was built in late Classicist style. Ecclesiastical Champoz belongs to the parish Bévilard.