Chézard-Saint-Martin

Chézard -Saint -Martin was a municipality in the district of Val -de- Ruz in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. On January 1, 2013, it merged with the municipalities Boudevilliers, Cernier, Coffrane, Dombresson, Engollon, Fenin- Vilars -Saules, Fontainemelon, Fontaines, Les Geneveys -sur- Coffrane, Les Hauts- Geneveys Montmollin, Le Pâquier, Savagnier and Villiers the new municipality of Val -de- Ruz.

Geography

Chézard -Saint -Martin is located at 764 m above sea level. M., 8 km north of the capital of the canton of Neuchâtel (air line). The double municipality extends on the northern edge of the basin Val de Ruz in the Neuchâtel Jura, at the foot of Mont d'Amin.

The area of ​​13.1 km ² large municipality territory comprises the southern part of a portion of the intensively farmed basin of the Val de Ruz and extends to the Seyon. To the north, the area on the steep slope of the Forêt du Bas on the anticline of Mont d'Amin extends. At this height is with 1'417 m above sea level. M. reached the highest point of the municipality. North of the Mont d'Amin ranges of communal land in a narrow tip on the Klustal of Pertuis and the Combe Mauley to the height at Derrière Pertuis and up to the southern edge of the Vallon de Saint- Imier. At the height of Mont- d'Amin chain is extended Jura high grazing pastures with the typical tall spruce trees that are either individually or in groups. From the municipality surface 1997 accounted for 5% on settlements, 39 % of forest and shrubs and 56% to agriculture.

Chézard -Saint -Martin consists of the districts Grand Chézard ( 771 m above sea level. M. ), Petit Chézard ( 764 m above sea level. M. ) and Saint -Martin ( 746 m above sea level. M. ), all very close to each other at the foot the Mont d'Amin lie and now form a contiguous built-up area. In the Jura hills there are numerous individual farms. Neighboring communities of Chézard -Saint -Martin are Cernier, Engollon, Savagnier and Dombresson in the canton of Neuchâtel and Sonvilier and Renan in the Canton of Bern.

Population

With 1819 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Chézard -Saint -Martin is one of the medium-sized municipalities in the canton of Neuchâtel. Of the 93.3% inhabitants are French-speaking, German-speaking 2.6 % and 0.9 % Italian-speaking (as of 2000). Since 1950 (974 inhabitants), the population of Chézard -Saint -Martin has increased significantly.

Economy

Chézard -Saint -Martin was transformed in the 19th century by the agrarian village to the industrial community. During this period, the watch industry took place in the foot. At the beginning of the 20th century a stagnation. Today is Chézard -Saint -Martin seat of an organ manufacturer (formerly Neidhart & Lhôte and today Manufacture d' orgues St- Martin SA) and has a vocational training center. Agriculture continues to play an important role during the fertile soils of the rear of the Val de Ruz are intensively used by agriculture, is operated in the meadows and pastures of the Jura mountains livestock and dairy farming. Since about 1950, Chézard -Saint -Martin has developed into the residential community with many single family homes. Many workers are commuters and work primarily in Neuchâtel and La Chaux -de-Fonds.

Traffic

The municipality is situated on the main road of Fontainemelon after Dombresson. Chézard -Saint -Martin is connected by bus routes Neuchâtel - Cernier -Villiers and Neuchâtel - Savagnier - Cernier to the network of public transport. From 1903 to 1948 Chézard -Saint -Martin was served by the tram Les Hauts- Geneveys- Villiers. It was replaced by the trolleybus Val de Ruz, which in turn was replaced by buses in 1984.

History

The area in Chézard -Saint -Martin has been inhabited since the Roman era, as could be shown by finds of remains of a villa from the 2nd century. Saint -Martin is first mentioned in 998 under the name Sancto Martino. 1143 was the first written mention of Petit- Chézard under the name eaters and in 1285 that of Grand- Chézard under the name Chesas.

Already in the 16th century there was a close cooperation between Grand - Chézard, Petit- Chézard and Saint -Martin. The three villages were part of the rule Valanginian, some of which was under the Counts of Neuchâtel, partly the Counts of Montbéliard and in 1592 finally came to Neuchâtel. 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

The present building of the parish church of Saint -Martin, mentioned 998, dates from the 17th century, from 1993 to 1994 the church was restored. Especially in the center of Chézard some characteristic farmhouses from the 17th and 18th centuries have been preserved. The schoolhouse between Chézard and Saint -Martin was born 1901. 1991 the new community center La Rebatte was inaugurated.