Coffrane

Coffrane 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, Chézard -Saint- Martin, Dombresson, Engollon, Fenin- Vilars -Saules, Fontainemelon, Fontaines, Les Geneveys -sur- Coffrane, Les Hauts- Geneveys Montmollin, Le Pâquier, Savagnier and Villiers to the new municipality of Val -de- Ruz.

Geography

Coffrane is located on 803 m above sea level. M., 6 km west-northwest of the capital of the canton of Neuchâtel (air line). The farming village extends in the southwestern part of the basin Val de Ruz in the Neuchâtel Jura, at the eastern foot of Mont Racine.

The area of ​​6.5 km ² large municipality area includes a portion of the southwest of the synclines of the Val de Ruz. The area extends from the agricultural area of the basin and the amount of Serroue (843 m. M. ) westward in a narrow tip at the height of the Jura chain of Mont Racine. This is where having 1,410 m above sea level. M. reached the highest point of Coffrane. A small exclave located on the western slopes of Mont Racine above the Côtes de Marmoud. In the Jura mountains are extensive Jura high grazing pastures with the typical tall spruce trees that are either individually or in groups. From the municipality surface 1997 10 % came from settlements, 25 % of forest and shrubs, 64% to agriculture and slightly less than 1% was unproductive land.

To Coffrane the hamlet of Petit Coffrane include (795 m above sea level. M. ), which adjoins the south of the village, as well as several individual farms. Neighboring communities of Coffrane are Geneveys -sur- Coffrane, Boudevilliers, Valanginian, Peseux, Corcelles -Cormondrèche, Mont Mollin and La sagne.

Population

With 696 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Coffrane one of the smaller municipalities in the canton of Neuchâtel. Of the residents 91.9 % are French, 2.4 % Italian-speaking and German-speaking 1.8 % (as of 2000). Coffrane had 1900 510 inhabitants; the population dropped to 1950 to 372 inhabitants, has since then but again a rising trend.

Economy

Coffrane has long been a mainly coined by farming village. Agriculture still has next to forestry is of great importance. East of Coffrane there are several gravel and sand pits. End of the 19th century there was in the village a few companies in the watch industry. In recent decades, Coffrane has developed into a residential community. Today the working population is employed or working abroad, mainly in Neuchâtel and La Chaux -de-Fonds in the local industry.

Traffic

The municipality is situated on the main road from Mont Mollin by Fontaine. Around 1 km from the center, in Geneveys -sur -Coffrane, the nearest railway station is on the line Neuchâtel - La Chaux -de-Fonds. By bus Coffrane is connected to this station and Cernier.

History

A tumulus from the Middle Bronze Age refers to a very early settlement of the municipality. The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1092 under the name Cusfrano 1228 appeared the name Corfrano. In Coffrane a battle between the Counts of Neuchâtel and the Lords was in 1296 discharged from Valanginian in which it came to the affiliation of the rule Valanginian. Neuchâtel decided the battle for themselves. Coffrane then became part of 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. In 1841, numerous houses a fire fell victim.

Attractions

The present church was built in 1842 and restored in 1932-33. In the village there are some characteristic farmhouses from the 18th and 19th centuries. There is also a farm museum, which is, however, only be visited by telephone request.

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