Gorgier

Castle Gorgier

Gorgier is a municipality in the district of Boudry in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland.

Geography

Gorgier located at about 491 m above sea level. M., 15 km southwest of the capital of the canton of Neuchâtel, on the northwest shore of Lake Neuchatel and at the foot of the Jura south slope in the area of ​​Béroche.

The area of ​​14.0 km ² large municipality area extends from the narrow riparian strips to the northwest the first Jura gently rising slope. This slope is densely forested in the upper part and quite steep ( Côte de Gorgier and Côte de Saint- Aubin ). In the north the heights of the anticline Soliat belong to Gorgier: La Chaille ( with 1'451 m above sea level, the highest point of the municipality. ) And signal de Lessy, separated by the valley ( 1,387 m asl. ) Combe du Laga. Here there is an extensive Jura mountain meadows with the typical tall spruce trees that are either individually or in groups. In the extreme north-west of the town area which lies within the catchment area of the Areuse rock arena of the Creux du Van comprises on the northeast flank of the Soliat. From the municipality surface 1997 7 % was attributable to settlements, 56 % of forest and shrubs, 35 % to agriculture and slightly more than 2% was unproductive land.

To Gorgier include the location on a small alluvial fan on the shores of Lake Neuchâtel hamlet Chez- le-Bart (450 m above sea level. M. ), the newer settlement area Derrière -Moulin (520 m above sea level. M. ) in panoramic position overlooking the lake as well as numerous individual farms on the southern slope of the Jura and the Jura hills. Neighboring communities of Gorgier are Saint-Aubin- Sauges, Montalchez, Val -de- Travers, Boudry and Bevaix in the canton of Neuchâtel and Provence in the canton of Vaud.

Population

With 1963 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Gorgier belongs to the medium-sized municipalities in the canton of Neuchâtel. Of the 86.2 % inhabitants are French-speaking, German-speaking 5.5 % and 2.2 % Italian-speaking (as of 2000). The population of Gorgier increased from 1850 (866 inhabitants) to 1950 (1012 inhabitants) only slowly, since then is a clear upward trend observed. The settlement area of Gorgier is completely conjoined with that of Saint- Aubin.

Economy

Gorgier was until the mid 20th century embossed mainly by agriculture village. Along the slopes near the lake, the vineyards stretch, about agriculture is mainly operated. In the Jura hills cattle breeding and dairy farming predominates. Industrial activity, there are only a limited extent, for example, a Präzisionsdreherei and vinegar processing. In recent decades, Gorgier has developed into the residential community. Many working population commuters who work in the region of Neuchâtel.

Traffic

The community is conveniently moderately well developed. It is located above the main road 5 of Neuchâtel to Yverdon. With the opening of a section of the A5 motorway in 2002, the hamlet of Chez- le-Bart on the lakeside road was relieved of through traffic. The A5 crosses under Gorgier in a tunnel. On 7 November 1859, the railway line was inaugurated in Yverdon - Neuchatel. The station Gorgier -Saint -Aubin is located on the border of the two municipalities. For the dispersion in public transport buses provide to Yverdon, Boudry and Provence.

History

Gorgier can look back on a long tradition of settlement. During the Neolithic period the lake shore was inhabited. Other traces of settlement have been found from the Hallstatt period, the Roman period (remains of an inhabited in the 2nd and 3rd century villa) and Burgundian.

The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1252 under the name Corgie. Gorgier was since the 13th century center of a small rule, which covered the area Béroche with the towns of Saint- Aubin, Sauges, Fresens and Montalchez and rights in Cortaillod and the Priory of Bevaix possessed. The estate belonged to the lords of Estavayer first, but came in 1344 under the suzerainty of the Counts of Neuchâtel, where they remained relatively independently over time. From 1433 to 1678 she was associated with the reign Vaumarcus. 1749 was definitely Gorgier to the Principality of Neuchâtel, which was connected since 1707 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 Gorgier castle (now privately owned) is located on a wooded hill north of the village. It was first mentioned in 1299. Today's built in the Renaissance style components derived largely from the 16th century, larger and expansions there was during the 19th century. Also noteworthy is a 1640 erbauter round tower with dovecotes, which stands in the middle of the farm buildings of recent date. In the district of Chez- le-Bart near the harbor a characteristic group of houses from the 16th and 17th century is preserved, including the family home Vevey- Werly.