La Côte-aux-Fées
La Côte- aux- Fées
La Côte- aux- Fées is a municipality in the district of Val -de- Travers in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland.
Geography
La Côte- aux- Fées located on 1,041 m, 38 km west-southwest of the capital of the canton of Neuchâtel (air line). The farming village extends on an inclined towards the south slope above the valley of Combe Mulets, at the height of the southwestern Neuchâtel Jura.
The area of 12.9 km ² large municipality area comprises slightly deepened in the Jura plateau valley of Combe Mulets and extends north to the height of Mont Verrières (up to 1,180 m). In the south, the border on the amount of Pâturages of Bourquin ( 1,203 m). To the east the area extends over the canyon -like Vallon de Noirvaux, which is drained by the river Buttes, to the anticlines of the Chasseron. On the Roches Blanches is the highest point of La Côte- aux- Fées is achieved with 1,430 m. Especially on the Mont des Verrières there is an extensive Jura mountain meadows with the typical tall spruce trees that are either individually or in groups. From the municipality surface 1997 3 % was attributable to settlements, 41 % of forest and shrubs, 55 % to agriculture and slightly less than 1% was unproductive land.
At La Côte- aux- Fées include the administrative center Bolles de l'Eglise, the hamlet of Les Leuba ( 1,038 m), Bolles du Vent ( 1,045 m), Les Jeannet ( 1,143 m) and Les Places (1 '107 m ), all on the southern slopes of Mont des Verrières, Les Bourquin de Vent ( 1,078 m) and Les Bourquin de Bise ( 1,058 m ) on the south elevation of the Combe des Mulets, Saint- Olivier ( 1'084 m) on the plateau between La Côte- aux- Fées and the Vallon de Noirvaux, and scattered through the Jura hills numerous Hofsiedlungen and individual farms. In the forest above Saint -Olivier is the Grotte aux fées. Neighboring communities of La Côte- aux- Fées are Les Verrières and Val -de -Travers in the canton of Neuchâtel, Sainte -Croix in the canton of Vaud and Fourgs and Verrières -de -Joux in neighboring France.
Population
With 449 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) La Côte- aux- Fées one of the smaller municipalities in the canton of Neuchâtel. Of the 94% of residents are French, 4% in German and just over 1 % portugiesischsprachig (as of 2000). The population of La Côte- aux- Fées rose to 1900 (1096 inhabitants) continuously, since then she has lost by strong emigration by more than half.
Economy
La Côte- aux- Fées has long been a mainly coined by farming village. From the 16th century iron ore was recovered in the municipality that has been processed in the Vallon de Noirvaux in blast furnaces were in operation from the 17th to the 19th century. In the 18th century, the lace and then the watchmaking were first introduced. 1874 watch manufacturer was opened. Today, there are jobs in watchmaking, precision mechanics and local small businesses. Agriculture, too, with livestock and dairy farming and wood processing are still of importance. Many workers are also commuters and work in the larger towns of the Val de Travers or in Sainte- Croix.
Traffic
The community is located far away from the major thoroughfares, the main access is from Buttes, more roads there are to Les Verrières and Sainte- Croix. From the Buttes Station post bus to La Côte- aux course - fées and partly further to Sainte- Croix.
History
The first mention of the village dates from the year 1337 under the name Coste ice Faes (sheep hang). The area was first settled during the 14th century. La Côte- aux- Fées under stood until 1848 the jurisdiction of the Kastlanei Val- de -Travers. The sovereignty over the territory held the county of Neuchatel. 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. It was not until 1826 La Côte- aux- fées, which belonged to the whole church Les Verrières previously was an independent political community. In 1900, La Côte- aux- Fées was known as a mountain resort.
Attractions
The church of La Côte- aux- Fées was built in 1658. 1672 broke the site of the parish of Les Verrières and has since formed its own parish. In the hamlets of some characteristic farmhouses of the high Jura are still preserved.
Personalities
- Yvan Perrin (born 1966 ), Swiss politician (SVP )