Le Locle

Catholic Church

Le Locle is a municipality in the district of Le Locle in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. The industrial city is considered the cradle of Swiss watchmaking. End of June 2009 was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Le Locle.

Geography

Le Locle is located at 920 m above sea level. M., 8 km southwest of La Chaux -de-Fonds ( distance), close to the border with France. The industrial town extends in a narrow, drained from the stream Bied valley in the Neuchâtel Jura, between the heights of the Grand Som Martel in the south and in the north Pouillerel.

The area of 23.1 km ² large municipality area includes a portion of the Neuchâtel Jura. In the central area of the municipality area is the syncline of Le Locle, a secluded mountain valley that is oriented according to the strike of the Jurassic in this area in the southwest-northeast. From the south, open several short side valleys in this high valley, including the Combe Girard. The valley is drained by the Bied which is culverted in the range of Le Locle, west to the Doubs. It seeped in front of the Col des Roches. Since this percolation funnel could not take large amounts of water during the snowmelt and long periods of rain, the whole valley was once at such events often flooded. With the breakdown of an artificial tunnel under the Col des Roches the risk of flooding in 1805 was largely eliminated.

To the north of the municipality floor extends over the height of Les Monts in the Combe de Monterban and on the wide, partly forested, partly lined with willow ridge of Pouillerel (up to 1,257 m above sea level. M. ), of the Valley of Le Locle separates from the Doubs Valley. In the east the area extends to the topographic watershed between Le Locle and La Chaux -de-Fonds. In the south and southwest, the anticline of the Grand Som Martel and height form the boundary at Prévoux. With 1,320 m above sea level. M. is north of the summit of the Grand Som Martel reached the highest point of Le Locle. From the municipality surface 1997 16 % came from settlements, 30 % of forest and woody plants and 53% to agriculture; slightly less than 1 % was unproductive land.

At Le Locle include the districts and former hamlet of La Jaluse (949 m above sea level. M. ) Les Jeanneret and Les Petits Monts ( 1,020 m above sea level. M. ), the industrial district of Les Billodes west of the city, a part of the settlement Le Prévoux ( 1'077 m above sea level. M. ) at the level of the southwest basin and several small settlements and numerous, widely scattered on the heights of individual farms. Neighboring communities of Le Locle are Les Brenets, Les Planchettes, La Chaux -de-Fonds, La sagne, Les Ponts- de -Martel, La Chaux- du-Milieu and Cerneux - Péquignot in the canton of Neuchâtel and Villers -le- Lac in the adjacent France.

Population

With 10,208 inhabitants (as of 31 December 2012) Le Locle is the third largest city in the canton of Neuchatel. Of the 88.0 % inhabitants are French-speaking, 4.0% and 1.9 % speak Italian- German (as of 2000). The development of the population of Le Locle reflects the economic situation in the high valley of the Jura. A first peak was reached in 1910. In the following two decades, a slight decrease was recorded in the 1950s and 1960s, again followed by a significant upturn. The peak was reached in 1967, when Le Locle counted almost 15,000 inhabitants. The later onset of the economic crisis (especially in the watch industry ) led to a massive exodus that continues in reduced mass today. Since 1967, the population of Le Locle has decreased by over 30%.

Economy

Le Locle developed in the early 18th century from a farming village to an industrial community. It is considered the cradle of the Swiss watch industry, here began from 1705. The Spitzenmacherei played an important part in the Neuchâtel Jura at this time. For over 250 years, the economy of Le Locle was aligned to the watch industry on the merits, which is why the city was hit by the crisis in the sector from 1970 onwards particularly difficult. Since then, a diversification of the industry took place.

Today, the city offers about 6,200 jobs. With 2 % of the workforce who are still employed in the primary sector, agriculture (mainly dairy farming and livestock ) only a marginal position in the occupational structure of the population. About 63 % of the workforce are employed in the industrial sector, while the service sector, 35% of workers in united (as of 2001).

Still has the watch industry (luxury watches ) with suppliers of some importance in Le Locle. Of these, particular mention to the company Certina, Mido, Tissot, Ulysse Nardin, Zenith and Zodiac. In addition, the city is the location of numerous companies in the precision engineering ( manufacturing surgical instruments), micromechanics and microelectronics ( Dixi Holding Le Locle ). Also, the information technology, mechanical engineering, the furniture industry, the metal and the plastic and plastic production play an important role. Until 1992, Le Locle was also known for his chocolate factory.

Health service

Le Locle is a public hospital. It is part of the hospital network neuchâtelois Hôpitaux (French for: Neuchâtel hospitals).

Policy

Legislature

The city council comprises 41 members. The strongest party is the party of labor. With 28 members of 41 red-green politicians make it clear the majority of the deputies. Le Locle was therefore declared in an analysis of " Sunday newspaper " in March 2012 to that community, which has chosen the most left at the Swiss Parliament elections 2011

PdA: 17
GPS: 6
SP: 5
CVP: 1
FDP: 11

The City Council ( Conseil Général ) of Le Locle continues after the elections of May 13, 2013 consist of the following:

There are in addition in Le Locle, a youth parliament.

Executive

The city council consists of five members. Mayor of Le Locle is Denis de la Reussille of the Party of Labour. Other councilors are Cédric Dupraz ( PdA ), Miguel Perez ( Green ), Charles Hasler (FDP ) and Jean -Paul Wettstein (FDP).

Education

In addition to the stages of compulsory education (primary school, secondary school) Le Locle is the site of two major vocational schools. The Centre interrégional de formation des Montagnes neuchâteloises ( CIFOM ) houses the Technical School, which is run in conjunction with La Chaux -de-Fonds ( headquarters in Le Locle ). The Ecole d' Ingénieurs de l' Arc Jurassien ( EIAJ ), a cantonal school of engineering, specializes in training in the fields of micro engineering, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering and computer science. There is also a conservatory and a language school.

Traffic

The city is conveniently moderately well developed. It is located on the main street of Neuchâtel via La Chaux -de-Fonds and the Col des Roches to Besançon. With the opening of the railway line from La Chaux -de-Fonds Le Locle by the city on July 2, 1857 was connected to the railway network. The continuation of this line to France to Besançon in 1884 completed throughout. On September 1, 1890 the narrow gauge railway line from Le Locle to Les Brenets was put into operation. For the dispersion in public transport by the transport Régionaux Neuchâtelois (TRN SA) powered city bus lines provide. There are also bus routes that lead from Le Locle to La Chaux -de-Fonds, via Les Ponts- de -Martel to Neuchâtel and La Brevine.

History

The earliest evidence of human presence in the area of Le Locle date from the late Mesolithic (c. 6000-5000 BC ). In an Abri at the Col des Roches ceramic fragments and tools and bones were found. For all subsequent time period to the Middle Ages no finds are known.

First mentioned was the place in 1150 under the name Losculo. Later, the names Loclo published (1350 ) and Loucle ( 1395 ). Probably the place name comes from the Latin word occulus ( clearing ), the article was assimilated.

Properly made and settled under cultivation was the area of Le Locle only in the course of the 14th century. From 1360 belonged Le Locle as a fief to rule Valanginian. Because the settlers relatively large freedoms were granted, above all people from the Val de Ruz and from the Val de Travers set up operations themselves. The Reformation was introduced in 1536 in the community. Together with the rule Valanginian came Le Locle 1592 under the suzerainty of 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.

Compared to La Chaux- de-Fonds and other settlements around profited Le Locle of the water power of the river Bied and had therefore rarely suffer from water scarcity. Along the creek arose early the first mills, saws and forging. In the 17th century came to the work done in homework lace and led to a first economic boom in the area.

In 1705 moved Daniel Jean Richard ( 1664-1741 ) La sagne to Le Locle, began production of clocks and thus founded this traditional Swiss industry. First, the watchmaking was mainly done in homework. The home workers ( mainly from the peasant class ) provided the various ingredients in a studio, in which they were composed. With the new technical possibilities Le Locle end of the 18th century quickly developed into an industrial community. It created numerous factories. Unlike La Chaux- de-Fonds, Le Locle, however, had only limited possibilities for expansion, as it was situated in a narrow valley with steep slopes and also still vermoortem valley floor. After 1800, it therefore remained in its economic development and population growth behind La Chaux -de-Fonds.

Le Locle was in 1683, 1765 and 1833 plagued by large fires. Following the example of La Chaux -de-Fonds Le Locle was rebuilt with a chessboard layout after the fire of 1833. The 19th century and the 20th century to 1970 were marked by the flourishing watch industry. In addition to a company founded in 1856, major chocolate factory and some machinery industry, the industry of Le Locle was very biased towards the watch industry and accessories. Therefore, the city suffered greatly from the economic crisis of the 1970s. Many businesses making clocks had to close, resulting in a high unemployment rate, and finally a large exodus result. Only after the diversification took place at today's industries.

Cityscape and Tourist Attractions

The town of Le Locle is characterized by the was designed by Charles -Henri Junod checkerboard floor plan with a range of modern industrial, commercial and office buildings, residential blocks and the typical cubic tenement houses from the 19th century. The Reformed Church is the succession to the 1321 mentioned chapel of Sainte -Marie- Madeleine. This church was enlarged from 1521 to 1525 and given the still existing front tower. The present nave was rebuilt in the mid 18th century. Also worth mentioning are the former town hall (Hôtel de Ville), which was created from 1839 to 1841 and now serves as a courthouse, the house Du Bois ( from the second half of the 17th century ), one built in 1912 by Le Corbusier villa on the Côte des Billodes and today's Hôtel de Ville from 1914 to 1918 in Neo-Renaissance style. The oldest preserved building in the region is the former farmhouse Bourdonnière, which was built in 1587. End of June 2009, Le Locle - along with La Chaux -de-Fonds - a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

In Le Locle, there are three museums:

(Founded in 1880), Musée des Beaux -Arts with pictures of Neuchâtel and Swiss painters of the 19th and 20th centuries, sculptures, a graphic collection, a collection of Inuit art and changing exhibitions
Musée d' Horlogerie du Locle ( Clock Museum ) with machines and watches from the 16th to the 19th century and Neuchâtel pendulum clocks. The museum is located in the manor house Château des Monts, which was built from 1785 to 1790.
Musée des moulins souterrains du Col des Roches ( partially rebuilt water wheels, the cave mills of Le Locle at the Col des Roches )

Personalities

Pierre Favre - Jazz drummer
Abraham Girardet - engraver and copperplate artist
Charles Girardet - Painter
André Jean Quarter - Jazz Pianist
Fritz Ulysse Landry - sculptor, medalist, painter and Münzgestalter
Lucien Lesna - Cyclists
Lucrezia Meier - Schatz - politician
Dominique Othenin -Girard - film director
Henri Louis Pernod - founder of Absinthe Distillery
Henri Rheinwald - cyclist
Oscar Tschirky - Maître d' hôtel at the Waldorf - Astori

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