Le Pâquier, Neuchâtel
Le Pâquier 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, Coffrane, Dombresson, Engollon, Fenin- Vilars -Saules, Fontainemelon, Fontaines, Les Geneveys -sur- Coffrane, Les Hauts- Geneveys, Mont Mollin, savagnier and Villiers to the new municipality of Val -de- Ruz.
Geography
Le Pâquier is on 895 m above sea level. Level, 13 km north- northeast of the capital of the canton of Neuchâtel (air line). The farming village extends in a valley widening of the stream Ruz de Chasseran above the Klus of Chenau, in the Neuchâtel Jura west of the Chasseral.
The area of 9.6 km ² large municipality area includes the valley widening of Le Pâquier, which is bounded on the south by the Klus of Chenau and the amount of Planches. To the north of the municipality extends over the bottom belonging to the Jura chain of Mont d'Amin forest ridge Le Chargeoir ( 1,245 m above sea level. M. ) up to the amount of La Joux Plane you and to Col of Pontins. The eastern boundary of the municipality lies on the western slope of the Chasseralkette and includes the Forêt d' Aigremont, the lower part of Erosionstals Combe Biosse and Rumont. At the height of Rumont is with 1440 m. M. reached the highest point of the municipality. In the Jura hills to widespread high grazing pastures with the typical tall spruce trees that are either individually or in groups. From the municipality surface 1997 3 % was attributable to settlements, 51 % of forest and woody plants and 46% to agriculture.
At Le Pâquier includes the hamlet of Le Coty, 892 m above sea level. M. in the valley west of the village, La Joux Plane you ( 1,159 m above sea level. M. ) and Les Bugnenets ( 1'091 m above sea level. M. ) on the Jura Mountains between Mont d'Amin and Chasseral as well as some individual farms. Neighboring communities of Le Pâquier are Dombresson and Villiers in the canton of Neuchâtel and Saint -Imier and Sonvilier in the Canton of Bern.
Population
With 212 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Le Pâquier one of the small communities of the Canton of Neuchâtel. Of the 89.6 % inhabitants are French-speaking, German-speaking 9.5 % and 0.9 % portugiesischsprachig (as of 2000). The population of Le Pâquier has decreased from 1850 (then 341 inhabitants) and 1950 (210 inhabitants), and since then it remained about the same.
Economy
Le Pâquier is still a mainly coined by farming village, with livestock and dairy farming predominate. Outside the primary sector, there are some jobs in the local small businesses. Many employed persons are also commuters and work in the Val de Ruz and in Neuchâtel.
The region around the Col des Pontins is a popular destination and a recreation area with some holiday and weekend houses and two ski areas on the western slope of the Chasseralkette; the one on the Cret -du -Puy somewhat below the village, but on the other hand at Les Bugnenets where Didier Cuche has learned skiing. In the Jura hills and cross-country skiing can be operated.
Traffic
The municipality is situated on the main road of Neuchâtel on the Col of Pontins to Saint -Imier. Le Pâquier has no connection to the public transport network.
History
The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1328 under the name Pasquier, which is derived from the Late Latin pasquerium ( pasture, grazing land ). Le Pâquier belonged to 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. Le Pâquier does not have its own church, it belongs to the parish Dombresson.
Personalities
The famous ski racer Didier Cuche was born in Le Pâquier.