Les Bayards

Quartier du Milieu

Les Bayard was until December 31, 2008, a municipality in the district of Val -de- Travers in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland.

Since January 1, 2009 Les Bayard belongs together with Boveresse, Buttes, Couvet, Fleurier, Môtiers, Noiraigue, Saint- Sulpice and Travers merged to Val -de- Travers.

Geography

Les Bayard is situated at 980 meters above sea level. M., 32 km west-southwest of the capital of the canton of Neuchâtel (air line). The village is located in a basin and on the adjacent gently sloping to the south slope on the northern side of the valley Vallon de Verrières in the Neuchâtel Jura.

The area of ​​19.2 km ² large former municipal area comprises the south the easternmost portion of the Vallon de Verrières whose relatively narrow valley floor here at 930 m above sea level. M. lies. To the south of the valley extends the area over the wooded hillside La Côtière on the anticline of the Montagne de Buttes (up to 1,245 m above sea level. M. ). North of the Vallon de Verrières stretched the communal land on the terrace of Les Bayard and the height of Le Cernil in the westernmost part of the Vallée de la Brevine. A narrow tip was made to the north of the forest height Large pinch ( with 1'258 m above sea level. Highest elevation of Les Bayard ) to the ridge of La Côte du Cerf ( 1,210 m above sea level. M. ), both the Anticline the Larmont belong. At various places on the former municipality there are 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, 51 % of forest and woody plants and 46% to agriculture.

Les Bayard consists of the villages of Grand Bayard ( 976 m above sea level. M. in the trough ) and Petit Bayard ( 1,032 m above sea level. M. on a slope ). At Les Bayard included the hamlet of Haut de la Tour ( 935 m above sea level. M. ) in the Vallon de Verrières, Les Places ( 1,020 m above sea level. M. ) above Grand Bayard, Le Cernil ( 1,174 m above sea level. M. ) on the height at the transition into the Vallée de la Brevine, Les Jordan ( 1'056 m above sea level. M. ) and Les Prises ( 1,075 m above sea level. M. ), both isolated in the southwestern Vallée de la Brevine, and far scattered over the Jura mountains numerous farmsteads. Neighboring municipalities of Les Bayard were Les Verrières, buttes, Saint- Sulpice and La Brevine in the Canton of Neuchâtel and Hauterive- la- mouth and Les Allies in neighboring France.

Population

With 372 inhabitants ( end of 2006) Les Bayard was one of the small communities of the Canton of Neuchâtel. Of the 97.2 % inhabitants are French-speaking and German-speaking 2.8 % (as of 2000). After 1880 (1020 inhabitants), the population of Les Bayard has decreased by more than two-thirds to the village in 1990 only 301 inhabitants mattered since then is a stagnation or a slight increase is observed.

Economy

Les Bayard is still a mainly coined by farming village, where animal husbandry, dairy farming and cheese production predominate. The forestry and wood processing in a sawmill belonging to the acquisition branches of the population. End of the 18th century, especially the lace and watchmaking developed. The former disappeared in the 19th century again, while the watchmaking until well into the first half of the 20th century had meaning. Outside the primary sector, there are now jobs in the local small businesses. But many of the working commuters who work in the Val de Travers.

Traffic

The former municipality is traffic comparatively quite well developed. It is located about 1 kilometer from the main road that connects Neuchâtel via the border crossing with Les Verrières Pontarlier in France. By Postbus course of Fleurier to Les Verrières who drives to Pontarlier in part, Les Bayard is connected to the public transport network. Another line travels the distance of Les Bayard to La Brevine.

History

The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1284 under the name Bayar. Subsequent designations are Boyhart ( 1344), Baiart ( 1373 ) and Beart ( 1400). Les Bayard was under from the 14th century until 1848, the jurisdiction of the Kastlanei Val- de -Travers. The Bayard- tower, the former customs office on the road through the Vallon de Verrières is forfeited in the 17th century. 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. On the pass, Le Cernil the Auberge du Grand Frédéric still reminds us of the Prussian past of Neuchâtel. The two villages Grand and Petit Bayard Bayard belonged until 1878 to the total community Les Verrières. 1888 merged the villages to the political community Les Bayard.

Attractions

The Reformed Church of Les Bayard was built in 1677. From 1712 to 1969 Les Bayard made ​​an independent parish, since it is united with the parish of Les Verrières. In the villages, many of the typical farmhouses of the high Jura are still preserved.

Pictures

Chapelle ( community hall )

Schoolhouse

Station Les Bayard

Personalities

• Jonas de Gélieu (1740-1827), Reformed pastor and beekeepers, who was born in Les Bayard
• Salomé de Gélieu (1742-1820), educator and teacher at European courts, was born in Les Bayard