Les Hauts-Geneveys
Les Hauts- Geneveys was a municipality in the district of Val -de- Ruz in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. The community consisted of the districts of Les Hauts- Geneveys and Tête -de- Ran. On 1 January 2013, it merged with the municipalities Boudevilliers, Cernier, Chézard -Saint- Martin, Coffrane, Dombresson, Engollon, Fenin- Vilars -Saules, Fontainemelon, Fontaines, Les Geneveys -sur- Coffrane, Mont Mollin, Le Pâquier, Savagnier and Villiers to the new municipality of Val -de- Ruz.
Geography
Les Hauts- Geneveys is located on 986 m above sea level. M., 8 km northwest of the capital of the canton of Neuchâtel (air line). The highest village in the Val de Ruz extends on the eastern slope of the Tête de Ran in the Neuchâtel Jura, in a panoramic position overlooking the basin of the Val de Ruz, on the Swiss Plateau and with a clear view to the Alps.
The area of 8.0 km ² large municipality area includes a small section in the north west of the syncline of the Val de Ruz. The communal land extends westward across the wooded hillside ( Forêt de la Baume ) on the anticline of the Tête de Ran ( 1'422 m above sea level. M. ) and the west of it lying heights Derrière Tête de Ran. In the Jura hills to widespread high grazing pastures with the typical tall spruce trees that are either individually or in groups. On the west, the area extends in two small Ausräumungskessel on the northeast edge of the Vallée des Ponts. The highest point in Les Hauts- Geneveys is with 1'430 meters above sea level. M. southwest of the Tête -de- Ran - chain reached on Rochers Bruns. From the municipality surface 1997 6 % came from settlements, 45 % of forest and shrubs, 48% to agriculture and slightly less than 1% was unproductive land.
At Les Hauts- Geneveys include numerous individual farms of the Jura heights. Neighboring municipalities of Les Hauts- Geneveys are Boudevilliers, Fontaines, Fontainemelon and La sagne.
Population
With 921 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Les Hauts- Geneveys one of the smaller municipalities in the canton of Neuchâtel. Of the residents, 92.3 % are French, 3.5% German-speaking and Italian-speaking 1.7% (as of 2000). The population of Les Hauts- Geneveys fluctuated since 1850 in the range of 400 to 600 inhabitants, has increased in recent decades, but clear.
Economy
Les Hauts- Geneveys a long time mainly coined by farming village, mainly focused on animal husbandry and dairying. During the 19th century, some companies settled on the field of watchmaking. In recent decades, Les Hauts- Geneveys has developed into the residential community. Many workers are commuters and work primarily in Neuchâtel or in La Chaux -de-Fonds. The community is home to a grain collection of the Agricultural Cooperative of the Val de Ruz, as well as a facility for the mentally handicapped.
Traffic
The community is conveniently moderately well developed. It is located on the former main street of Neuchâtel over the pass Vue des Alpes to La Chaux -de-Fonds and the highway opened in 1994, connecting these two cities. It crosses under Les Hauts- Geneveys in a tunnel. On 1 December 1859, the railway line from Neuchâtel was inaugurated to Les Hauts- Geneveys and on July 15, 1860 followed by the opening of the sequel to La Chaux -de-Fonds. By bus, the village is connected with Geneveys -sur -Coffrane and the other places in the western Val de Ruz. From 1903 to 1948, Les Hauts- Geneveys starting point of the tramway Les Hauts- Geneveys -Villiers, which led to Villiers on Fontainemelon, Cernier, Chézard -Saint -Martin and Dombresson. It was replaced by the trolleybus Val de Ruz, which in turn was replaced by buses in 1984.
Tourism
The region around the Vue des Alpes and the Tête de Ran is a popular destination and resort area with restaurants and accommodation options. On the slope of the Tête de Ran are several winter ski lifts in operation.
History
The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1354 under the name Geneveis. For a long time was called the community Geneveys -sur -Fontaines. The etymology of the name is disputed. While some sources say that here at the end of the 13th century emigrants had settled in Geneva, suggest other Geneveys as a derivation of Genévriers ( juniper).
Les Hauts- Geneveys 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 from 1707 was joined 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, whereby the kings of Prussia until 1857 Neuchâtel trade also prince of Neuchâtel remained.
Personalities
The social reformer and economist Silvio Gesell (1862-1930) lived temporarily Les Hauts- Geneveys.