Les Ponts-de-Martel
Les Ponts- de -Martel is a municipality in the district of Le Locle in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland.
Geography
Les Ponts- de -Martel is on 1'009 meters above sea level. Level, 16 km west of the capital of the canton of Neuchâtel (air line). The village is located on the western edge of the valley Vallée des Ponts in the Neuchâtel Jura and the adjacent slope of the anticlines of the Grand Som Martel.
The area of 18.2 km ² large municipality territory comprises the western portion of the pot flat here Vallée des Ponts with its boggy areas, especially in the area of the Bois des Lattes. The eastern border is the Bach Le Bied, who disappears into a funnel seepage at the southern edge of the village. To the west of the municipality extends to the bottom anticline that separates the Vallée des Ponts from the Vallée de la Brevine. In a narrow lobe in the far west, the area extends over the valley Combes Dernier to the level of the skin Joux ( 1,275 m above sea level. M. ). In the north of Les Ponts- de -Martel occupies the crest of the Grand Som Martel, on the with 1'337 meters above sea level. M. the highest point of the municipality is reached. Here 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 6 % came from settlements, 31 % of forest and shrubs, 59% to agriculture and about 4% was unproductive land.
At Les Ponts- de -Martel includes the hamlet Martel - Dernier ( 1,016 m above sea level. M. ) Le Voisinage ( 1,001 m above sea level. M. ) and Petit Martel ( 1,008 m above sea level. M. ) all located on the western edge of the Vallée des Ponts, and scattered over the Jura mountains numerous Hofsiedlungen and individual farms. Neighboring municipalities of Les Ponts- de -Martel are Le Locle, La Chaux- du-Milieu, La Brevine, Val- de -Travers, bread Plamboz and La sagne.
Population
With 1278 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Les Ponts- de -Martel is one of the medium-sized municipalities in the canton of Neuchâtel. Of the residents, 93.7 % are French-speaking, German-speaking 3.6% and 0.5 % speak Albanian (as of 2000). After peaking around 1870 with around 2200 inhabitants, the population of Les Ponts- de -Martel has decreased by strong emigration until 1980 by almost 50 %; since then, a slight increase is observed.
Economy
Les Ponts- de -Martel is the regional center of the Vallée des Ponts. The village has long been dominated mainly by agriculture. End of the 18th century began the industrialization of the valley, where the first spinning and lace making were introduced, mainly done in homework. After 1800, summed up the watchmaking foot and led to a great economic upturn of Les Ponts- de -Martel. Another important source of income was from the 18th century, the peat-cutters in the vast marshlands of the upper valley. Peat was a popular commercial product, especially during the two world wars. Today, include the construction of agricultural machinery, construction, the watches manufacturing and meat processing to the main acquisition branches. Agriculture also plays a significant role, with livestock and dairy farming predominate. There is also a cheese factory.
Traffic
The municipality is situated on the main road over the pass of Neuchâtel La Tourne to Le Locle. Les Ponts- de -Martel is the terminus of the meter gauge railway line of the former railway Ponts- sagne - Chaux -de-Fonds (PSC ), which is operated since 1999 by the Transports Régionaux Neuchâtelois ( TRN). Opened on July 26, 1889 railway line links the Vallée des Ponts with La Chaux -de-Fonds; another three stops on the railway line located in the village of Petit -Martel Street lines. In addition, Les Ponts- de -Martel is operated by the postal car price of Neuenburg to Le Locle.
Tourism
The region around Les Ponts- de -Martel and the Vallée des Ponts with the nature reserve Bois des Lattes are popular destinations. In winter, the flat upper valley and the adjacent Jura mountains are perfectly suited for cross-country skiing.
History
The Vallée des Ponts was settled in the 14th century by emigrants from the canton of Vaud, after the Lords of Valanginian had assured them of an extensive tax-exemption. The place name of Les Ponts- de -Martel has nothing to do with bridges in the true sense, but has the wrong track and webs that had to be applied in order to cross the moors. Martel is a dialect word for marais ( swamp ).
The area of Les Ponts- de -Martel was 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.
Sons and daughters of the community
- Arnold Grandjean (1890-1961), racing driver and entrepreneur
Attractions
Les Ponts- de -Martel shows the typical spatial image of a formerly dominated by the watchmaking village. It has a chess-like floor plan with streets parallel to the slope and short steep cross-connections. The cubic multi-storey apartment buildings date from the late 19th and early 20th century. The present parish church was built in 1844.
Pictures
Grande Rue, Centre
Temple
Rue de la Promenade
High Moor ( Tourbière )
High Moor ( Tourbière )