Montfaucon, Switzerland
Montfaucon is a municipality in the district Franches- Montagnes in the canton of Jura in Switzerland. The former German name Falkenberg is no longer used today.
As of January 1, 2009 the previously independent community Montfavergier has merged with Montfaucon.
Geography
Montfaucon is at 996 m above sea level. Level, 5 km north-east of the district municipal seat Saignelégier (air line). The village extends to a promising comb on the Jura plateau of the northeastern mountains free (French Franches- Montagnes ), south of the deep valley of the Doubs.
The area of 14.8 km ² large municipality area includes a portion of the gently undulating plateau of the Jura plateau on which boggy, usually above ground endorheic valleys with peaks of limestone alternate. The northern part is occupied by the ridge (up to 1,031 m above sea level. M. ), lies on the Montfaucon. East of the village is the sink Plain de Saigne containing a peat bog with several lakes and merges to the northeast into the catchment area of the stream Tabeillon, but without above-ground watercourses. To the south there are extensive pastures of the Jura cover with standing, individually or in groups large spruce trees, crossed by some forest areas. The highest point in the municipality is north-east of the Bois de la Chaux with 1'040 m above sea level. M. reached. From the municipality surface 1997 4 % came from settlements, 29 % of forest and shrubs, 66% to agriculture and slightly less than 1% was unproductive land.
At Montfaucon include the hamlet of Pré- Petitjean (928 m above sea level. M. ) in the valley south of the village at the train station and remote farms on the mountain pastures of numerous farmsteads. Neighboring communities of Montfaucon are Le Bémont, Les Enfers Soubey, Clos du Doubs, Saint- Brais, Lajoux and Les Genevez in the Canton of Jura and Tram Elan in Canton Bern.
Population
With 581 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Montfaucon is one of the smaller communities of the Canton of Jura. Of the 91.8 % inhabitants are French-speaking, German-speaking 7.2 % and 0.4 % Spanish speaking (as of 2000). The population of Montfaucon amounted in 1850 to 497 residents in 1910 to 654 inhabitants. During the 20th century, the population has dropped to 1980 to 439 persons. Since then a slightly increasing trend was recorded again.
Economy
Montfaucon is still a predominantly agricultural village embossed with dairy farming and cattle breeding. More jobs are available in the areas of mechanics and watch making. 1968 Montfaucon a holiday village in the Swiss Travel Fund ( Reka ) was created, which helped the region free mountains to a substantial tourist development thrust. Many workers are also commuters.
Traffic
The municipality is situated on the main street of Delémont to La Chaux -de-Fonds, on the upside the bus route from Glovelier to Saignelégier. On 21 May 1904, the railway line of the Chemins de fer du Jura Glovelier was opened to Saignelégier with a station in the hamlet of Pré- Petitjean. It is located 1 km from Montfaucon away.
History
Its first mention is the village in 1139 in a document from Pope Innocent II as Mons Falconis. It belonged to the manor free mountains covered by the prince-bishops of Basel. Between 1793 and 1815 Montfaucon belonged to France and was initially part of the Département du Mont- Terrible, associated from 1800 with the Department of Haut -Rhin. By the decision of the Congress of Vienna, the place came in 1815 to the canton of Bern and on 1 January 1979 at the newly founded Canton Jura. After the voters of Montfaucon on 11 June 2007 and those of Montfavergier had approved a merger of the two communities on 12 June 2007, Montfavergier is incorporated with effect on 1 January 2009 according to Montfaucon.
Attractions
The new building of the parish church of Saint -Jean Baptiste was started in 1831 in the neo-classical style, the tower has a Byzantine dome. In Montfaucon was the first church of the free mountains. The whole region to Les Bois belonged to the late 15th century to the mother parish of Montfaucon. The catchment area was then increasingly smaller through the construction of new churches in the villages. In Montfaucon and in the hamlets there are characteristic farmhouses of the 18th and 19th centuries, with whitewashed facades and the typical, wide overhanging roofs.
Pictures
Interior of the church
Organ
Cemetery
Hotel du Lion d'Or
Hotel de la Pomme d'Or
Station Pré- Petitjean
Sinkhole at Pré- Petitjean
Personalities
- Roger -Émile Aubry Czechoslovakia (1923-2010), Episcopal Vicar of Reyes in Bolivia