Perrefitte
Perrefitte is a municipality in the administrative district in the canton of Bern Bernese Jura in Switzerland. The former German name Belfort and Peppers are no longer used today.
Geography
Perrefitte located at 600 meters above sea level. M., 2 km west of the town Moutier (air line). This former farm extends to the west of Jura latitudinal of Moutier, in the Jura Mountains, on the left the north side of the brook Chalière which opens at Moutier in the Birs.
The area of 8.7 km ² large municipality territory comprises the western part of the Grand Val ( valley of Moutier ), which is drained by the Chalière. In the southern side of the valley is the Combe Fabet, a gorge-like valley of the Chalière, deepened. The southern boundary runs along the sloping towards Moutier Jura crest of Moron (up to 1,140 m above sea level. M. on the floor of Perrefitte ). To the north the municipality extends to the chain of the Montagne de Moutier, on with 1'158 meters above sea level. M. the highest point of Perrefitte is achieved. The southern flank of the anticline has a created by the erosion of large Ausräumungskessel in the headwaters of the Chalière. From the municipality surface 1997 4 % came from settlements, 66 % of forest and shrubs, 29% to agriculture and slightly less than 1% was unproductive land.
To Perrefitte include several individual farms. Neighboring communities of Perrefitte are Moutier, Champoz and Souboz in the canton of Bern and Soulce in the canton of Jura.
Population
With 453 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Perrefitte belongs to the medium-sized towns in the Bernese Jura. Of the 84.2 % inhabitants are French-speaking, German-speaking 9.2 % and 2.9 % Italian-speaking (as of 2000). The population of Perrefitte amounted in 1850 to 236 residents in 1900 to 419 inhabitants. After peaking around 1970 with some 570 inhabitants, is a declining trend since then has been total recorded.
Economy
Perrefitte was dominated for a long time by agriculture. As industrialization of Moutier settled the Chalière on the border with Moutier to some smaller businesses. In recent decades, Perrefitte has developed into a residential community. Many workers are commuters and work in Moutier.
Traffic
The municipality is situated on the main road that leads from Moutier via Souboz in the Petit Val and on to Bellelay. With the construction of the A16, which will link to 2015 the Swiss national road network with the French motorway network, also receives Perrefitte a relatively close connection ( Moutier- Ouest ). By Postbus course, which runs from Moutier to Souboz, Perrefitte is connected to public transport.
History
The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1295 under the name Pierefite. 1321 will see the word Perefiten, later Pierefetteau and 1548 Pierre fats. The place name comes from the Latin petra ficta (molded stone). The village was under until the end of the 18th century, the provost Moutier- Grandval. From 1797 to 1815 Perrefitte belonged to France and was initially part of the Département du Mont- Terrible, which was connected to the 1800 Haut -Rhin. By the decision of the Congress of Vienna, the place came in 1815 to the canton of Bern to the district of Moutier.
Attractions
In the older town center are still some typical farmhouses and two-storey granary from the 17th and 18th centuries. Ecclesiastical Perrefitte belongs to the parish of Moutier.