Saicourt

Bellelay

Saicourt is a municipality in the administrative district in the canton of Bern Bernese Jura in Switzerland.

Geography

Saicourt is located on 749 m above sea level. M., 14 km west-southwest of the town Moutier ( straight line ) and 12 km north of Biel / Bienne. The former street line village extends along the creek Trame, a left tributary of the Birs, west of the Jura latitudinal Vallée de Tavannes.

The area of 13.8 km ² large municipality covers a small part of the valley basin Vallée de Tavannes, this is up to 4 km wide. To Saicourt but heard only the Talniederung the lower Trame and the south adjacent heights Châtillon ( 822 m above sea level. M. ) and Forêt de Chaindon (820 m above sea level. M. ). To the north the municipality extends to the largely forested anticline of western Moron (up to 1'091 m above sea level. M. ). In the west, the area extends to the height of Montbautier on which to 1,160 m above sea level. M. the highest point of Saicourt is. Here there is an extensive Jura mountain meadows with the typical tall spruce trees that are either individually or in groups. In the north part of even the ridge Béroie ( 1,088 m above sea level. M. ) to Saicourt. Between these three mountain ranges, the Moor La sagne is embedded, which covers a flat area of 2 square kilometers and has no surface drainage. From the municipality surface 1997 4 % related to settlements, 50 % of forest and shrubs, 45 % to agriculture and slightly less than 1% was unproductive land.

To Saicourt includes the villages of Bellelay with a former convent, 931 meters above sea level. M. on the northern edge of the moor La sagne, and Le Fuet ( 841 m above sea level. M. ) on the southeast slope of the Montbautier above the valley of Trame, as well as numerous individual farms. Neighboring communities of Saicourt are Tramelan, Mont -Tramelan, Tavannes, Reconvilier, Saules, Sornetan and Châtelat in the canton of Bern and Lajoux and Les Genevez in the canton of Jura.

Population

With 604 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Saicourt belongs to the medium-sized towns in the Bernese Jura. Of the 84.0% inhabitants are French-speaking, 12.6 % and 1.5 % German-speaking Italian-speaking (as of 2000). The population of Saicourt increased mainly in the second half of the 19th century until 1910 substantially. After peaking around 1950, since then a decline of almost 50 % was recorded by strong emigration.

Economy

Especially the places Saicourt and Le Fuet are still oriented agricultural, with dairy farming and livestock predominate. In Le Fuet there is a cheese factory, the Tête de Moine, a cheese of the region produces. The largest employer in the area is the quartered in the former convent Bellelay psychiatric clinic.

Traffic

Saicourt is situated on the road from Reconvilier to Le Fuet, while the cantonal road from Tavannes by the Pichoux Canyon performs Le Fuet and Bellelay to Basse Court in Delémont. All three members of the community Saicourt locations are connected by the bus line that runs from Tavannes via Lajoux to Les Genevez to the network of public transport.

History

The first written mention of Saicourt took place in 1262 under the name Zacurt. Subsequent designations were Zacort ( 1277 ) and Saccourt ( 1335). The place name probably derives from the personal name Sacco. Saicourt was among the lands of the monastery Bellelay. On September 14, 1790, the village was drawn by a large flood of Trame affected. From 1797 to 1815 Saicourt 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

The site of Saicourt still has some typical old farm houses from the 18th and 19th century ( the oldest dating from 1722 ) and wood storage on. West of the village is still an old sawmill, which is operated by a paddle wheel. The village belonged to the parish Tavannes - Chaindon, since 1928 the parish Reconvilier Chaindon.

In Le Fuet are a characteristic schoolhouse with belltower from the late 19th century and a chapel.

Pictures

Town hall Saicourt

Abbey Bellelay

Weiher Bellelay

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