Saignelégier

Saignelégier

Saignelégier is a municipality in the district Franches- Montagnes in the canton of Jura in Switzerland. The former German name St Leger is no longer used today.

As of January 1, 2009 the formerly independent communities Goumois and Les Pommerats have merged with Saignelégier.

Geography

Saignelégier is located on 978 m above sea level. Level, 22 km north-east of La Chaux -de-Fonds (air line). The place with slightly urban character extends to a broad saddle of the Jura plateau of the northern mountains free (French Freiberge ), at the edge of the deep valley of the Doubs.

The area of ​​11.7 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. In the West, the territory extends for Derrière le Cras up at the edge before the steep drop in the Doubs Valley. The northern boundary is the level of the skin Bémont ( 1,075 m above sea level. M. ). To the southeast, the area extends over the vast pastures of the Jura mountains with the free standing, individually or in groups large spruce and intervening forest areas to the sink of the peat bog La Tourbière. The highest point of the municipality is located at 1,088 meters above sea level. M. at the height of Chaumont. In the valleys, the two bog lakes Etang de la Gruère and the Etang Royes. From the municipality surface 1997 9 % came from settlements, 32 % of forest and woody plants, 56 % in agriculture and somewhat less than 3% was unproductive land.

To Saignelégier include the hamlet of Les Cerlatez ( 1'003 m above sea level. M. ), La Theurre ( 1,012 m above sea level. M. ) and Le Chaumont ( 1,044 m above sea level. M. ), all on the plateau of the mountains free located, as well as scattered on the Jura pastures numerous farmsteads. Neighboring communities of Saignelégier are Soubey, Les Enfers, Le Bémont, La Chaux -des- Breuleux, Muriaux and Manderscheid in the canton of Jura, Tramelan in the canton of Bern and the French communities Charmauvillers, Goumois, Fessevillers and Indevillers.

Population

With 2560 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) is Saignelégier population of all the biggest town of the district Franches- Montagnes and also one of the largest municipalities in the canton of Jura. Of the 91.4% inhabitants are French-speaking, German-speaking 3.2% and 0.9% Italian-speaking (as of 2000). The population of Saignelégier recorded significant growth rates in the second half of the 19th century. As one of the few municipalities in the district, the municipality registered a continuous growth since 1950.

Economy

The focus of the working life of Saignelégier has shifted from agriculture to industry in the 19th century. The watch industry won but only at the beginning of the 20th century gradually in importance. Today, there are at the edge of the village, two industrial and commercial zones, including with some companies in the watches and in particular in the watch case manufacturing (eg Aerowatch ). The most important employer is the watch company Maurice Lacroix. The mechanical workshops offer numerous jobs. In a dairy Tête de Moine is produced, an important type of cheese in the region. An awareness of the Brasserie des Freiberge BFM has won with their innovative beers. Many employed persons working in the service sector, especially in the administration. Saignelégier is the seat of the District Court of the District Hospital and the Cantonal Office for Social Security.

The hamlets are, however, still dominated by agriculture and focused on dairy farming and cattle breeding.

Health service

Saignelégier has a public hospital with 24 -hour emergency care. It is part of the hospital network of the Hôpital du Jura.

Culture and Tourism

Saignelégier is an important center of summer and winter tourism on the open mountains. It has since 1985 a large leisure center with swimming pool, sports halls, conference rooms, an ice rink and a hotel.

Every year on the second Sunday in August in Saignelégier the Marché - Concours National des chevaux, a national horse market instead. This festivity attracts thousands of visitors each also from regions far outside the canton of Jura.

Traffic

The community is conveniently comparatively quite well developed. It lies on the road cross the main streets of Delémont to La Chaux- de-Fonds and Tavannes to the border crossing Goumois. On December 7, 1892, the railway line of the Chemins de fer du Jura from La Chaux -de-Fonds was opened to Saignelégier. The inauguration of the continuation of the route to Glovelier took place on May 21, 1904. For fine distribution in public transport the mail Autokurse Saignelégier ensure Glovelier and Tramelan via Saignelégier after Goumois.

History

In 1382 the village was first mentioned under the name Sonnelegilier. Soon, Saignelégier developed thanks to its location on a major road crossing the mountains to free an important trading center. The village belonged to the manor free mountains covered by the prince-bishops of Basel. In the 17th century it was the residence of the governors of this rule, which was previously managed by the Mirror Castle at Muriaux from. Between 1793 and 1815 Seignelégier 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 became the capital of the district of Franches- Montagnes. January 1, 1979 Saignelégier came to the newly formed Canton of Jura. After the voters had approved the merger proposed in June 2007, Saignelégier, Les Pommerats and Goumois have partnered with effect from 1 January 2009 the new community Saignelégier.

Personalities

• Antonio Erba ( born July 19, 1914 in Locarno; † 7 April 1986 Saignelégier ), painter, politician

Attractions

The center of the town is the parish church of Notre- Dame de l' Assomption, built in neo-Baroque style in 1927-28. It contains a richly decorated altar in the first half of the 18th century, comes from the Monastery Bellelay. Seignelégier belonged to the parish of Montfaucon, although already in 1397 a chapel was built in the first place. His ecclesiastical independence gained Saignelégier 1629 with the construction of the first church. Also in the village center is the defiant construction of the former castle bailiwick, a 17th- century building with a hipped roof and an attached 1775 prison tower.

The hamlet of Les Cerlatez has preserved six characteristic Freiberger Jura farm houses with whitewashed facades from the 17th and 18th centuries. The living rooms, work rooms and barns are all under one large roof that opposes the harsh winds of the region the smallest possible attack surface.

A significant natural feature is the 1963 Asked protected moorland lake Etang de la Gruère, 4 km south-east of Saignelégier.