Savagnier

Savagnier was a municipality in the district of Val -de- Ruz in the canton of Neuchâtel in Switzerland. On January 1, 2013, it merged with the municipalities Boudevilliers, Cernier, Chézard -Saint- Martin, Coffrane, Dombresson, Engollon, Fenin- Vilars -Saules, Fontainemelon, Fontaines, Les Geneveys -sur- Coffrane, Les Hauts- Geneveys, Mont Mollin, Le Pâquier and Villiers to the new municipality of Val -de- Ruz.

Geography

Savagnier lies 750 m above sea level. M., 7 km north- northeast of the capital of the canton of Neuchâtel (air line). The village is located in a trough in the east of the basin Val de Ruz in the Neuchâtel Jura, at the northern foot of Chaumont.

The area of ​​9.6 km ² large municipality area includes a section in the eastern part of the syncline of the Val de Ruz. The communal land extends from the intensively farmed valley in the area of the creek Seyon east across the wooded escarpment ( Forêt de Savagnier ) up to the height of the Jura chain of Chaumont (up to 1,180 m above sea level. M. ). In a small corner of the area extends to the northeast of the Grand Chaumont, on which with 1,270 m above sea. M. the highest point of Savagnier is achieved. From the municipality surface 1997 6 % came from settlements, 44 % of forest and woody plants and 50 % to agriculture.

Savagnier consists of the villages of Petit Savagnier ( 737 m above sea level. M. ) and Grand Savagnier ( 769 m above sea level. M. ), which are grown together structurally. On the Chaumont are some isolated farms and cottages. Neighboring communities of Savagnier are Chézard -Saint- Martin, Engollon, Fenin- Vilars -Saules, Neuchâtel, Pencil, Villiers and Dombresson.

Population

With 1220 inhabitants ( 31 December 2012) Savagnier belongs to the medium-sized municipalities in the canton of Neuchâtel. Of the 92.9% inhabitants are French-speaking, German-speaking 3.7 % and 1.1 % portugiesischsprachig (as of 2000). The population of Savagnier fluctuated since 1850 in the range of 500 to 600 inhabitants, has increased in recent decades, but clear.

Economy

Savagnier was until the mid 20th century embossed mainly by agriculture village. The fertile land in the valley of the Val de Ruz form the basis of agriculture (mainly cereals and corn), at the foot of Chaumont prevails cattle raising. Outside the primary sector, there are some jobs in the local small businesses ( joinery and businesses). In recent decades, Savagnier has developed into the residential community. Many employed persons are therefore commuters and work mainly in Neuchâtel.

Traffic

The community is located off the major thoroughfares on the main road of Fenin- Vilars -Saules after Dombresson. By bus from Neuchâtel via Savagnier after Cernier the village is connected to the network of public transport.

History

Traces of a Roman villa point to an early settlement of the municipality. The first written mention of the village was carried out in 1143 under the name Savaigner in a deed of Fontaine-André Abbey in Hauterive. The place name is probably related to the Latin word silva (forest ).

Savagnier belonged to the rule Valanginian, some of which was under the Counts of Neuchâtel, partly the Counts of Montbéliard and in 1592 finally came to Neuchâtel. 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, whereby the kings of Prussia until 1857 Neuchâtel trade also prince of Neuchâtel remained.

Attractions

Today's Reformed Church of Saint-Nicolas was built in 1651-53 as a single-nave building with a square choir. An earlier church is mentioned in 1453. The schoolhouse was built in 1866. In the two town centers, there are some characteristic farmhouses from the 17th to 19th centuries.