Taubenloch
The Taubenlochschlucht (French Gorges du pigeon hole ) is formed by the Schüss Klus between Frinvillier in the Bernese Jura and Bözingen. The Suze has already cut through the Klus of Rondchâtel above Frinvillier. Before they reached the ravine, the water of the Orvine of Orvin Coming flows into the Suze, to the east is a dry valley opens up after Vauffelin.
Origin of the name
The name pigeon hole is first mentioned in a document from 1532 and finds various explanations:
Traffic-related significance
Even at the time of the Romans had the Taubenlochschlucht importance as a transportation route, but could not be opened directly with the former agents. Therefore, the coming of Petinesca her road led along the western shoulder of today's Bözingen Mountain, the foothills, up to Frinvillier and from there through the Klus of Rondchâtel further north and then via the Col de Pierre Pertuis on to Augusta Raurica. Remains of this pathway are seen in Frinvillier the Martinsklafter today. A watchtower at Geiss back west over the village underlined the importance of this passage as a trade route.
Until the early 19th century, this street was maintained leadership, then they no longer meet the rapidly changing traffic. 1859, the new road was opened from Biel to Sonceboz after nine years of construction. The core of the section in the Taubenlochschlucht was the " Tubelochbrügg ", a single stone, which at that time was a lot of attention.
Section 1874 Biel- Sonceboz- Sombeval - Tavannes the Juratrain Biel was taken to Basel in operation, which goes across the gorge and up to now mainly in two tunnels.
1969 began construction of the new road, which was designed as part of the national road network. This four-lane road (A16 ) had to be separated for reasons of space partially. From about half the distance in the Taubenlochschlucht lead the northbound lanes along the eastern slope of the ravine to Pery -La Heutte, the south west 's leading run the Schüss. Because of the difficult terrain, many structures such as bridges, pillars and tunnels were necessary for this road lead.
Tourist importance
1889, initiated by the SAC, a footpath built by the Taubenlochschlucht. It was recognized even then the tourist potential. For care and maintenance of this trail, they founded the Taubenloch company in the same year. The road has since been committed brisk with occasional interruptions to clean up until the present day. Uniquely, the trail in Bözingen leads directly out of the city in a romantic natural landscape. The route to Frinvillier is about two kilometers.
Rockfall
After a major rockfall on August 1, 2009, the popular hiking trail was blocked by the canyon a long time. Already in 2003, had to remain closed due to rockfall hazard for two years the gorge. In 1998, by rockfall a child killed, others were injured. Since Easter 2010, the trail is reopened.
Use of water
Already in 1634 gave the Prince-Bishop of Basel an authorization to operate a mill at the lower end of the gorge in Bözingen whose power was used for pulling wire. From this small industry later the United Drahtwerke Biel (VDB ), a company had until the end of the 20th century large in Biel importance emerged. 1882, the mill was replaced by a dynamo which supplied the electricity for the lighting of the factory premises. Thus, the electricity held in Biel feeder. The power plant was taken over by the city of Biel in 1992 now part of Lake Biel power stations AG ( BIK ). It produces 14.6 gigawatt hours per year.
Over time, two other hydropower plants emerged to produce electric current. All three power plants are in operation today.
The small hydro power plant pigeon hole was created in 1896, when the community Bözingen wanted to pump the solution to their drinking water problem with an electric pumping plant spring water from the ravine into a higher ground reservoir. The project failed because of the resistance of Biel and the wire works. Instead of was firm of Brown, Boveri & Cie. ( BBC ) created the power plant Bözingen. It was rebuilt in 1940 and fully automated one of the first power plants in Switzerland. It now belongs to the energy service Biel / Bienne ( ESB) (formerly Electricity Biel) and, after a complete renovation in 2006 gigawatt hours of electricity annually 2.
As the highest plant in the canyon the pumping station Evilard / Leubringen emerged to solve the drinking water scarcity in the village and to the electrical operation of the cable car, built in 1898 Biel- Evilard. End of the 19th century, two hydroelectric concessions were merged in Frinvillier and in the upper canyon section. The existing industrial channel in Frinvillier was extended into the gorge and the pumping station to pump water out of the area between Rondchâtel and Frinvillier Merlin II source. Today, the plant is operated exclusively for electricity production.
In Bözingen today is the building of a former oil mill, which was powered by Schüsswasser.
Small hydropower plant Taubenloch ESB and road bridge of 1859
Small hydropower plant Taubenloch ESB, vertical Kaplan turbine ( background ) and old turbine
Pumping station Evilard