Bassecourt
Origin of the name Bassecourt
Name origin: first mentioned in 1160 as « Baressicort »; the old German name « Altdorf » is first mentioned in 1184. The hamlet of Berlincourt appears in 1303 as « Burlincort ». The etymology of the name is not explained in the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland; a tradition reported by Wikipedia links the German name « Altdorf » to the Merovingian cemetery discovered on the site (to be cross-checked). The inhabitants are nicknamed the « Patas » (to be cross-checked).
Founding of Bassecourt
Neither the founder of Bassecourt nor the exact date of its creation is known. The site has been inhabited since the Bronze Age, as settlement remains show; a 4th-century Roman coin hoard and a very rich 6th-7th century cemetery then attest continuous occupation. Bassecourt was probably the chief place of the Merovingian Sornegau. The village is recorded in 1160; a family of squires of Bassecourt, known from the 12th century, gave two abbots to Bellelay. Bassecourt was one of the thirteen free villages of the Delémont valley, a lordship of the Prince-Bishopric of Basel from 1271. It includes the hamlet of Berlincourt and is today in the municipality of Haute-Sorne (merger of 1 January 2013).
History of Bassecourt
Bronze Age. Bronze Age settlement remains.
4th century. Roman coin hoard buried on the territory of Bassecourt.
6th-7th century. Very rich cemetery; Bassecourt is probably the chief place of the Merovingian Sornegau.
12th century. A mill is recorded; a family of squires of Bassecourt is mentioned and will give two abbots to Bellelay.
1160. First mention: « Baressicort ».
1184. First mention of the old German name « Altdorf ».
1271. Bassecourt, one of the thirteen free villages of the Delémont valley, becomes a lordship of the Prince-Bishopric of Basel.
1303. The parish is recorded, in the deanery of Salignon; it is served by a Premonstratensian from Bellelay. The hamlet of Berlincourt appears as « Burlincort ».
15th century. Mention of the Saint-Hubert chapel.
16th century. Forges are in operation.
1652. Opening of the paper mill, active until around 1850.
Around 1700. Rebuilding of the Saint-Hubert chapel.
1793. Bassecourt becomes a French municipality.
1815. Attachment to the canton of Bern, to which Bassecourt belongs until 1978.
1828. Rebuilding of the church of Saint-Pierre.
1853. Bassecourt becomes a mixed municipality.
1865. Founding of the Bassecourt savings bank.
1871. Fire in the village; according to Wikipedia, 54 buildings are destroyed and more than 300 people left homeless (to be cross-checked).
1877. Arrival of the railway.
1896. Opening of the secondary school.
1945. Building of the Reformed church.
20th century. After watchmaking, a sawmill and a parquet factory, Bassecourt becomes a watch-case manufacturing centre; the watch crisis hits it from 1975.
1979. Bassecourt becomes part of the new canton of Jura.
2013. Merger with Courfaivre, Glovelier, Soulce and Undervelier into the municipality of Haute-Sorne (1 January).
Population of Bassecourt
| 1809 | 720 |
| 1850 | 759 |
| 1900 | 1'060 |
| 1950 | 1'625 |
| 1970 | 2'985 |
| 2000 | 3'283 |
| 2010 | 3'288 |
| 2012 | 3'492 |
Historic sites in Bassecourt
Church of Saint-Pierre and old presbytery. Parish recorded in 1303, served by a Premonstratensian from Bellelay. The church of Saint-Pierre was rebuilt in 1828; nearby stands a typical rural presbytery of the 16th-17th centuries.
Saint-Hubert chapel. Chapel mentioned in the 15th century and rebuilt around 1700; the place called Saint-Hubert is also one of the sites of the Merovingian cemetery.
Reformed church. Church built in 1945.
Remains in Bassecourt
Merovingian cemetery of Saint-Hubert. Very rich 6th-7th century cemetery, notably at the place called Saint-Hubert; it makes Bassecourt the probable chief place of the Merovingian Sornegau.
Roman coin hoard. Hoard of 4th-century Roman coins; Wikipedia places it at Berlincourt (to be cross-checked).
Bronze Age settlement. Bronze Age settlement remains, the oldest known traces of occupation in the village.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Bassecourt » (François Kohler)
- Wikipédia (fr), « Bassecourt »
- geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Bassecourt »
Other villages near Bassecourt
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