Belfond
Origin of the name Belfond
The hamlet consists of two groups of houses, Belfond Dessus and Belfond Dessous. The name itself has received no explanation.
Founding of Belfond
Nobody knows who founded Belfond or when. The hamlet overlooks the Doubs, near Goumois, on the lands of the former lordship of Franquemont. Gauthier de Montfaucon, first lord of Franquemont, had the castle built on the ridge that separates Belfond from the river. Belfond later belonged to the municipality of Goumois, as one of its sections, before joining Saignelégier in the merger of 1 January 2009.[1][2]
History of Belfond
1304. The lordship of Franquemont passes to Gauthier de Montfaucon, who then begins building the castle on the ridge separating the hamlet of Belfond from the Doubs.[1]
1474. On 13 November, during the Burgundian Wars, the Prince-Bishop of Basel Jean de Venningen, allied with the Swiss, takes Franquemont castle from the garrison of Charles the Bold.[1][5]
1677. After long rivalries with his vassal, the Bishop of Basel has Franquemont castle destroyed. A storm partly damaged it on 13 February, and its dismantling begins on 24 February.[1][5]
1792. On 29 May a Liberty tree is planted at Belfond.[4]
1802. On 5 June the sub-prefect of the arrondissement of Porrentruy declares void a petition asking for the municipality of Goumois to be called by the name of Belfond alone.[4]
19th century-1968. Belfond forms a section of the municipality of Goumois.[2]
1874. On 22 September the farm of « Belfond-Dessus » burns down.[4]
1895. The municipality of Goumois sells the Belfond estate.[4]
1897. On 21 June a telephone station with a telegraph service is installed. In December the municipal assembly of Saint-Brais ratifies the purchase of the Belfond estate to set up an orphanage there.[4]
1898. On 7 June, deed of foundation and statutes of the « Orphelinat de garçons de Belfond ». From 1899 several municipalities of the Franches-Montagnes vote a financial contribution.[4]
1910. On 7 July the assembly of mayors of the Franches-Montagnes ratifies the plan making Belfond the orphanage of the Franches-Montagnes.[4]
1920. The Bernese Grand Council votes a grant of 20'000 francs for the Belfond orphanage.[4]
1940. On 27 November, inauguration of the converted orphanage and consecration of its new chapel, whose building work had been put out to tender in 1939.[4]
1950. On 26 May the delegates of the Franches-Montagnes municipalities decide to sell the orphanage. The same year Soubey agrees to its transfer to the Œuvre séraphique de Soleure.[4]
1980. A plan to sell the Foyer Saint-Joseph at Belfond is raised in the Jura Parliament. The Government says it is interested in the estate but not in the home's buildings.[4]
2009. On 1 January Goumois merges with Saignelégier and Les Pommerats. Belfond has since been part of the municipality of Saignelégier.[2]
2009. The Association jurassienne pour requérants d'asile votes a credit of 800'000 francs to extend its reception centre at Belfond.[4]
Historic sites in Belfond
Site of Franquemont castle. Castle built after 1304 by Gauthier de Montfaucon on the ridge between Belfond and the Doubs, centre of the lordship of Franquemont. Taken in 1474 by the Bishop of Basel and destroyed on his orders in 1677.[1]
Former Belfond orphanage. Boys' orphanage founded in 1898 on the Belfond estate, with financial support from the municipalities of the Franches-Montagnes. Converted, it was inaugurated with its new chapel in 1940, then transferred in 1950 to the Œuvre séraphique de Soleure. It later bore the name Foyer Saint-Joseph, before housing a centre for asylum seekers.[4]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Franquemont » (Claude Rebetez), version du 15.02.2017
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Goumois » (Claude Rebetez), version du 13.07.2020
- geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Belfond »
- Chronologie jurassienne (Denis Moine), « Belfond, Saignelégier »
- Chronologie jurassienne (Denis Moine), « Franquemont »
Other villages near Belfond
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