FRDEITEN
Villages / Bern / Former Moutier district / Bévilard

Bévilard

Canton of Bern · Former district: Moutier · 1'725 inhabitants (2014, former municipality of Bévilard, last figure before the merger)
Part of the municipality of Valbirse
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Bévilard

Bévilard is mentioned in 1182 as « Bevilar », and its old German name is Bewiler. The name has no explanation.[1]

Founding of Bévilard

Bévilard lies in the Tavannes valley, the valley of the Birse, next to Malleray. Until 1797 the village belonged to the provostry of Moutier-Grandval, in the prince-bishopric of Basel. A noble family of Bévilard is recorded in the 13th and 14th centuries. Its parish, whose church is dedicated to Saint George, came under the patronage of Biel in the 15th century, of the abbey of Bellelay in the 16th, and of the prince-bishop of Basel in the 17th and 18th centuries. Bévilard is now part of the municipality of Valbirse (merger of 2015).[1]

History of Bévilard

1182. The village is mentioned as « Bevilar ».[1]

1263. The parish of Bévilard appears for the first time.[1]

1531. Bévilard adopts the Reformation.[1]

1571. The Protestant parish is set up for Bévilard, Malleray and Pontenet. Champoz is attached to it in the 18th century, and Sornetan remains its daughter church until 1746.[1]

1716. The present church is built. It will be renovated in 1936.[1]

1797. The provostry of Moutier-Grandval comes to an end. Under French rule Bévilard is in the department of Haut-Rhin.[1]

1815. Bévilard passes to Bern, in the bailiwick and later the district of Moutier.[1]

1877. The Basel-Delémont-Biel line is completed, with Malleray-Bévilard station.[1]

1882. The Hélios pinion factory is set up.[1]

1915. The Schäublin machine factory opens.[1]

1970s and 1980s. Crises cause the village's industry to decline.[1]

2014. On 18 May the merger of Bévilard with Malleray and Pontenet is decided by popular vote.[2]

2015. On 1 January Bévilard becomes part of the municipality of Valbirse, whose administration is in the village.[1][3]

Population of Bévilard

Sources and references: [1]

Population of Bévilard
1770/1771152
1818200
1850294
1900652
19501'130
19701'952
20001'666
20101'653
20141'725

Historic sites in Bévilard

Church of Saint-Georges. Church of the parish recorded in 1263, rebuilt in 1716 and renovated in 1936. It serves the Reformed faithful of Bévilard, Malleray, Pontenet and Champoz.[1]

Malleray-Bévilard station. Station shared by the two villages, opened in 1877 on the Basel-Delémont-Biel line.[1]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Bévilard » (François Wisard), version du 15.01.2026
  2. Direction de l'intérieur et de la justice du canton de Berne, liste des projets de fusion de communes (état juin 2026)
  3. Commune de Valbirse, site officiel

Other villages near Bévilard

Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.

Suggest a change