Bôle

Origin of the name Bôle

Bôle is first mentioned in 1346, as « Boule ». The name is said to have later taken the forms « Bosle » and « Bulla » before settling as « Bôle » (to be cross-checked). The sources consulted do not explain the origin of the name.

Founding of Bôle

Bôle has neither a founding act nor a known founder. It is a hillside street village on the line of the old Roman road Vy d'Etraz, a section of which can still be seen west of the village. Some thirty graves from the Merovingian period, found south of the church, bear witness to early settlement. In the Middle Ages the inhabitants paid their dues, depending on their status, either to the lord of Colombier or to the receiver of Boudry for the Count of Neuchâtel. Bôle belonged to the large parish of Pontareuse and to the castellany of Boudry until 1848.

History of Bôle

Roman period. The Roman road Vy d'Etraz crosses the area; the street village grew up along its line.

Early Middle Ages. Some thirty Merovingian graves south of the present church bear witness to early settlement.

1346. First mention, as « Boule ».

1356. Bôle receives, with Colombier and Areuse, a forest on lease, managed jointly until the mid-18th century (act sometimes dated 1357).

1531-1535. The Reformed pastor of the parish of Pontareuse lives in Bôle.

1639-1644. A deacon takes charge of the faithful of Bôle and Rochefort.

1662. A pastor now serves Bôle and Rochefort.

1750-1800. A large part of the population works in the calico (indiennes) factories of the lower Areuse.

Late 18th century. Marl pits in the surrounding area begin to be worked.

1848. End of Bôle's membership of the castellany of Boudry.

1859. The inhabitants use Colombier station, on the Neuchâtel-Yverdon line.

1860. Bôle becomes an independent parish.

1895. Bôle gets its own halt on the Neuchâtel-Pontarlier line.

1897-1898. Construction of the Louis Calame-Colin house (to be cross-checked).

After 1945. The farming village rapidly becomes a residential village, with a few small and medium-sized firms and warehouses located mostly outside the locality.

1969. Pupils from Bôle attend the new secondary school centre in Colombier.

2013. Bôle merges with Auvernier and Colombier to form the municipality of Milvignes.

Population of Bôle

Population of Bôle

1750	193
1850	291
1900	525
1950	571
1970	1'422
2000	1'778
2011	1'788 (to be cross-checked)
2012	1'806

Historic sites in Bôle

Louis Calame-Colin house. Building constructed in 1897-1898, listed among Bôle's built heritage (to be cross-checked).

Bôle station. Halt opened in 1895 on the Neuchâtel-Pontarlier line; before that, from 1859, the inhabitants used Colombier station.

Bôle church. Some thirty Merovingian graves were found south of the church. Part of the large parish of Pontareuse in the Middle Ages, Bôle was served by a deacon from 1639-1644, by a pastor from 1662, and became an independent parish in 1860.

Remains in Bôle

Merovingian cemetery. Some thirty graves from the Merovingian period were found south of the church; they are the earliest known evidence of settlement in Bôle.

Roman road Vy d'Etraz. The village grew up on the line of the old Roman road Vy d'Etraz, a section of which can still be seen west of the village.

Former slaughterhouse. A former slaughterhouse is listed among Bôle's built heritage (to be cross-checked).

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Bôle » (Germain Hausmann)
• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Colombier (NE) » (Germain Hausmann)
• État de Neuchâtel, arrêté du 4 février 2026 homologuant le recensement cantonal de la population au 31 décembre 2025
• État de Neuchâtel, arrêté du 6 février 2013 portant homologation des résultats du recensement cantonal de la population du 31 décembre 2012
• Wikipédia (fr), « Bôle »
• Wikipédia (de), « Bôle »
• Wikipédia (en), « Bôle »
• Office fédéral de la statistique, portraits régionaux des communes suisses
• Site officiel de la commune de Milvignes

Other villages near Bôle

• Trois-Rods (NE)
• Colombier (NE)
• Chambrelien (NE)
• Boudry (NE)
• Areuse (NE)