Boudevilliers

Canton of Neuchâtel · Region: Val-de-Ruz · 766 inhabitants (31.12.2012, former municipality of Boudevilliers, last census before the merger)

Part of the municipality of Val-de-Ruz

Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Boudevilliers

The name is recorded in 1195 in the form « Boudeviler », then « Boldeviler » in 1202, « Budevilliers » in 1413 and « Budewillier » in 1453. A form « Boldiwiler » dated 1144 is also cited (to be cross-checked). The name is said to come from a Germanic personal name, Balterius, joined to the Romance suffix -villers, from the Latin villare, a rural estate (to be cross-checked). The hamlet of Malvilliers, part of the former municipality, is said to take its name from the Latin malum, bad, in old forms such as « Malavillier » or « Molavilliers » (to be cross-checked).

Founding of Boudevilliers

Boudevilliers has no known foundation date or founder: it is a village of medieval origin, recorded in 1195. In 1308 Jean de Chalon-Arlay gave it to Rudolf IV (Rollin), Count of Neuchâtel. Until 1807 Boudevilliers was a count's mairie enclosed within the lordship of Valangin; under the Berthier regime the mairie was abolished and attached to Valangin on 18 January 1807. Besides the village, the former municipality included the hamlets of Malvilliers, La Jonchère and Landeyeux. Its economy rested on farming and crafts.

History of Boudevilliers

1144. A form « Boldiwiler » is cited as the earliest mention of the village (to be cross-checked).

1195. First reliable mention of the village, in the form « Boudeviler ».

1202. New mention in the form »Boldeviler ».

1308. Jean de Chalon-Arlay gives Boudevilliers to Rudolf IV (Rollin), Count of Neuchâtel. The village becomes a count's mairie enclosed within the lordship of Valangin.

1413. The name is written »Budevilliers ».

1453. The name is written »Budewillier », already close to its current form.

1510. The church of Saint-Jacques, a chapel of ease of the parish of Engollon, is incorporated into the chapter of Valangin.

1531. Boudevilliers adopts the Reformation. The village has 31 hearths (households).

1588. Boudevilliers forms a parish with Valangin.

17th century. Construction of the present church, which keeps the apse of the earlier building, dating from the 12th century.

1648. Neuchâtel becomes a principality.

1707. Neuchâtel enters into a personal union with the kingdom of Prussia.

1750. 367 inhabitants.

1806. The principality of Neuchâtel is ceded to Napoleon I.

1807. Under the Berthier regime the mairie of Boudevilliers is abolished and attached to Valangin (18 January 1807).

1810. First route of the Vue-des-Alpes road between Neuchâtel and La Chaux-de-Fonds, from which Boudevilliers benefits.

1815. Neuchâtel joins the Swiss Confederation as a full canton, following the Congress of Vienna, while still remaining for a time a Prussian principality.

1850. 578 inhabitants.

1870. The municipality of Boudevilliers has 658 inhabitants.

1872. The district hospital is set up at Landeyeux, a hamlet of the municipality.

1900. The population has fallen back to 513 inhabitants.

1950. Second route of the Vue-des-Alpes road. Boudevilliers has 524 inhabitants.

1986. Start of land consolidation.

1992. Third route of the Vue-des-Alpes road.

2000. 718 inhabitants.

2000-2010. The population grows by about 20% in ten years, driven by newcomers and births (to be cross-checked).

2011. 754 inhabitants.

2012. 766 inhabitants at the cantonal census of 31 December 2012, the last figure for the independent municipality.

1 January 2013. Boudevilliers merges with Cernier, Chézard-Saint-Martin, Coffrane, Dombresson, Engollon, Fenin-Vilars-Saules, Fontainemelon, Fontaines, Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane, Les Hauts-Geneveys, Montmollin, Le Pâquier, Savagnier and Villiers to form the new municipality of Val-de-Ruz.

Population of Boudevilliers

31 hearths (households)

1531

367

1750

578

1850

658

1870

513

1900

524

1950

718

2000

754

2011

766

2012

Historic sites in Boudevilliers

Boudevilliers Castle. The village is said to have a castle of medieval origin (to be cross-checked); its construction date and successive owners remain to be established.

Saint-Jacques church. A chapel of ease of the parish of Engollon, the church of Saint-Jacques was incorporated into the chapter of Valangin in 1510. Reformed in 1531, Boudevilliers has formed a parish with Valangin since 1588. The present church dates from the 17th century and keeps a 12th-century apse.

The hamlets of the former municipality. Besides the village, the former municipality included three hamlets: Malvilliers, a small health resort in the early 20th century with a sanatorium and a holiday camp of La Chaux-de-Fonds, La Jonchère, and Landeyeux, where the district hospital was set up in 1872.

Remains in Boudevilliers

Romanesque apse preserved in the present church. The church rebuilt in the 17th century kept the apse of the earlier building, dating from the 12th century. It is the oldest known built element of the village.

Sources

Other villages near Boudevilliers

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