Charmoille
Origin of the name Charmoille
The village is first mentioned in 1136 in the form « Calmillis ». Where does the name come from? That is still unknown.[1]
Founding of Charmoille
The site was occupied in Roman times: a Gallo-Roman villa stood near Miserez. Neither the founder nor the date of creation of the village, first mentioned in 1136, is known. A noble family of Charmoille is recorded, including Hugues, one of the founders of Lucelle Abbey in 1123-1124. In the Middle Ages Charmoille belonged to the advocacy of Ajoie, incorporated into the Prince-Bishopric of Basel at the end of the 13th century. In 1145 its church depended on Lucelle Abbey. Before 1779, the parish of Charmoille or La Baroche was the only one in Ajoie directly under the Bishop of Basel. Under the Ancien Régime the municipality belonged to the mairie of Alle. Charmoille is today part of the municipality of La Baroche (merger of 2009).[1]
History of Charmoille
Roman period. A Gallo-Roman villa stands near Miserez.[1]
1123-1124. Hugues, of the noble family of Charmoille, is one of the founders of Lucelle Abbey.[1]
1136. First mention: « Calmillis ».[1]
1145. The church, dedicated to Saint Stephen, depends on Lucelle Abbey.[1]
12th century. Foundation of the priory of Miserez, a priory of Augustinian canons regular dependent on Lanthenans in Franche-Comté.[2]
1177. First mention of the priory: « Miserey ».[2]
end of the 13th century. The advocacy of Ajoie, to which Charmoille belongs, is incorporated into the Prince-Bishopric of Basel.[1]
1517. Bishop Christoph von Utenheim has a blast furnace built, which operates for two or three years.[1]
1525. Two men from Basel obtain the concession to make cannonballs for the arsenals of Basel, Bern and Solothurn.[1]
1535. The enterprise no longer exists.[1]
1591. The Prince-Bishop of Basel obtains from Rome the right to endow his Jesuit college in Porrentruy with the priory of Miserez.[2]
1779. The priory of Miserez is rebuilt and enlarged.[2]
end of the 18th century. Charmoille belongs to the French departments of Mont-Terrible, then Haut-Rhin. The priory of Miserez, declared national property, is sold to private owners.[1][2]
1815-1978. Charmoille belongs to the Bernese district of Porrentruy.[1]
1836. Charmoille becomes a mixed municipality.[1]
2009. Charmoille merges with Asuel, Fregiécourt, Miécourt and Pleujouse to form the municipality of La Baroche.[1]
Population of Charmoille
Sources and references: [1]
| 1818 | 581 |
| 1850 | 599 |
| 1870 | 627 |
| 1900 | 512 |
| 1950 | 544 |
| 2000 | 426 |
| 2008 | 326 |
Historic sites in Charmoille
Former priory of Miserez. West of the village, a priory of Augustinian canons regular founded in the 12th century and mentioned in 1177 (« Miserey »). The lords of Asuel were its advocates. Assigned in 1591 to the Jesuit college in Porrentruy, rebuilt and enlarged in 1779, it was sold as national property during the Revolution, then served as an orphanage and boarding school in the 19th century and as an old people's home in the 20th century. Its Romanesque-Gothic chapel is well preserved.[2]
Church of Saint-Étienne. Church of the parish of Charmoille or La Baroche, recorded in 1145 under the dedication to Saint Stephen and then dependent on Lucelle Abbey. Before 1779 it was the only parish in Ajoie directly under the Bishop of Basel.[1]
Source of the Allaine. Charmoille lies in the Allaine valley, where the river rises.[1]
Cherry orchards. Fruit growing, especially cherry trees for making kirsch, shapes the village economy.[1]
Remains in Charmoille
Gallo-Roman villa of Miserez. A Gallo-Roman villa stood near Miserez, west of the village.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Charmoille » (Dominique Prongué), version du 10.06.2020
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Miserez » (André Chèvre), version du 21.10.2016
- geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Charmoille »
Other villages near Charmoille
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