Chevenez
Origin of the name Chevenez
The village is first mentioned in 814 as « Chaviniacus ». The name is said to derive from the Latin personal name Cavinius, followed by the Gaulish suffix -acum.[1]
Founding of Chevenez
A promontory with a barred spur, perhaps Neolithic, and Merovingian sarcophagi show early occupation. Recorded in 814, Chevenez belonged largely to the abbey of Saint-Ursanne, then to its chapter, which held major property there from the 9th century until 1793 and had the right of collation of the parish. It is not known who founded the village or when. From 1474 to 1793 the village came under the Prince-Bishopric of Basel. In the 16th century it reportedly became the chief town of the great mairie of Chevenez, which grouped seven villages of Haute-Ajoie. A mixed municipality from 1836, Chevenez is now part of the municipality of Haute-Ajoie (merger of 2009).[1]
History of Chevenez
Neolithic (?). A promontory with a barred spur, perhaps Neolithic, is the oldest evidence of occupation.[1]
Merovingian period. Sarcophagi attest burials from this period.[1]
814. First mention: « Chaviniacus ».[1]
9th century. The abbey of Saint-Ursanne, then its chapter, holds major property in Chevenez, until 1793.[1]
12th century. The parish is recorded; it comes under the diocese of Besançon, and the chapter of Saint-Ursanne holds its collation.[1]
1420. The chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Cœur, west of the village, was reportedly built in this year.
1474. Chevenez now comes under the Prince-Bishopric of Basel, until 1793.[1]
16th century. Chevenez reportedly becomes the chief town of the great mairie of Chevenez, which groups seven villages of Haute-Ajoie.
1632. Construction of the choir of the church of Saint-Maurice.[1]
1730-1740. Chevenez takes an active part in the Troubles, the revolt of the Prince-Bishopric's subjects against the Prince-Bishop's authority. The name of Jean-Pierre Riat is linked to it.[1]
1764. Fire in the village, followed by others in 1796 and 1802.[1]
1779. The parish passes from the diocese of Besançon to that of Basel.
1793-1815. Chevenez is attached to France (departments of Mont-Terrible, then Haut-Rhin).
1800-1802. Chevenez is briefly the chief town of a canton in the arrondissement of Porrentruy.[1]
1815-1978. The village belongs to the canton of Bern (bailiwick, then district of Porrentruy).[1]
1836. Chevenez becomes a mixed municipality.[1]
1841-1844. Construction of the nave of the church of Saint-Maurice.[1]
1868. The chapel is rebuilt.[1]
19th century. Watchmaking settles in the village.[1]
1979. Chevenez joins the new canton of Jura.
1980. Opening of a machine factory.[1]
2009. Chevenez merges with Damvant, Réclère and Roche-d'Or into the municipality of Haute-Ajoie.[1]
Population of Chevenez
Sources and references: [1]
| 1850 | 952 |
| 1870 | 965 |
| 1900 | 901 |
| 1930 | 794 |
| 1950 | 865 |
| 2000 | 665 |
| 2008 | 662 |
Historic sites in Chevenez
Church of Saint-Maurice. Its choir dates from 1632 and its nave from 1841-1844. It is said to have kept a late Gothic high altar from the earlier church.[1]
Chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Sacré-Cœur. Chapel west of the village, said to have been built in 1420 and extensively restored in 1966. A chapel of the village was rebuilt in 1868.
Village centre. Many 17th- and 18th-century houses typical of Ajoie are said to be preserved here.
Creugenat. Sinkhole in the Chevenez valley, beneath which an underground river flows. It gives rise to a temporary watercourse, the Creugenat.[1]
Remains in Chevenez
Barred spur. Promontory fortified by a barred spur, whose Neolithic dating remains uncertain.[1]
Merovingian sarcophagi. Sarcophagi from the Merovingian period have been found at Chevenez.[1]
Legends of Chevenez
At the sabbath. A man from Chevenez, heading home rather merry from the Porrentruy fair, lost his way in the forest and fell asleep at the bottom of a sinkhole. At midnight he woke in the middle of a witches' sabbath, which he watched without being seen. In the morning he tried to get home faster with a witch's ointment he found on the ground, but used the wrong spell and arrived home in tatters, so that his wife barely recognised him.[4]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Chevenez » (Dominique Prongué), version du 04.06.2020
- geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Chevenez »
- Luc Braillard, « Morphogenèse des vallées sèches du Jura tabulaire d'Ajoie (Suisse) », thèse n° 1517, Université de Fribourg, 2006 (RERO DOC)
- Aurélie Reusser-Elzingre, Éditer et transmettre un patrimoine linguistique et culturel suisse. Contes et légendes en dialecte oïlique collectés par Jules Surdez, thèse, Université de Neuchâtel, 2018, p. 249-255
Other villages near Chevenez
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