FRDEITEN
Villages / Bern / Former Moutier district / Corcelles (BE)

Corcelles (BE)

Canton of Bern · Former district: Moutier · 189 inhabitants (31.12.2025)
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Corcelles (BE)

The first mention, «Corcellis» in 1181, cannot be attributed to the village with certainty, and its name has not been explained.[1]

Founding of Corcelles (BE)

Corcelles is a street village at the eastern end of the Grand Val, or Cornet, with a few farms on the Raimeux. It belonged to the provostship of Moutier-Grandval and to the parish of Grandval. It had 90 inhabitants in 1745. Iron shaped its history: ore was washed and smelted here, mined above all between 1830 and 1842 for the blast furnaces of Ludwig von Roll, and a tool forge worked from 1791 to the middle of the 20th century. The primary school, sewage treatment and the water supply from the Raimeux are run jointly with neighbouring municipalities.[1]

History of Corcelles (BE)

1181. A mention of «Corcellis», whose attribution is uncertain, may refer to the village. It belongs to the provostship of Moutier-Grandval.[1]

1531. The parish of Grandval, to which Corcelles belongs, adopts the Reformation.[1]

1791. A building on the Gabiatte, perhaps first a grain mill, becomes a forge. A large water wheel drives three hammers there.[1][2]

1797-1800. Corcelles is attached to the French department of Mont-Terrible.[1]

1800-1813. The village belongs to the department of Haut-Rhin.[1]

1815. The canton of Bern receives Corcelles, first in the bailiwick, then in the district of Moutier.[1]

1830-1842. Iron ore is mined for the blast furnaces of Ludwig von Roll. This is the busiest period of mining.[1]

1863. Corcelles becomes a mixed municipality (commune mixte).[1]

1904-1908. The Moutier-Solothurn line is built. It crosses the area on the Corcelles viaduct.[1]

1955. The tool forge stops working (or in 1945, according to another source).[1][2]

1987-1993. Restored, the forge is turned into a museum.[1]

Population of Corcelles (BE)

Sources and references: [1][4]

Population of Corcelles (BE)
174590
1850180
1900187
1950198
2000217
2010222
2020201
2025189

Historic sites in Corcelles (BE)

Old forge (edge-tool works). Trip-hammer forge at Clos la Jus, listed as a cultural property of national importance (former Ankli forge). The hammer and the grindstone still run on water power. The museum shows some 300 tools, axes, picks and ice axes once made for farmers, woodcutters and craftsmen.[1][2][3]

Corcelles viaduct. Viaduct of the Moutier-Solothurn line, built from 1904 to 1908.[1]

Remains in Corcelles (BE)

Ore washing and bloomery furnaces. Remains of installations where iron ore was washed and of low shaft furnaces where it was smelted.[1]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Corcelles (BE) » (François Wisard), version du 14.01.2026
  2. Jura & Trois-Lacs (office du tourisme), « Corcelles : journée de la forge » (martinet de Corcelles)
  3. Office fédéral de la protection de la population (OFPP), Inventaire PBC, révision 2021, liste du canton de Berne (état au 1.1.2026)
  4. Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, population résidante permanente au 31.12.2025

Other villages near Corcelles (BE)

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

Suggest a change