Corgémont
Origin of the name Corgémont
The oldest known form is « Coriamont », in 1178. From the 12th to the 15th century a noble family bore the name of the place, also known as de Chalmé. The meaning of the name has not been established.[1]
Founding of Corgémont
Corgémont was part of the lordship of Erguël, in the prince-bishopric of Basel. The chapter of Moutier-Grandval and that of Saint-Imier held property here in the 12th century. The noble family of Corgémont, or de Chalmé, held land from the prince-bishop of Basel from the 12th to the 15th century, after which the fief passed to the d'Asuel family. The village is the seat of a parish, on which Biel/Bienne imposed the Reformation. In the 19th century a factory of watch movement blanks settled here to use water power, and other watch-related factories followed.[1]
History of Corgémont
1178. The village appears as « Coriamont ».[1]
1179. Pope Alexander III confirms the possessions of the chapter of Moutier-Grandval in Corgémont. The chapter of Saint-Imier also holds property here.[1]
1379. The church of Saint-Valier is built.[1]
1450-1880. The tile works of Corgémont are renowned until 1880.[1]
1530. Biel/Bienne imposes the Reformation on the parish.[1]
Late 17th century. Watchmaking arrives.[1]
1766. The church of Saint-Valier is rebuilt.[1]
1834. The Eguet brothers found a factory of movement blanks, driven by water power.[1]
1851. A new school is built.[1]
1862. Mass is celebrated in Corgémont for the first time.[1]
1874. With the Kulturkampf, mass is abolished. The same year two secondary classes open and the railway station is inaugurated.[1]
1879. A German parsonage is created. It becomes the seat of the German parish of the Bas-Vallon.[1]
1899-1982. The Paul Dubois watch spring factory is in operation.[1]
1907-1928. The Jules Schmoll factory produces under the name Corgémont Watch.[1]
1927. Catholic worship is restored.[1]
1932-1994. An enamelling works operates in Corgémont. The company Emalco SA is founded in 1971.[1]
1958. The chapel of Saint-Nicolas-de-Flue is built to plans by Jeanne Bueche.[1]
1959. The secondary school opens.[1]
1965. Corgémont becomes the seat of the Catholic rectorate of the Bas-Vallon.[1]
Population of Corgémont
Sources and references: [1][2]
| 1801 | 342 |
| 1850 | 753 |
| 1900 | 1'418 |
| 1950 | 1'285 |
| 1970 | 1'645 |
| 2000 | 1'493 |
| 2025 | 1'801 |
Historic sites in Corgémont
Church of Saint-Valier. Built in 1379 and rebuilt in 1766, it is the parish church.[1]
Chapel of Saint-Nicolas-de-Flue. Catholic chapel of 1958, built to plans by the architect Jeanne Bueche.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Corgémont » (Anne Beuchat-Bessire), version du 02.03.2004
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, population résidante permanente au 31.12.2025
Other villages near Corgémont
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