Cortébert
Origin of the name Cortébert
The name appears in 1178 as « Cortaibert », with no known explanation.[1]
Founding of Cortébert
Cortébert was part of the lordship of Erguël, in the prince-bishopric of Basel, and belonged to the parish of Corgémont. The chapters of Saint-Imier and Moutier-Grandval held property here in the late 12th century. Until the mid-19th century it was a village of farmers and craftsmen, with its mills, before watchmaking changed it. The municipality also includes the hamlet of Prés de Cortébert.[1]
History of Cortébert
1178. First mention, as « Cortaibert ».[1]
1179. The chapters of Saint-Imier and Moutier-Grandval hold property in Cortébert.[1]
1530. Biel/Bienne introduces the Reformation in the parish of Corgémont, to which the village belongs.[1]
1854. The burghers' commune separates from the residents' commune.[1]
1865. The Raiguel Juillard et Cie watch factory opens. It will become Cortébert Watch & Co.[1]
1872. The village builds a large school.[1]
1874. Cortébert gets its railway station.[1]
1902. A Protestant chapel is built.[1]
From 1930. Crises in the watch industry hit the village.[1]
1938. A pumping station begins supplying water to the Franches-Montagnes plateau.[1]
1957. Bordigoni designs the advertising poster for the « 1790 » watch, now in the Museum für Gestaltung in Zurich.[1]
1959. The school burns down, and the municipal archives with it.[1]
1962. Cortébert Watch closes.[1]
From the 1990s. A new industrial and commercial zone spreads west of the village.[1]
Population of Cortébert
Sources and references: [1][2]
| c. 1460 | 90 |
| 1801 | 230 |
| 1850 | 326 |
| 1870 | 652 |
| 1900 | 793 |
| 1950 | 750 |
| 1980 | 634 |
| 2000 | 714 |
| 2025 | 675 |
Historic sites in Cortébert
Village centre. It keeps houses from the 16th to the 19th century.[1]
Prés de Cortébert. Hamlet of the municipality, with its mountain school.[1]
Protestant chapel. Built in 1902.[1]
Pumping station. In service since 1938, it supplies water to the Franches-Montagnes plateau.[1]
Remains in Cortébert
Large school of 1872. The imposing school building was lost in the fire of 1959.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Cortébert » (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 Cortébert
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