Develier

Origin of the name Develier

Name origin: mentioned in 1139 in the form « Divilier ». An older mention, « Dinouillare » in 968, is also reported (to be cross-checked). The name is said to combine a Germanic personal name of the type Dîdo, Dieto or Deodo with the Latin villare (estate, group of farms, hamlet) (to be cross-checked). In the Vâdais patois the village is called « Devlî »; its old German name is « Dietwiler » (to be cross-checked).

Founding of Develier

Develier lies on the Delémont-Porrentruy road over the Col des Rangiers. No founder is known, but settlement is old: remains of Roman buildings (villa) have been identified, then between AD 550 and 750 a large hamlet of six farms stretched along the La Pran stream, with several forges working the iron produced in the region. In the Middle Ages and until 1792 Develier was one of the thirteen free villages of the Delémont valley, a lordship of the bishopric of Basel. The municipality also includes Develier-Dessus.

History of Develier

Roman period. Roman buildings (villa) stand on the territory.

550-750. A hamlet of six farms, with several forges working the iron of the region, is inhabited along the La Pran stream.

968. Mention in the form « Dinouillare » (to be cross-checked).

1139. Mention in the form « Divilier »; the chapter of Saint-Ursanne owns property there (to be cross-checked).

1637. The church of Saint-Imier burns down.

1751. Rebuilding of the church of Saint-Imier.

1792. End of the status of free village of the Delémont valley.

1793-1813. Develier is French, in the department of Mont-Terrible, then Haut-Rhin.

1815-1978. Develier is part of Bern, in the district of Delémont.

first half of the 19th century. Iron mines are worked.

1838. Construction of the chapel of Sainte-Philomène at Develier-Dessus.

around 1840. Excavation of 39 graves of a Merovingian cemetery near the village.

1958. Restoration of the church of Saint-Imier.

1979. Develier becomes part of the new canton of Jura.

1980. Establishment of the Carmelite convent of Notre-Dame-de-la-Solitude.

20th century. Industrial development: bar turning, finishing of watch cases, prefabricated elements, building materials, furniture and garages.

2000. The chapel of Sainte-Philomène is converted into a shrine.

Population of Develier

Population of Develier

1818	384
1850	590
1900	632
1910	549
1950	647
2000	1'253
2010	1'353
2025	1'397

Historic sites in Develier

Church of Saint-Imier. Church built on a rocky spur, burnt down in 1637, rebuilt in 1751 and restored in 1958. Its basement holds monolithic Merovingian sarcophagi.

Chapel of Sainte-Philomène, Develier-Dessus. Chapel built in 1838 in the hamlet of Develier-Dessus and converted into a shrine in 2000.

Carmel of Notre-Dame-de-la-Solitude. Carmelite convent established in Develier in 1980.

Remains in Develier

Merovingian hamlet of La Pran. Large hamlet of six farms along the La Pran stream, inhabited between AD 550 and 750, with several forges working the iron produced in the region.

Merovingian cemetery. Cemetery near the village of which 39 graves were excavated around 1840.

Sarcophagi of the church of Saint-Imier. Monolithic Merovingian sarcophagi preserved in the basement of the church.

Roman villa. Remains of Roman buildings (villa) on the municipal territory.

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Develier » (François Kohler)
• Statistique Jura, tableau JU-T.01.01.03, population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025
• Wikipédia, « Develier »
• geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Develier »

Other villages near Develier

• Courtételle (JU)
• Courfaivre (JU)
• Delémont (JU)
• Rossemaison (JU)
• Bassecourt (JU)