Fornet-Dessus
Origin of the name Fornet-Dessus
No explanation has yet been found for this name. The hamlet was also called « Fornet-Derrière » and « Fornet André ». It is distinct from Fornet-Dessous, in the former Bernese municipality of Châtelat.[1]
Founding of Fornet-Dessus
When and by whom Fornet-Dessus, a hamlet of the municipality of Lajoux, was founded is not known. Fornet appears at the end of the 12th century in a forest dispute concerning the abbey of Bellelay. With Lajoux and Les Genevez it is one of the villages of the courtine of Bellelay, and an old count places it in the mairie of Lajoux. In the 17th and 18th centuries its inhabitants, fief holders, opposed those of Lajoux in order to obtain their own school.[1][2]
History of Fornet-Dessus
1180-1190. Henri de Horbourg confirms a dispute between Cuno and Henri of Undervelier and the abbey of Bellelay over a forest of Fornet.[1]
1408. Prince-bishop Humbert de Neuchâtel orders the pursuit of those responsible for forest damage at Fornet, Rebévelier and La Racine.[1]
1534. Fief letter concerning Lajoux and Fornet-Dessus.[1]
1698. Petition of the inhabitants of Fornet-Dessus against those of Lajoux, who want to prevent them from building a school.[1]
1704. Remonstrances of the inhabitants of Lajoux against those of Fornet-Dessus, who want to obtain a school. Report of the priest of Undervelier on the dispute.[1]
1757-1759. Regulations for the fief holders of Fornet-Dessus on maintaining the road and village fountains and on wood cutting.[1]
1780. Delimitation of the territory (ban) of Fornet.[1]
1784. Contract hiring a schoolmaster, renewed in 1785.[1]
1909. The police post is moved to Fornet-Dessus.[1]
1955. The communal assembly of Lajoux decides to build a new school at Fornet-Dessus. The credit is rejected in 1957, then the project in 1958 and 1959.[1]
1966. The communal assembly of Lajoux decides to sell the Fornet-Dessus school.[1]
1974. The old school is listed as a historic monument.[1]
2007. On 10 May, the first wind turbine in the Jura goes into service at Fornet-Dessus.[1]
Historic sites in Fornet-Dessus
Old school. School disputed from 1698 between Fornet-Dessus and Lajoux. A schoolmaster was hired in 1784 and 1785. Sold by the municipality in 1966, the old school was listed as a historic monument in 1974.[1]
Fornet-Dessus wind turbine. First wind turbine in the canton of Jura, put into service on 10 May 2007.[1]
Sources
- Chronologie jurassienne (Denis Moine), « Fornet-Dessus, Lajoux »
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Lajoux (JU) » (Claude Rebetez)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Bellelay » (Jean-Claude Rebetez)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Châtelat » (André Bandelier)
- Statistique Jura, tableau JU-T.01.01.03, population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025
- Office fédéral de topographie swisstopo, map.geo.admin.ch
Other villages near Fornet-Dessus
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