La Chaux-des-Breuleux
Origin of the name La Chaux-des-Breuleux
The village is first mentioned in 1397 as « La Chaux ». What the name means is not yet known.[1]
Founding of La Chaux-des-Breuleux
La Chaux is recorded in 1397 as a property of the chapter of Saint-Imier. In the 15th century the first settlers of neighbouring Les Breuleux belonged to its community, until a ruling of 1472. In 1528 it was granted in fief to the community of Les Breuleux. Lying at 1'016 metres on the border between the cantons of Jura and Bern, it belonged to the lordship of the Franches-Montagnes. The village remained largely agricultural until the end of the 20th century. La Chaux-des-Breuleux is now in the municipality of Les Breuleux (merger of 1 January 2023).[1][2]
History of La Chaux-des-Breuleux
1397. First mention, as « La Chaux », as a property of the chapter of Saint-Imier.[1]
15th century. The first settlers of Les Breuleux belong to the community of La Chaux, until the ruling of 1472 that delimits their village.[2]
1528. La Chaux is granted in fief to the community of Les Breuleux.[1]
1661. Having depended on the parishes of Montfaucon and then Saignelégier, the community joins the new parish of Les Breuleux.[1][2]
1792. End of its belonging to the lordship of the Franches-Montagnes.[1]
1793-1814. The village belongs to the French departments of Mont-Terrible, then Haut-Rhin.[1][3]
1815-1978. La Chaux-des-Breuleux is part of the bailiwick, then of the Bernese district of the Franches-Montagnes.[1]
1913. Arrival of the railway (first locomotive on 21 July) and opening of a postal depot (16 December).[3]
1918. The municipality sells part of its peat bogs to the Society of Chemical Industry in Basel.[3]
1966. End of peat cutting in the vast bog east of the village.[1]
1975. The peat bog is placed under protection.[1]
1979. The village becomes part of the new canton of Jura.
1996. The peat bog is listed as a mire landscape of national importance.[1]
2023. Merger with the municipality of Les Breuleux (1 January).[1][2]
Population of La Chaux-des-Breuleux
Sources and references: [1][3]
| 1850 | 166 |
| 1900 | 208 |
| 1920 | 211 |
| 1950 | 132 |
| 1980 | 82 |
| 2000 | 98 |
| 2010 | 74 |
| 2020 | 95 |
| 2022 | 85 |
Historic sites in La Chaux-des-Breuleux
Peat bog of La Chaux-des-Breuleux. Vast peat bog east of the village, worked until 1966, protected since 1975 and listed as a mire landscape of national importance in 1996.[1]
The border village. At 1'016 metres, on the border between the cantons of Jura and Bern, a village that remained largely agricultural until the end of the 20th century.[1]
Protected farmhouses. Two farmhouses, in the village of La Chaux (no. 22) and at La Baumatte (no. 29), are cultural property of national importance.[4]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « La Chaux-des-Breuleux » (Claude Rebetez)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Les Breuleux » (Claude Rebetez)
- Denis Moine, Chronologie jurassienne, « Chaux-des-Breuleux, La »
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population (OFPP), Inventaire PBC, liste cantonale du canton du Jura (état au 1.1.2026)
- République et Canton du Jura, communiqué de presse du 4 avril 2022 (fusions Damphreux-Lugnez et Les Breuleux-La Chaux-des-Breuleux au 1er janvier 2023)
- geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « La Chaux-des-Breuleux »
Other villages near La Chaux-des-Breuleux
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