La Côte-aux-Fées
Origin of the name La Côte-aux-Fées
First written mention in 1337, in the form « La Costa des Faies ». Despite appearances, the name does not refer to fairies: it means « slope of the ewes », from « côte » (Latin « costa », sloping ground) and Franco-Provençal « fèa, fèja », ewe (Late Latin « fēta »).
Founding of La Côte-aux-Fées
No founder or founding act is known. La Côte-aux-Fées is a group of about a dozen hamlets, the main one of which, Les Bolles-du-Temple, forms the administrative and economic centre. Made a lordship in 1372, it came under the mairie of Les Verrières for civil matters and the castellany of Val-de-Travers for criminal matters from the 14th century to 1848. From the 15th to the 19th century its inhabitants cooperated with the Générale communauté of Les Verrières, within the bourgeau of Grand-Bourgeau. The locality became a parish in 1672 and obtained municipal status in 1826.
History of La Côte-aux-Fées
1337. First written mention, in the form « La Costa des Faies ».
1372. Raised to a lordship.
14th century-1848. The locality comes under the mairie of Les Verrières for civil matters and the castellany of Val-de-Travers for criminal matters; before the Reformation it belongs to the diocese of Besançon and the parish of Les Verrières.
15th-19th century. Cooperation with the Générale communauté of Les Verrières.
1658. A church is built.
1671. La Côte-aux-Fées has 250 inhabitants.
1672. La Côte-aux-Fées becomes a parish, separated from that of Les Verrières.
17th-19th century. Blast furnaces operate at Noirvaux.
18th century. Farming and forestry are combined with craft watchmaking and lacemaking.
1826. La Côte-aux-Fées obtains municipal status.
1849. Founding of a Free Church.
1874. Founding of the Piaget watch manufactory.
second half of the 19th century. Demographic and economic growth is held back by the lack of any rail link.
late 19th-early 20th century. Holiday tourism.
1987. Opening of a home for the elderly.
2000. Almost half of the working population is employed in the secondary sector, with a high share of commuters from outside.
Population of La Côte-aux-Fées
| 1671 | 250 |
| 1800 | 793 |
| 1850 | 979 |
| 1900 | 1'096 |
| 1950 | 648 |
| 2000 | 529 |
| 2008 | 450 (31 December) |
| 2025 | 467 (31 December) |
Historic sites in La Côte-aux-Fées
Les Bolles-du-Temple. The main one of the municipality's twelve or so hamlets, forming its administrative and economic centre.
Protestant church. The first church dates from 1658; La Côte-aux-Fées became a parish in 1672. The present building is said to date from 1870 (to be cross-checked).
Piaget manufactory. The Piaget watch manufactory was founded at La Côte-aux-Fées in 1874. The brand, now owned by the Richemont group, originates from the municipality.
Grotte aux Fées. Cave located about 2.8 km from the village, towards the hamlet of Saint-Olivier.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « La Côte-aux-Fées »
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Les Verrières »
- État de Neuchâtel, arrêté du 21 janvier 2009 portant homologation des résultats du recensement cantonal de la population du 31 décembre 2008
- État de Neuchâtel, arrêté du 4 février 2026 homologuant le recensement cantonal de la population au 31 décembre 2025
- Office fédéral de topographie swisstopo, nomenclature géographique (geo.admin.ch), « Grotte aux Fées »
- Wikipédia, « La Côte-aux-Fées » (à recouper)
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near La Côte-aux-Fées
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