Le Noirmont
Origin of the name Le Noirmont
The name appears in 1454 as « Noirmont ». The old German name was « Schwarzenberg ». No explanation has yet been found for this name.[1]
Founding of Le Noirmont
Le Noirmont was born of the clearing of the Franches-Montagnes, which had received a charter of franchises in 1384: the community appears around 1400, in the Prince-Bishopric of Basel. For a long time it depended on the mother parish of Montfaucon before gaining its own parish. Its territory extends from the high plateau, at around 1'100 m, down to the banks of the Doubs, with many hamlets: Les Barrières, Le Cerneux-Joly, Le Creux-des-Biches, Les Esserts, Le Peu-Péquignot, Sous-les-Craux, Les Côtes.[1]
History of Le Noirmont
1384. On 17 November a charter of franchises is granted to the Franches-Montagnes.[2]
Around 1400. The community of Le Noirmont appears.[1]
1454. First mention in the form « Noirmont ».[1]
1513. Construction of a chapel.[1][3]
1596. Creation of the parish of Le Noirmont, separated from Montfaucon.[1][3]
17th century. Construction of the old church of Saint-Hubert.[1]
Late 18th century. Watchmaking arrives in the Franches-Montagnes. Le Noirmont becomes a centre of silver and gold watch cases, with a precious-metals assay office.[1][3]
1793-1813. Le Noirmont belongs to the French departments of Mont-Terrible and then Haut-Rhin.[1]
1815-1978. Le Noirmont belongs to the canton of Bern.[1]
1883-1884. The nave of the old church of Saint-Hubert is rebuilt.[1]
1892. Le Noirmont becomes a station on the Saignelégier-La Chaux-de-Fonds railway line.[1]
1893-1894. Construction of the La Goule hydroelectric power station on the Doubs.[1]
1904. Opening of the secondary school; construction of an orphanage.[1]
1913. Opening of the Le Noirmont-Tramelan line.[1]
1919-1999. Les Côtes Catholic private school, in the former orphanage of 1904.[1]
1964-1969. Construction of the new church of Saint-Hubert. The old one is deconsecrated in 1969.[1]
1985. The Centre jurassien de réadaptation cardio-vasculaire moves into the former Roc-Montès boarding school.[1]
1991. First Chant du Gros music festival.[1]
Population of Le Noirmont
Sources and references: [1]
| 1818 | 878 |
| 1850 | 1'544 |
| 1870 | 1'892 |
| 1900 | 1'681 |
| 1941 | 1'407 |
| 1950 | 1'455 |
| 2000 | 1'561 |
| 2010 | 1'650 |
| 2020 | 1'893 |
| 2025 | 1'936 |
Historic sites in Le Noirmont
Old church of Saint-Hubert. 17th-century church whose nave was rebuilt in 1883-1884. Deconsecrated in 1969, it hosts cultural events. It is cultural property of regional importance.[1][4]
Church of Saint-Hubert. New parish church built from 1964 to 1969.[1]
La Goule power station. Hydroelectric power station built in 1893-1894 on the Doubs.[1]
Villa Roc-Montès. Former boarding school (1905-1907) that has housed the Centre jurassien de réadaptation cardio-vasculaire since 1985.[1]
Watch factories. The Pronto and Aubry Frères factories shaped the village's urban growth during the watchmaking boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[1]
Les Esserts farmhouse. Farmhouse no. 32 in the hamlet of Les Esserts is cultural property of national importance.[4]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Noirmont, Le » (François Kohler)
- Denis Moine, Chronologie jurassienne, « Chaux-des-Breuleux, La » (charte de franchises des Franches-Montagnes, 17.11.1384)
- Denis Moine, Chronologie jurassienne, « Noirmont, Le »
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population (OFPP), Inventaire PBC, liste cantonale du canton du Jura (état au 1.1.2026)
- Statistique Jura, tableau JU-T.01.01.03, population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025
- geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Le Noirmont »
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Le Noirmont
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