Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane

Canton of Neuchâtel · Region: Val-de-Ruz · 1'611 inhabitants (31.12.2012, former municipality of Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane, last census before the merger)

Part of the municipality of Val-de-Ruz

Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane

The village is mentioned in 1342 in the form « Geneveis sus Corfranoz », meaning « the Geneveys above Coffrane ». A form « Les Genevois sus Corfrano » is also cited for 1370 (to be cross-checked). The addition « sur Coffrane » distinguishes it from Les Hauts-Geneveys, recorded the same year as « Geneveis sus Fontannes ». The origin of the word « Geneveys » is not established: it has been linked to settlers from the Geneva area, or derived from genévrier (juniper) or from chenevier (a place where hemp was grown); none of these hypotheses is proven (to be cross-checked).

Founding of Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane

A Neolithic hammer-axe shows that the site was frequented very early, but no foundation charter or founder is known. The village appears in 1342 on the lands of the lordship of Valangin, to which it belongs, later the mairie of Valangin. Its inhabitants enjoyed the status of francs-habergeants, which is linked to the clearing of new land granted by the lord of Valangin (to be cross-checked). The commune was formed before 1402. From 1486 to 1827 it formed a joint commune with Coffrane and Montmollin to manage the forests. The village belonged to the parish of Corcelles until 1838, then to that of Coffrane.

History of Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane

Neolithic. A Neolithic hammer-axe found on the territory bears witness to a very early human presence.

1342. First known written mention, in the form « Geneveis sus Corfranoz ».

1402. The commune already exists by this date; its inhabitants have the status of francs-habergeants.

1486. Start of the joint commune formed with Coffrane and Montmollin to manage the forests.

1520. The countess of Valangin grants the Splayes estate for the sole use of the people of Les Geneveys; the grant gives rise to a century-long dispute with the neighbouring villages.

1531. The village has 24 hearths (households).

1592. The lordship of Valangin, to which the village belongs, is united with the county of Neuchâtel.

1707. The principality of Neuchâtel enters into personal union with the kingdom of Prussia.

1750. The village has 201 inhabitants.

1827. End of the joint commune: the forests are divided between the three villages by drawing lots.

1838. The village leaves the parish of Corcelles for that of Coffrane, re-established that year.

1850. The village has 230 inhabitants.

1860. Opening of the Neuchâtel-La Chaux-de-Fonds railway line, with a station at Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane.

19th century. In the second half of the century, a first industrial boom: factories making watch dials, furniture, bricks and cement pipes, a sand trade and a brewery.

1900. The village has 473 inhabitants.

Interwar period. A zoological amusement park operates in the village.

1945. Félix Flisch founds the Felco company in a disused former dial factory to make pruning shears. After 1945 watchmaking, machine tools and construction replace the village's old industries.

1948. Launch of the Felco 2 pruning shears, the company's flagship product, since sold in more than 19 million units.

1950. The village has 605 inhabitants.

1959-1966. Construction of the Centre du Louverain, meeting and training centre of the Reformed Church of Neuchâtel, by the architect André Gaillard.

1970. A residential area develops; a bronze sculpture by Robert Hainard, Le Lynx, is placed in front of the school (sculpture to be cross-checked).

1990. The village has 1'480 inhabitants.

2012. The Reformed Evangelical Church of Neuchâtel sells the Centre du Louverain (to be cross-checked). On 31 December the municipality has 1'611 inhabitants.

2013. On 1 January Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane merges with fourteen other municipalities of the district to form the municipality of Val-de-Ruz.

2015. Felco installs a solar power plant on the roof of its factory.

2018. The Felco 2 pruning shears receive the Swiss Grand Award for Design.

Population of Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane

24 hearths (households)

1531

201

1750

230

1850

473

1900

605

1950

1'480

1990

1'409

2000

1'485 (to be cross-checked)

2008

1'490 (to be cross-checked)

2011

1'611

2012

Population of Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane
1531	24 hearths (households)
1750	201
1850	230
1900	473
1950	605
1990	1'480
2000	1'409
2008	1'485 (to be cross-checked)
2011	1'490 (to be cross-checked)
2012	1'611

Historic sites in Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane

Centre du Louverain. Built between 1959 and 1966 by the architect André Gaillard for the Reformed Church of Neuchâtel, this meeting and training centre consists of three buildings arranged in an L around a central element with a tetrahedral roof, which houses among other things a chapel. Stained glass by Jean Bouille was installed in 1967. The estate offers a view of the Plateau and the Alps. The centre was sold by the Church in 2012 (to be cross-checked).

Catholic chapel of the Bon Pasteur. Catholic chapel of the village, designed by the architect Dino Biancolin (to be cross-checked).

Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane station. Opened in 1860 on the Neuchâtel-La Chaux-de-Fonds line, the station has served the village ever since. It has a station building, two through tracks and two platforms, and is served by regional and InterRegio trains.

Splayes estate. Estate granted in 1520 by the countess of Valangin for the sole use of the people of Les Geneveys; the grant fuelled a century-long dispute with the neighbouring villages.

Mont Racine. A 1'439-metre summit overlooking the village to the north-west, with a wide view over the Jura ridges; hiking trails link it with the villages of the Val-de-Ruz.

Former dial factory (Felco headquarters). Disused industrial building bought in 1945 by Félix Flisch to manufacture Felco pruning shears. It has remained the headquarters of the company, which makes more than one million tools a year.

Remains in Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane

Neolithic hammer-axe. This Neolithic hammer-axe, found on the territory of the former municipality, is the oldest evidence of human presence at Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane, several thousand years before the first written mention of the village.

Sources

Other villages near Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane

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