Les Genevez
Origin of the name Les Genevez
The name remains unexplained. The village appears in 1381 as « Les Geneveys ». This mention reportedly comes from an inventory of the property of Bellelay Abbey.[1]
Founding of Les Genevez
Les Genevez is a settlement village: the Prince-Bishop of Basel twice authorised the abbot of Bellelay to settle colonists on the abbey's lands, and the village grew out of this monastic land clearance. It then remained part of the courtine of Bellelay. The pastures and forests, long disputed, were ceded to it by the abbey in 1562. The municipality today comprises the village and several hamlets, including Le Prédame and Les Vacheries.[1]
History of Les Genevez
1284. The Prince-Bishop of Basel authorises the abbot of Bellelay to settle colonists on the abbey's lands.[1]
1331. New authorisation by the Prince-Bishop in favour of the settlement of the Bellelay lands.[1]
1381. The village is mentioned as « Les Geneveys ». This mention reportedly comes from an inventory of the property of Bellelay Abbey.[1]
14th century. Construction of a first church between Bellelay and Les Genevez. Les Genevez and Lajoux form the parish of the Madeleine.[1]
16th century. Construction of the double farmhouse that now houses the Musée rural jurassien.
1562. Bellelay Abbey cedes pastures and forests to the village, ending long-running disputes.[1]
1620. A new church is built in the upper part of the village, replacing the old one.[1]
1792. End of the village's membership of the courtine of Bellelay. It then belongs to the Rauracian Republic and the French departments, until 1814.[1]
1815-1975. Les Genevez belongs to the canton of Bern, first to the bailiwick, then to the district of Moutier.[1]
1853. Les Genevez becomes a mixed municipality.[1]
1874-1907. Les Genevez and Lajoux once again form a joint parish.[1]
1935. The church is rebuilt.[1]
1975. Les Genevez votes to join the canton of Jura, by 223 votes to 6.[1]
1976. The municipality is assigned to the district of Franches-Montagnes.[1]
1981. Opening of the Musée rural jurassien.[1]
Population of Les Genevez
Sources and references: [1]
| 1818 | 458 |
| 1850 | 665 |
| 1900 | 733 |
| 1950 | 556 |
| 2000 | 516 |
| 2010 | 538 |
| 2025 | 518 |
Historic sites in Les Genevez
Musée rural jurassien. Museum set up in 1981 in a 16th-century double farmhouse with a hipped shingle roof, two vaulted kitchens, a bread oven and a stone spiral staircase. Renovated in 2003, it is cultural property of national importance.[1][3]
Church of Les Genevez. The church built in 1620 in the upper part of the village replaced the 14th-century one. It was rebuilt in 1935.[1]
Hamlets of Le Prédame and Les Vacheries. Hamlets belonging to the municipality of Les Genevez.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Genevez, Les » (Claude Rebetez)
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population (OFPP), Inventaire PBC, fiche 3539 « Musée rural jurassien » (texte de la Société d'histoire de l'art en Suisse)
- 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 « Les Genevez »
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Les Genevez
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