Mettembert
Origin of the name Mettembert
Name origin: first mentioned in 1170 in the form « Mettenberc » (spelling to be cross-checked), then « Mettenberg » in 1208 (copy of 1488). The old German name is « Mittemberg ». The municipality was officially called Mettemberg until 1984, when the citizens decided to gallicise its name to Mettembert. The etymology is not explained in the sources consulted.
Founding of Mettembert
Mettembert lies on the sunny slope of an isolated small valley north-west of Delémont. No founder is known. The village appears in 1170 as a dependency of the abbey of Petit-Lucelle, then of the Augustinian chapter of Basel. In 1287 the Bishop of Basel took it back and incorporated it into his lordship of Delémont. The tithe first belonged to the Counts of Thierstein, then to the neighbouring abbey of Lucelle. In religious matters, Mettembert has always belonged to the parish of Movelier. Part of the Bernese district of Delémont from 1815 to 1978, it has belonged to the canton of Jura since 1979 and has kept its rural character.
History of Mettembert
1170. First mention; the village belongs to the abbey of Petit-Lucelle.
1208. Mention in the form « Mettenberg » (copy of 1488).
before 1287. Mettembert passes to the Augustinian chapter of Basel.
1287. The Bishop of Basel takes back the village and incorporates it into his lordship of Delémont.
Ancien Régime. The tithe goes to the Counts of Thierstein, then to the abbey of Lucelle; the village belongs to the parish of Movelier.
1793-1813. Mettembert is attached to the French departments of Mont-Terrible, then Haut-Rhin.
1815. The village passes to the canton of Bern, in the bailiwick and later the district of Delémont, until 1978.
1819. Construction of the Sainte-Anne chapel.
1853. Mettembert becomes a mixed municipality.
1970. Rebuilding of the Sainte-Anne chapel.
1979. Mettembert becomes part of the new canton of Jura.
1984. The citizens decide to gallicise the municipality's name: Mettemberg becomes Mettembert.
early 21st century. The locality has kept its rural character.
Population of Mettembert
| 1818 | 95 |
| 1850 | 113 |
| 1900 | 104 |
| 1950 | 93 |
| 1980 | 63 (to be cross-checked) |
| 2000 | 116 |
| 2010 | 123 |
| 2025 | 109 |
Historic sites in Mettembert
Sainte-Anne chapel. The village chapel, built in 1819 and rebuilt in 1970. Mettembert never formed a parish and belongs to that of Movelier.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Mettembert » (François Kohler)
- Wikipédia, « Mettembert » (français)
- Wikipedia, « Mettembert » (allemand)
- Statistique Jura, tableau JU-T.01.01.03, population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025
- geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Mettembert »
Other villages near Mettembert
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