Mont-Tramelan
Origin of the name Mont-Tramelan
The place appears in 1647 as « la Montagne ». In the early 17th century it was also called the « Montagnes de la paroisse de Tramelan ».[1]
Founding of Mont-Tramelan
Mont-Tramelan is a scattered settlement above 1000 metres, made up of the hamlets of Les Fontaines, La Paule and Les Places. Around 1570 the Prince-Bishop of Basel took in Anabaptists from the Emmental here, in this part of his bailiwick of Erguël. In the early 17th century families from Neuchâtel founded the community of the Montagnes, which the bishop recognised in 1685. For worship the Montagnes always depended on Tramelan, which adopted the Reformation in 1530. With industrialisation the French-speaking families left their farms for watchmaking, crafts and trade. In 2000, 70.7% of the inhabitants are German-speaking. Farming remains the main livelihood.[1]
History of Mont-Tramelan
Around 1570. The Prince-Bishop of Basel offers refuge to Anabaptists from the Emmental in this part of the Erguël.[1]
Early 17th century. Families from Neuchâtel found the community of the Montagnes de la paroisse de Tramelan.[1]
1647. The place is called « la Montagne ».[1]
1685. The bishop recognises the community (1686 according to another source).[1][2]
1798-1814. Under French rule Mont-Tramelan forms a municipality.[1]
1815. The municipality joins the canton of Bern.[1]
1897. The former private Anabaptist school becomes a public school teaching in German.[1]
1938. The Syndicat des eaux des Franches-Montagnes begins supplying most farms with water from a pumping station at Cortébert.[1]
1942. German becomes the official language of the municipality. Contrary to the territoriality principle, the choice fuels the Jura question.[1]
1953. A new school building is erected.[1]
Population of Mont-Tramelan
Sources and references: [1][3]
| 1726 | 195 |
| 1850 | 169 |
| 1900 | 149 |
| 1950 | 134 |
| 2000 | 116 |
| 2025 | 114 |
Historic sites in Mont-Tramelan
Hamlets. Les Fontaines, La Paule and Les Places make up the scattered settlement of the municipality, above 1000 metres.[1]
School. School building erected in 1953.[1]
Sources
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz / Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Mont-Tramelan » (Christine Gagnebin-Diacon), version du 21.05.2008 (texte allemand)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Tramelan » (Christine Gagnebin-Diacon), version du 30.05.2012
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, population résidante permanente au 31.12.2025
Other villages near Mont-Tramelan
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