Montfaucon
Origin of the name Montfaucon
The village is first mentioned in 1125 as « de Monte Falconis ». Its old German name is « Falkenberg ». What the name means is not yet known.[1]
Founding of Montfaucon
Montfaucon is first mentioned in 1125. Neither its founder nor the circumstances of its creation are known. The village, on a ridge along the Glovelier-Saignelégier route, belonged until the 13th century to the provostship of Saint-Ursanne, in the Bishopric of Basel, then to the lordship of the Franches-Montagnes until 1792. Its parish was the mother parish of the Franches-Montagnes: its territory shrank from the end of the 16th century with the creation of the parishes of Le Noirmont, Les Bois and Saignelégier. Since 1 January 2009 the present municipality has included the former municipality of Montfavergier.[1]
History of Montfaucon
1125. First mention: « de Monte Falconis ».[1]
1139. On 14 April, Pope Innocent II confirms the parish of Montfaucon among the possessions of Saint-Ursanne.[4]
Until the 13th century. Montfaucon belongs to the provostship of Saint-Ursanne, in the Bishopric of Basel.[1]
1338. First mention of Montfavergier: « in loco dicto Monfauuargier ».[2]
1596. Creation of the parish of Le Noirmont, separated from the mother parish of Montfaucon.[1]
1619. Creation of the parish of Les Bois.[1]
1629. Creation of the parish of Saignelégier.[1]
Until 1792. Montfaucon belongs to the lordship of the Franches-Montagnes.[1]
1793-1813. Under French rule, the village belongs to the department of Mont-Terrible, then Haut-Rhin.[1][4]
1815-1978. Montfaucon belongs to the canton of Bern, in the bailiwick and then the district of the Franches-Montagnes.[1]
1831. Rebuilding of the church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste.[1][4]
1887. Construction of the Montfavergier school, closed in 1984.[2]
Early 1960s. Montfaucon is among the opponents of the military training ground planned in the Franches-Montagnes.[1][4]
1968. Inauguration, on 28 June, of the holiday village of the Swiss Travel Fund (Reka).[1][4]
1988. Creation of a bird park, developed into a zoo in 1996.[1]
2009. On 1 January, Montfaucon merges with Montfavergier.[1][2]
Population of Montfaucon
Sources and references: [1][4]
| 1818 | 480 |
| 1850 | 497 |
| 1900 | 609 |
| 1910 | 654 |
| 1930 | 462 |
| 1950 | 540 |
| 2000 | 485 |
| 2008 | 529 |
| 2009 | 584 (municipality merged with Montfavergier) |
| 2010 | 594 |
| 2025 | 565 |
Historic sites in Montfaucon
Church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste. Church of the former mother parish of the Franches-Montagnes, rebuilt in 1831 and consecrated in 1864. Cultural property of regional significance. It is reportedly a neoclassical single-nave building with a porch tower and Comtois dome, restored in 1998.[1][4][6]
Presbytery and old inns. The village reportedly keeps a presbytery of 1768, the Hôtel de la Poste (1773), the Hôtel de la Pomme d'Or (1845) and the Hôtel du Lion d'Or (mid-19th century).
Montfavergier. Hamlet recorded in 1338, which has always belonged to the parish of Saint-Brais. Former municipality merged with Montfaucon in 2009.[1][2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Montfaucon » (Claude Rebetez), version du 13.07.2020
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Montfavergier » (Claude Rebetez), version du 13.07.2020
- Statistique Jura, tableau JU-T.01.01.03, population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025
- Denis Moine, Chronologie jurassienne, « Montfaucon »
- République et Canton du Jura, Gouvernement, message au Parlement relatif à la révision de la législation en matière de fusion de communes (30 mars 2011)
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population (OFPP), Inventaire PBC, liste cantonale du canton du Jura (état au 1.1.2026)
- geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Montfaucon »
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Montfaucon
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