Montmollin

Canton of Neuchâtel · Region: Val-de-Ruz · 620 inhabitants (31.12.2012, former municipality of Montmollin, 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 Montmollin

Montmollin appears in the records in 1347 in the form « Mommolens », then in 1372 as « Montmolens ». The meaning of the place name is unexplained: no toponymic study consulted shows whether it derives from an old personal name (such as « Mommolus ») or from another element. The Neuchâtel family de Montmollin, known since the 16th century, is said to take its name from this place name (to be cross-checked); nothing indicates, however, that it owned the village or came from it.

Founding of Montmollin

No foundation charter or tradition about the village's origins is known. Montmollin appears in 1347, at the western end of the valley, on the lands of the lordship of Valangin. In 1408 a treaty between Conrad of Freiburg, count of Neuchâtel, and William of Valangin set the boundary between the two lordships along a line running from Montmollin towards Le Locle: the village then served as a border marker. From 1486 to 1827 it formed a community with Coffrane and Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane, until the division of property. It was raised to the rank of municipality only in 1824 and belonged to the parish of Corcelles until 1838, then to that of Coffrane.

History of Montmollin

1347. First known written mention of the village, in the form « Mommolens ».

1372. The village is mentioned in the form « Montmolens ».

1408. A treaty between Conrad of Freiburg, count of Neuchâtel, and William of Valangin sets the border between the two lordships along a line from Montmollin to Le Locle.

1486. Montmollin forms a community with Coffrane and Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane.

1531. The village has 3 hearths (households).

1592. The lordship of Valangin is united with the county of Neuchâtel.

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

1824. Montmollin is raised to the rank of municipality and attached to the mairie of Rochefort.

1827. Division of the community's property, notably the forests, whose plots are allocated by drawing lots; they therefore do not follow municipal boundaries, and this allocation is still in force despite the drawbacks for forestry.

1832. The municipality moves from the mairie of Rochefort to that of Valangin.

1838. The village leaves the parish of Corcelles for that of Coffrane.

1848. End of the mairie system: the municipality is attached to the district of Boudry, the year Neuchâtel becomes a republic.

1850. The village has 217 inhabitants.

1859. Opening of the Neuchâtel-Les Hauts-Geneveys section of the railway to La Chaux-de-Fonds, with a halt serving Montmollin.

1888. The municipality moves from the district of Boudry to that of Val-de-Ruz.

1900. The village has 179 inhabitants; in the early 20th century Montmollin is a popular holiday resort.

1950. The village has 246 inhabitants.

1960s. A zoning plan creates a residential area.

2000. The village has 473 inhabitants.

2012. On 31 December, last census of the independent municipality: 620 inhabitants.

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

2015. At the end of the year Montmollin-Montézillon halt is closed to passengers, despite a demonstration and a petition with more than 300 signatures.

2024. SBB files plans to demolish the building of the former Montmollin-Montézillon halt.

Population of Montmollin

3 hearths (households)

1531

217

1850

179

1900

246

1950

473

2000

568 (to be cross-checked)

2011

620

2012

Historic sites in Montmollin

The village of Montmollin. Located at the western end of the Val-de-Ruz, on the La Tourne road (Neuchâtel-Les Ponts-de-Martel), Montmollin lies between 702 and 1'390 metres above sea level. About 57% of its former territory is still farmland and more than a third is wooded (to be cross-checked). The village has no church of its own and has belonged to the parish of Coffrane since 1838.

Montmollin-Montézillon halt. Opened with the Neuchâtel-Les Hauts-Geneveys line in 1859, this halt served Montmollin and the neighbouring hamlet of Montézillon, although it lies on the territory of the neighbouring former municipality of Rochefort. Closed to passengers at the end of 2015 despite local protests, it was the subject in 2024 of an SBB application to demolish its building.

Remains in Montmollin

The Montmollin farmhouse. This imposing traditional farmhouse is listed in category 1 of the Recensement architectural of the canton of Neuchâtel, the highest rating in this inventory. Converted into flats, it keeps original features, notably an interior rubble-stone wall that once separated the living quarters from the farm section. Its construction date is not known from the sources consulted.

Sources

Other villages near Montmollin

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