Movelier
Origin of the name Movelier
Name origin: first mentioned in 1188 in the form « Moderswilre »; the old German name is « Moderswiler », pronounced « Moderschwill » in the neighbouring German-speaking villages (to be cross-checked). The name probably derives from the Germanic personal name « Modhari » (to be cross-checked).
Founding of Movelier
Movelier lies on a plain north of Delémont, near the French border, on the road from Soyhières to Moulin-Neuf. No founder is known; the village appears in the records in 1188. It first belonged to the lordship of Löwenburg, then to the Counts of Thierstein. In 1454 the Prince-Bishop of Basel bought it and Movelier became one of the thirteen free villages of the Delémont valley. From the early 16th century to 1792, the abbey of Lucelle owned almost the whole municipal territory and the right of collation of the parish, which also included the neighbouring village of Mettembert. Farming and the timber trade long supported the village, which is still agricultural today but mostly inhabited by commuters.
History of Movelier
1188. First mention, in the form « Moderswilre ».
Middle Ages. Movelier belongs to the lordship of Löwenburg, then to the Counts of Thierstein.
1454. The Prince-Bishop of Basel buys the village, which becomes one of the thirteen free villages of the Delémont valley.
early 16th century-1792. The abbey of Lucelle owns almost the whole municipal territory and the right of collation of the parish, which also includes Mettembert.
1591. Construction of a first church (to be cross-checked).
1734. Rebuilding of the Saint-Germain-d'Auxerre church.
1793-1813. The village belongs to the French department of Mont-Terrible, then Haut-Rhin.
1812. Construction of the parsonage (to be cross-checked).
1815. Movelier passes to the canton of Bern, in the bailiwick and later the district of Delémont, until 1978.
1853. Movelier becomes a mixed municipality.
1865. On 25 September, a major fire damages the parsonage and twelve other houses (to be cross-checked).
1899. Renovation of the church (to be cross-checked).
1979. Movelier becomes part of the new canton of Jura.
early 21st century. The municipality remains agricultural, but most inhabitants are commuters.
Population of Movelier
| 1818 | 303 |
| 1850 | 386 |
| 1900 | 272 |
| 1950 | 350 |
| 2000 | 390 |
| 2010 | 372 |
| 2025 | 422 |
Historic sites in Movelier
Saint-Germain-d'Auxerre church. Parish church rebuilt in 1734 on the site of a building from 1591 (to be cross-checked) and renovated in 1899 (to be cross-checked). Until 1792 the abbey of Lucelle held the right of collation of this parish, to which Mettembert also belongs.
Parsonage. Parsonage built in 1812 and damaged by the fire of 25 September 1865 (to be cross-checked).
Old farmhouses. The village centre retains a few farmhouses from the 17th to 19th centuries (to be cross-checked).
Sources
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Movelier » (François Kohler, trad. Marianne Derron Corbellari)
- Wikipedia, « Movelier » (allemand)
- Statistique Jura, tableau JU-T.01.01.03, population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025
- geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Movelier »
Other villages near Movelier
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