Pierre-Pertuis
Origin of the name Pierre-Pertuis
The name comes from the Latin « petra pertusa », the pierced stone, after the natural opening in the rock through which the road passes.[1]
Founding of Pierre-Pertuis
The pass, at 815 m (or 827 m), opens on the territory of Tavannes, where the Montoz and Mont-Soleil ranges meet. A natural rock vault links the Suze valley with the Birse valley. The Romans ran a road through it from Petinesca, connecting two military roads, Avenches-Solothurn-Augst and Besançon-Mandeure-Kembs. The passage may have marked the border between Helvetian and Rauracian territory. It was used without interruption until the motorway tunnel opened in 1997.[1][2][3]
History of Pierre-Pertuis
Second half of the 1st century. The Roman road is built north of the pass, 5 to 6 m wide. A brooch, a glass bead and a carbon 14 analysis date it.[2]
Around 200. An inscription dedicated to the divine power of the emperors credits the road to Marcus Dunius Paternus, duumvir of Aventicum. It probably refers to the repair and widening of the road and of the rock opening (work also dated between 161 and 169, under Marcus Aurelius).[1][3]
1179. The pass is first mentioned.[1]
Until the Reformation. The pass separates the dioceses of Lausanne and Basel. It also marks the boundary between the provostry of Moutier-Grandval and the bailiwick of Erguël.[1]
1752. A road through the pass and the gorges of Court and Moutier links Basel with Biel. It becomes a postal and tourist route.[1]
Around 1792. Peter Birmann makes a hand-coloured etching of the passage, published in Basel by Christian von Mechel.[1]
1797. With the southern part of the prince-bishopric of Basel, the pass is annexed to France.[1]
1815. The pass passes to the canton of Bern, which widens the road between Boujean and Courtelary.[1]
1874. The Sonceboz-Tavannes line opens, with a railway tunnel under Pierre-Pertuis.[1]
1992-1994. Excavations for the motorway between Péry and Tavannes clarify the Roman route. The road is cut through and uncovered in 1993 and 1994.[2]
1997. The Pierre-Pertuis motorway tunnel opens, a stage of the A16 (Transjurane). The same year Christophe Gerber publishes « La route romaine transjurane de Pierre Pertuis ».[1][2]
Historic sites in Pierre-Pertuis
Rock arch and Roman inscription. The inscription, 159 by 96 cm, stands over the north portal of the rock vault, above the passage cut into the rock.[1][2]
Archaeological trail. The site is part of the archaeological trail of the Roman Transjurane. From Tavannes it is about a ten-minute walk.[2]
Remains in Pierre-Pertuis
Roman road. The section uncovered in the Birse valley, north of the pass, was 5 to 6 m wide. At Pierre-Pertuis itself the ancient road is filled in.[2]
Fortified tower. In the Middle Ages a fortified tower guarded the passage. It has disappeared.[3]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Pierre-Pertuis » (Martin Bossert), version du 28.09.2010
- Service archéologique du canton de Berne, « La Transjurane romaine. Sentier archéologique, Jura bernois » (Christophe Gerber, 2014)
- Commune de Tavannes, « Présentation et histoire »
Other villages near Pierre-Pertuis
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