Saicourt
Origin of the name Saicourt
Mentioned in 1262 as « Zacurt », the name of Saicourt remains unexplained.[1]
Founding of Saicourt
The municipality brings together the village of Saicourt, in the Trame valley, the village of Le Fuet, the former abbey of Bellelay and the hamlets of La Bottière and Montbautier. Bellelay collected the tithe at Saicourt. Saicourt and Le Fuet belonged to the provostry of Moutier-Grandval and to the parish of Tavannes-Chaindon. From the 18th century, German-speaking Anabaptists settled in the municipality.[1]
History of Saicourt
1262. Saicourt is first mentioned, as « Zacurt ».[1]
1530. The parish of Tavannes-Chaindon, to which Saicourt and Le Fuet belong, adopts the Reformation.[1]
18th century. A German-speaking Anabaptist population settles. Glass sand is dug for the glassworks, and watchmaking workshops operate until the early 20th century.[1]
1790. The notary Jean-Henry Jaquerez, of Saicourt, leaves a large bequest to the school of Le Fuet.[1]
1797-1815. The municipality is attached to the French departments of Mont-Terrible and then Haut-Rhin.[1]
1798. After the abbey is dissolved, Bellelay is joined to the municipality of Saicourt.[1]
1815. Saicourt passes to the canton of Bern, in the bailiwick and later the district of Moutier.[1]
1908. The Reformed parish is divided: Le Fuet and Bellelay stay with Tavannes, Saicourt goes to Reconvilier.[1]
1933. The private German school of Montbautier becomes public.[1]
1945. Peat cutting at Bellelay and La Bottière comes to an end.[1]
1956. The Courtine secondary school is founded at Bellelay. From 1980 it is run by an intercantonal Bern-Jura community.[1]
2001-2022. The psychiatric clinic of Bellelay is part of the Bernese Jura-Biel-Seeland psychiatric services, with the centres of Tavannes and Biel. It closes in 2022.[1]
Population of Saicourt
Sources and references: [1][3]
| 1818 | 311 |
| 1850 | 456 |
| 1900 | 802 |
| 1950 | 1'140 |
| 2000 | 673 |
| 2010 | 583 |
| 2020 | 633 |
| 2025 | 657 |
Historic sites in Saicourt
Former abbey of Bellelay. The former Premonstratensian abbey and its church are listed in the inventory of cultural property as an object of national importance (A). Tête de moine cheese has been made there since the Middle Ages.[1][2]
Paroz sawmill. The sawmill on Route de la Scierie is listed in the inventory of cultural property as an object of regional importance (B).[2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Saicourt » (Pierre-André Wyss), version du 20.01.2026
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population, Inventaire PBC 2021, liste cantonale du canton de Berne (état au 1.1.2026)
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, population résidante permanente au 31.12.2025
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Saicourt
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