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Coat of arms of Saignelégier

Saignelégier

Canton of Jura · District: Franches-Montagnes · 2'528 inhabitants (31.12.2025)
View of Saignelégier
Photo: Roland Zumbuehl, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons · Coat of arms: Public domain
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Saignelégier

The village appears in 1294 as « Saignelegier ». The forms « Sonnelegilier » (1382) and « Saigneligier » (1454) are reportedly also found. The name is said to mean « Légier's marsh », from « sagne » (marsh, marsh grasses) and a personal name, Légier or Léger. The old German name « Sankt Leodegar » reportedly comes from confusing the first element with « saint ». In the local patois the place is said to be called « Sèneleudjî ».[1]

Founding of Saignelégier

Neither the founder of the village nor the date of its creation is known; it appears in 1294. Saignelégier grew up on the Franches-Montagnes plateau, at a crossroads of routes towards Delémont, Tramelan, La Chaux-de-Fonds and France via Goumois. In the Middle Ages it belonged to the lands of the Bishopric of Basel. It gained importance in the 15th century, with a chapel and fairs, then became the residence of the priest of Montfaucon, the mother parish of the Franches-Montagnes, before being made a parish itself in 1629. Seat of the bailiff of the Franches-Montagnes from 1691, it has remained the administrative centre of the region. The present municipality, formed by the merger of 1 January 2009 with Goumois and Les Pommerats, stretches from the Doubs to the Étang de la Gruère.[1]

History of Saignelégier

1294. First mention: « Saignelegier ».[1]

Middle Ages. Saignelégier belongs to the lands of the Bishopric of Basel.[1]

1428. Start of the Saignelégier fairs. In the 15th century the village grows around a chapel.[1]

Before 1629. The priest of Montfaucon, the mother parish of the Franches-Montagnes, lives in Saignelégier.

1629. Saignelégier is made a parish, which also includes Le Bémont and Muriaux.[1][2]

1691. Saignelégier becomes the seat of the bailiff of the Franches-Montagnes and Saint-Ursanne. The bailiwick building dates from the late 17th century.[1]

1793-1813. Under French rule, Saignelégier is the chief town of a canton in the department of Mont-Terrible, then Haut-Rhin.[1]

1815. Joined to the canton of Bern. Saignelégier becomes the seat of the Franches-Montagnes prefecture, housed in the former castellany building.[1]

1851. Foundation of the Saint-Joseph hospital and hospice, rebuilt in 1864 and 1881.[1]

19th century. Watchmaking takes root; around the middle of the century Saignelégier becomes a mixed municipality.[1]

1878. Opening of the secondary school.[1]

1892. Opening of the Saignelégier-La Chaux-de-Fonds railway line.[1]

1897. First Marché-Concours national de chevaux.[1]

1898. The regional newspaper « Le Franc-Montagnard » is printed in Saignelégier.[1]

1904. Opening of the Saignelégier-Glovelier railway line.[1]

1913. Inauguration of the Protestant church.[1]

1927-1928. Rebuilding of the church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption in neo-Baroque style.[1][2]

1979. Saignelégier, now in the canton of Jura, receives two cantonal departments.[1]

1985. Opening of the Centre de loisirs des Franches-Montagnes.[1]

1992. Creation of the Centre Nature Les Cerlatez.[1]

2003. The hospital becomes one of the four sites of the Hôpital du Jura.[1]

2009. On 1 January, Saignelégier merges with Goumois and Les Pommerats.[1]

Population of Saignelégier

Sources and references: [1]

Population of Saignelégier
1770507
1818536
1850754
18701'012
19001'410
19501'489
20002'145
20092'527 (municipality merged with Goumois and Les Pommerats)
20102'468
20202'585
20252'528

Historic sites in Saignelégier

Church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Assomption. Parish church rebuilt in 1927-1928 in neo-Baroque style and consecrated on 14 October 1928. A cultural property of regional importance. In 1798 the parish had acquired parts of the high altar carved by Antoine Monnot for the abbey church of Bellelay. A new organ was inaugurated in 1958. Its present configuration, dating from 2009, reportedly has 56 stops.[2][4]

Former bailiwick building (prefecture). Building from the late 17th century, seat of the bailiff of the Franches-Montagnes and Saint-Ursanne from 1691, then of the Bernese prefecture of the Franches-Montagnes from 1815 to 1978. A cultural property of regional importance (châtellenie). A prison tower reportedly adjoins it.[1][4]

Marché-Concours national de chevaux. Held since 1897, the Marché-Concours brings several tens of thousands of people to Saignelégier every year. Its hall is a cultural property of regional importance.[1][3][4]

Protestant church. Church inaugurated in 1913.[1]

Étang de la Gruère and Étang des Royes. Nature reserves within the municipality. The Centre Nature Les Cerlatez, opened in 1992, is devoted to discovering them.[1]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Saignelégier » (François Kohler), version du 11.12.2020
  2. Denis Moine, Chronologie jurassienne, « Saignelégier : Église catholique »
  3. Marché-Concours national de chevaux, Saignelégier, prospectus 2013 (document publié sur le site du canton des Grisons, hôte d'honneur)
  4. Office fédéral de la protection de la population (OFPP), Inventaire PBC, liste cantonale du canton du Jura (état au 1.1.2026)
  5. Statistique Jura, tableau JU-T.01.01.03, population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025
  6. geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Saignelégier »

Localities of the municipality with a page

Other villages near Saignelégier

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