Sapran
Origin of the name Sapran
The name is also written «Saipran». It has not been explained.[1]
Founding of Sapran
Sapran was a village in the Sorne valley, below Sornetan, in what is now the municipality of Petit-Val. Sornetan had the mayoralty, Sapran the parish: its church, dedicated to Saint Germanus, was the parish church of Sapran, Sornetan, Monible, Châtelat and Rebévelier. The patronage of this parish was claimed in turn by the abbey of Bellelay and the chapter of Moutier-Grandval. The inhabitants of Sapran may have founded the neighbouring hamlet of Monible. The village disappeared, perhaps because of the plague.[1][2][3][4]
History of Sapran
1290. The first known parish priest of Sornetan is recorded. He probably lived at Sapran, where he officiated.[1][2]
1531. Alexandre Lebel, who had come from France, preaches the Reformation at Sapran. The parish accepts it on 12 March.[1][2]
1622. A stone in the cemetery wall bears this date. It was still visible in the early 20th century.[1][2]
1701. The church of Sapran is still standing this year (it is said to have remained in use until 1707).[1][2]
1708-1709. A new church is built at Sornetan to replace it. It receives Sapran's small bell and the upper part of its tower.[1][2][3]
Historic sites in Sapran
Bell of Sapran. The only survivor of the church of Saint-Germain, the small bell of the 13th or 14th century hangs in the tower of the church of Sornetan, consecrated in 1709.[1]
Gloor house. It stands on the site of the old church, cemetery and parsonage.[2]
Remains in Sapran
Traces of the village. Terracing, remains of lime, walls and a slab from the old cemetery survive on the site, and the ruined cemetery wall has a stone dated 1622.[1][2]
Coin of 1513. A coin of 1513 bearing the double-headed imperial eagle was found in the old cemetery by Ella Schumann-Juillerat.[2]
Legends of Sapran
The Black Death. According to tradition, Sapran is said to have been decimated by the Black Death, and the church abandoned after the epidemic.[1][2][3]
The three houses. Legend has it that three houses of the village survived: the Balmer house, a former forge, the Gloor house and the old Monible mill, now destroyed.[2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Sapran » (Christine Gagnebin-Diacon, version du 03.10.2016)
- Commune de Petit-Val, « Sornetan autrefois »
- Églises réformées Berne-Jura-Soleure, Visite d'église, « Temple (Sornetan) »
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Monible » (Pierre-Olivier Léchot, version du 14.09.2016)
Other villages near Sapran
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