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Villages / Bern / Former Courtelary district / Sombeval

Sombeval

Canton of Bern · Former district: Courtelary · Village of the municipality of Sonceboz-Sombeval
Part of the municipality of Sonceboz-Sombeval
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Sombeval

In 866 a charter of Lothair II, King of Lotharingia, names the place « Summavallis ». The form « Sommeval » appears in 1179.[1][2][3]

Founding of Sombeval

Sombeval was first a court, a farmstead with its chapel, among the possessions of the abbey of Moutier-Grandval. By the 12th century the farmstead had become a sizeable settlement, seat of a court of justice, paying tithes to the monastery of Moutier. A former mayoralty and parish, Sombeval remained tied to Moutier-Grandval until the Reformation. The village has kept its rural character, while neighbouring Sonceboz became industrial.[1][2]

History of Sombeval

866. Lothair II, King of Lotharingia, confirms the possessions of the abbey of Moutier-Grandval, among them the court of « Summavallis » and its chapel.[1][2][3]

999. The court and chapel pass to the bishop of Basel together with the monastery of Moutier-Grandval.[1]

1148. Sombeval has its court of justice and pays tithes to the monastery of Moutier.[2]

1179. The village appears as « Sommeval ».[1]

13th century. The chapel of Sainte-Agathe becomes the parish church.[1]

1315. A record of dues states that the church of Sombeval is dedicated to Saint Agatha.[2][3]

15th century. Plague ravages the region. Only two families are left in Sombeval.[2]

1530. With the Reformation, Sombeval passes from Moutier-Grandval to the lordship of Erguël, except for justice.[1]

1737. The church is rebuilt.[1]

1866. The church is rebuilt a second time.[1]

Historic sites in Sombeval

Church of Sainte-Agathe. A chapel that became the parish church in the 13th century, recorded as dedicated to Saint Agatha in 1315, rebuilt in 1737 and in 1866. It is the church of the whole parish of Sonceboz-Sombeval.[1][2][3]

Remains in Sombeval

Le Châtillon. On this promontory near Sombeval, a Roman settlement of the 4th century and a medieval settlement have been identified. In the Middle Ages a castle stood at the place called Châtillon.[1][2]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Sonceboz-Sombeval » (Anne Beuchat-Bessire et Catherine Krüttli), version du 24.05.2013
  2. Commune de Sonceboz-Sombeval, « Histoire »
  3. Paroisses réformées de l'Erguël, « Sonceboz-Sombeval : la paroisse »

Other villages near Sombeval

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