Soulce
Origin of the name Soulce
Name origin: first mention in the Historical Dictionary of Switzerland in 1148 as « Sulza »; the old German name is « Sulz ». Wikipedia reports an older mention, « Sulcivana » around 968, and derives the name from Old High German « sulza », saltworks or salt spring (to be cross-checked). The inhabitants are nicknamed the « Roquets » (to be cross-checked).
Founding of Soulce
Neither the founder of Soulce nor the circumstances of its creation are known. The village, in a side valley east of Undervelier along a stream, is recorded in 1148; in the 12th century part of its tithe went to the chapter of Moutier-Grandval. Enfeoffed to the Münch of Münchenstein, it was bought back by the Prince-Bishop of Basel in 1468; in the 17th and 18th centuries the nobles of Staal held seigneurial rights there. Away from the main routes, Soulce has become a commuter village. It is today in the municipality of Haute-Sorne (merger of 1 January 2013).
History of Soulce
Around 968. Mention « Sulcivana » reported by Wikipedia (to be cross-checked).
1148. Mention « Sulza ».
12th century. Part of the tithe goes to the chapter of Moutier-Grandval.
1468. The village, enfeoffed to the Münch of Münchenstein, is bought back by the Prince-Bishop of Basel.
17th-18th century. The nobles of Staal hold seigneurial rights in Soulce.
1709-1711. Rebuilding of the nave of the church of Saint-Laurent.
1746. Separation and demarcation of the territories of Soulce and Undervelier.
1747. Date of the mill, with its headrace channel of large stone slabs.
1793-1813. Soulce belongs to the French departments of Mont-Terrible, then Haut-Rhin.
1802. Soulce ceases to be part of the parish of Undervelier.
1815. Attachment to the canton of Bern, until 1978.
1853. Soulce becomes a mixed municipality.
1874-1935. Soulce is again part of the parish of Undervelier.
1978-1979. Renovation of the church, which receives stained glass in 1979 and 1983.
1979. Soulce becomes part of the new canton of Jura.
2013. Merger with Bassecourt, Courfaivre, Glovelier and Undervelier into the municipality of Haute-Sorne (1 January).
Population of Soulce
| 1818 | 367 |
| 1850 | 441 |
| 1900 | 394 |
| 1950 | 325 |
| 2000 | 235 |
| 2010 | 241 |
| 2012 | 236 |
Historic sites in Soulce
Church of Saint-Laurent. The nave of the present parish church was rebuilt in 1709-1711; the building was renovated in 1978-1979 and given stained glass in 1979 and 1983.
Mill of 1747. Mill dated 1747, with a headrace channel of large stone slabs.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Soulce » (François Kohler)
- Wikipédia (fr), « Soulce »
- geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Soulce »
Other villages near Soulce
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