Soyhières
Origin of the name Soyhières
Name origin: first recorded in 1102 as « Sougere », in 1136 as « Sohires » and in 1212 as « Sogron »; the old German name is « Saugern ». The etymology of the name is not explained in the sources consulted.
Founding of Soyhières
Soyhières is first recorded in 1102; neither the founder of the village nor the circumstances of its creation are known. The village, on the left bank of the Birse, lies where the road and railway from Delémont to Basel meet the road to Ferrette via Moulin-Neuf. It gave its name to the counts of Soyhières, associated with the nearby castle, who governed the Sornegau from the 11th to the 13th century. The municipality, separated from Courroux in 1856, also includes the hamlet of Riedes-Dessus, on the right bank of the Birse.
History of Soyhières
11th-13th centuries. The counts of Soyhières, associated with the castle of the same name, govern the Sornegau.
1102. First record: « Sougere ».
1136. Recorded as « Sohires ».
1212. Recorded as « Sogron ».
13th century. The castle and the advocacy of the Sornegau pass by inheritance to the counts of Ferrette.
1271. The counts of Ferrette sell the castle and the advocacy of the Sornegau to the bishop of Basel.
1329. First record of the parish.
1499. The castle is burned during the Swabian War.
1576. The bishop buys back the lordship, until then held as a fief by several families.
1715. The parish church of Saint-Étienne is rebuilt in the middle of the village.
Mid-18th century. The Maison Chappuis is built, then an inn.
1793-1813. Soyhières belongs to the French departments of Mont-Terrible, then Haut-Rhin.
1815-1978. Soyhières belongs to the canton of Bern.
1827-1828. The chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes is built on a hill, on the site of the former parish church.
1856. Soyhières is separated from Courroux.
1920. The Société des amis du château de Soyhières is founded and continues the restoration of the ruins.
1936-1938. The church of Saint-Étienne is rebuilt.
Early 21st century. Soyhières joins the Agglomération delémontaine project.
Population of Soyhières
| 1818 | 190 |
| 1850 | 279 |
| 1900 | 507 |
| 1950 | 570 |
| 1980 | 413 |
| 2000 | 500 |
| 2010 | 488 |
| 2025 | 461 |
Historic sites in Soyhières
Church of Saint-Étienne. Parish church rebuilt in the middle of the village in 1715 and rebuilt again in 1936-1938; the parish is recorded from 1329.
Chapel of Notre-Dame-de-Lourdes. Chapel built in 1827-1828 on a hill, on the site of the former parish church of Saint-Étienne.
Maison Chappuis. Former inn from the mid-18th century, now housing an institute for young women and a children's home.
Remains in Soyhières
Ruins of Soyhières castle. Ruins on a rocky spur south of the village, now within the municipality of Courroux. Seat of the counts of Soyhières, who governed the Sornegau from the 11th to the 13th century, the castle passed by inheritance to the counts of Ferrette, who sold it in 1271 to the bishop of Basel. Burned during the Swabian War in 1499, it was partly restored by Auguste Quiquerez and later by the Société des amis du château de Soyhières, founded in 1920.
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Soyhières » (François Kohler)
- Statistique Jura, tableau JU-T.01.01.03, population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025
- geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Soyhières »
Other villages near Soyhières
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