Tour Saint-Martin
Origin of the name Tour Saint-Martin
The tower was the bell tower of the parish church of Saint-Martin. It is also called the Tower of Queen Bertha, after a legend linking the queen to Saint-Imier.[1][2]
Founding of Tour Saint-Martin
The church of Saint-Martin, recorded in 1228 as the parish church, was rebuilt in the 14th or early 15th century, after two earlier buildings. Its tower went up between the late 15th and the early 16th century. Its archaic Romanesque style made it look older than it is, which partly explains why it was linked to Queen Bertha, who died between 957 and 961. The church was demolished in 1828, and the tower was left standing alone.[1][2]
History of Tour Saint-Martin
1228. The church of Saint-Martin is recorded as the parish church.[1]
14th or early 15th century. A new church of Saint-Martin replaces two earlier buildings.[2]
Late 15th or early 16th century. The bell tower is built in an archaic Romanesque style.[1][2]
1512. The first bell is cast for the church and its tower.[4]
1828. The church is demolished. Only the tower is kept.[1][2]
1892. Many bones are found in the village centre, near the tower.[4]
1905-1907. The tower is restored, with a grant of 300 francs from the General Council and federal aid granted in 1906. In 1907 the municipal council has the clock of the old temple tower installed in it.[3]
1939. New bells are installed.[4]
1955. Excavations at the tower bring more bones to light.[4]
1971. A new restoration, following a plan adopted in 1969 by the Reformed parish.[3]
1973. On 5 April the Centre de culture et de loisirs buys Queen Bertha's mill, next to the tower.[4]
1984. For the 1100th anniversary of Saint-Imier, a « Queen Bertha » from Payerne rides in the parade, and the PTT dedicate a stamp label to the tower.[2][3]
1986-1990. The site of the old church is excavated in 1986-1987 and 1990.[1]
1992. The former mill becomes the Relais culturel d'Erguël (1991 according to another source).[1][4]
2008. The association Tour à Tour is founded to hold exhibitions in the Tour Saint-Martin and in the tower of Erguël castle.[3]
Historic sites in Tour Saint-Martin
Tour Saint-Martin. Free-standing bell tower from the late 15th or early 16th century, in an archaic Romanesque style, near the site of the old parish church.[1][2]
Relais culturel d'Erguël. Cultural centre housed in the former mill of Queen Bertha, on the site of the church of Saint-Martin.[1][4]
Remains in Tour Saint-Martin
Church of Saint-Martin. Built in the 14th or early 15th century after two earlier buildings, it was demolished in 1828. Its site was excavated in 1986-1987 and 1990.[1][2]
Bones. Bones were found near the tower in 1892, and again during excavations in 1955.[4]
Legends of Tour Saint-Martin
Queen Bertha. Tradition, recorded since the 15th century, links Queen Bertha to Saint-Imier and credits her with the tower. The queen, who married Rudolph II in 922, has no known link with the place. The legend probably goes back to the forged documents of the priory of Payerne, which in the early 12th century credited her with religious foundations. Tradition also places at the foot of the tower the spot where Saint Imier is said to have lived.[2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Saint-Imier (commune) » (Christine Gagnebin-Diacon), version du 12.07.2017
- Mémoires d'Ici, « Des fondations légendaires : les exemples de la reine Berthe à Saint-Imier et du prévôt Siginand à Bellelay », Les dossiers de Mémoires d'Ici, février 2007
- Chronologie jurassienne (Denis Moine, Archives cantonales jurassiennes, Archives de l'État de Berne, Mémoires d'Ici), « Saint-Imier, Monuments historiques, Tour Saint-Martin »
- Chronologie jurassienne, « Saint-Imier, Monuments historiques, Tour Reine Berthe »
Other villages near Tour Saint-Martin
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