Tramelan
Origin of the name Tramelan
The first mention, « Trameleins », is found in a document dated 1179 but forged, written around 1180. The old German names are « Tremlingen » and « Tramlingen ». The name has not been explained.[1]
Founding of Tramelan
Tramelan grew out of two villages, Tramelan-le-Bas, recorded in 1334, and Tramelan-le-Haut, recorded in 1358, which formed two separate communities within the lordship of Erguël, a territory of the Prince-Bishopric of Basel. A noble family of the place is known from the 13th to the mid-15th century. The chapter of Saint-Imier held the patronage of the church, originally dedicated to Saint Imier, together with houses and land. The parish belonged to the diocese of Besançon, as an enclave in that of Basel. In the early 18th century watchmaking gradually replaced lacemaking and made Tramelan an industrial centre. The two villages grew together at the beginning of the 20th century and merged in 1952.[1]
History of Tramelan
1179. A forged document, written around 1180, mentions the place as « Trameleins ».[1]
1334-1358. Tramelan-le-Bas appears in 1334, Tramelan-le-Haut in 1358.[1]
1481-1581. Agreements concluded in 1481, 1543 and 1581 fix the boundary between the two communities.[1]
1530. Tramelan adopts the Reformation, and the patronage of the church passes to the Bishop of Basel.[1]
1569. First annual fair.[1]
1686. People from Neuchâtel found the municipality of Mont-Tramelan on the heights of Tramelan.[1]
Early 18th century. Watchmaking arrives and gradually replaces lacemaking.[1]
1797. The lordship of Erguël ends. Tramelan then belongs to the French departments of Mont-Terrible and Haut-Rhin.[1]
1815. Tramelan joins the canton of Bern.[1]
1839. The church burns down. Rebuilt in 1843-1844, it is renovated and enlarged in 1958 and 2000.[1]
1884. A narrow-gauge line links Tramelan to Tavannes.[1]
1896. Nearly 2'500 workers are employed in factories or home workshops.[1]
1903. The Record watch factory is founded.[1]
1910. The Catholic church of Saint-Michel is built.[1]
1913. The railway is extended to Le Noirmont.[2]
1950. On 26 March both municipalities vote for the merger. The Bernese Grand Council adopts the decree of union on 14 September.[1][2]
1952. Tramelan-Dessus and Tramelan-Dessous form a single mixed municipality, Tramelan.[1]
1961. Longines takes over Record, which closes in 1983.[1]
1975-1985. The watchmaking crisis wipes out many workshops, and the population falls.[1]
1991. The Centre interrégional de perfectionnement (CIP) is created.[1]
Population of Tramelan
Sources and references: [1][3]
| 1460 | 29 hearths |
| 1512 | 37 hearths |
| 1960 | 5'567 |
| 1980 | 4'733 |
| 2000 | 4'165 |
| 2025 | 4'670 |
Historic sites in Tramelan
Reformed church. Parish church, first dedicated to Saint Imier, rebuilt in 1843-1844 after the fire of 1839, renovated and enlarged in 1958 and 2000.[1]
Catholic church of Saint-Michel. Built in 1910.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Tramelan » (Christine Gagnebin-Diacon), version du 30.05.2012
- Chronologie jurassienne (Denis Moine, Archives cantonales jurassiennes, Archives de l'État de Berne, Mémoires d'Ici), « Tramelan, Fusion Tramelan-Dessus-Tramelan-Dessous »
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, population résidante permanente au 31.12.2025
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Tramelan
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