Vermes

Origin of the name Vermes

Name origin: mentioned in 866 as « Vertima », then in 1308 as « Vermunt »; old German name « Pferdmund ». An earlier mention in 769 as « Verteme » and a Gaulish origin meaning « mountain top » have been suggested (to be cross-checked).

Founding of Vermes

The founder of the village is not known. Vermes appears in the sources in the 9th century thanks to a cella dedicated to Saint Paul, mentioned in 866 and 884 among the possessions of the abbey of Moutier-Grandval; this small religious house probably disappeared between 884 and 968. The village grew up along a small tributary of the Scheulte, in the Val Terbi. It later belonged to the lordship of Delémont, in the Bishopric of Basel, and has kept its farming character to this day. It is now part of the municipality of Val Terbi (merger of 1 January 2013).

History of Vermes

769. Supposed mention as « Verteme » (to be cross-checked).

866. A cella dedicated to Saint Paul, at « Vertima », is listed among the possessions of the abbey of Moutier-Grandval.

884. The cella is mentioned again among the possessions of the abbey of Moutier-Grandval.

884-968. The cella of Saint-Paul probably disappears.

1308. Mention as « Vermunt ».

Early 15th century. The Gothic wall paintings of the church of Saints-Pierre-et-Paul are made.

1576. The Prince-Bishop of Basel grants as a fief to the father of Georges Hugué de Raymontpierre the land on which Raymontpierre castle will stand.

Around 1594-1596. Georges Hugué de Raymontpierre, castellan of Delémont, has Raymontpierre castle built.

1623-1809. The castle belongs to the Solothurn noble family von Staal.

1793-1814. Vermes, in the lordship of Delémont, belongs to the French department of Mont-Terrible, then Haut-Rhin.

1815. The village is attached to the canton of Bern, to which it belongs until 1978.

19th century. Envelier forms a separate burgher community.

1853. Vermes becomes a mixed municipality.

1875. A school is recorded in the village.

1941. Raymontpierre castle, turned into a farm and threatened with ruin, is bought by the Bührle family, who restore it in 1949.

2013. On 1 January, Vermes merges with Montsevelier and Vicques to form the municipality of Val Terbi.

Population of Vermes

Population of Vermes

1818	486
1850	605
1900	452
1950	479
2000	319
2010	330
2012	308

Historic sites in Vermes

Church of Saints-Pierre-et-Paul. Parish church with a porch tower topped by an onion dome, built on a Romanesque core, which keeps Gothic wall paintings from the early 15th century.

Raymontpierre castle. Fortified residence built around 1594-1596 by Georges Hugué de Raymontpierre, castellan of Delémont, on a spur of the northern slope of the Raimeux, south-west of Vermes. Owned by the von Staal of Solothurn from 1623 to 1809 and turned into a farm, it was bought in 1941 by the Bührle family and restored in 1949.

Chapel of Saint-Joseph at Envelier. Chapel of the hamlet of Envelier, which formed a separate burgher community in the 19th century.

Remains in Vermes

Cella of Saint-Paul. Small religious house of the abbey of Moutier-Grandval, mentioned in 866 and 884 and probably gone between 884 and 968. Ruins of this monastery are said to be still visible at the place called Sur les Clos (to be cross-checked).

Sources

• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Vermes » (François Kohler)
• Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Raymontpierre » (François Kohler)
• Wikipedia (en), « Vermes, Switzerland »
• geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Vermes »

Other villages near Vermes

• Corban (JU)
• Mervelier (JU)
• Courchapoix (JU)
• Montsevelier (JU)
• Rebeuvelier (JU)