Villeret
Origin of the name Villeret
The name appears in 1390 in its present form, « Villeret ». Its origin has not been explained.[1]
Founding of Villeret
Villeret lies at the foot of the Chasseral, on the Suze, in the Vallon de Saint-Imier. The village belonged to the lordship of Erguël, a territory of the Prince-Bishopric of Basel, and depended on Saint-Imier for worship until 1951. Until the middle of the 18th century forges, tilt hammers, mills and sawmills lined the Suze, together with nail-making, locksmith and farrier workshops. From 1725 watchmaking transformed the village, which gained factories, housing districts and public facilities. Villeret has separate municipal and burgher communes.[1]
History of Villeret
1390. First mention of Villeret.[1]
Until the mid-18th century. Forges, tilt hammers, mills and sawmills line the Suze.[1]
1725. The village has 350 inhabitants and watchmaking begins to develop.[1]
1735. The Blancpain family settles here as promoters of watchmaking.[1]
1797. The lordship of Erguël and the Prince-Bishopric of Basel come to an end for Villeret.[1]
1797-1813. Under French rule Villeret belongs to the department of Mont-Terrible, then to that of Haut-Rhin.[1]
1815. The village passes to the canton of Bern.[1]
1874. The Biel/Bienne-Les Convers line serves Villeret.[1]
1910. The population peaks at 1'507 inhabitants.[1]
1932. The Jura park of the Combe-Grède and the Chasseral is created.[1]
1936-1937. The Reformed church is built.[1]
1951. Villeret separates from the parish of Saint-Imier.[1]
1989. A school community unites Villeret, Cormoret and Courtelary.[1]
1993-2003. Cartier moves in 1993 into a factory by the architect Jean Nouvel, which closes in 2003. Straumann arrives in 2000.[1]
Population of Villeret
Sources and references: [1][2]
| 1725 | 350 |
| 1818 | 496 |
| 1850 | 970 |
| 1900 | 1'422 |
| 1910 | 1'507 |
| 1950 | 1'155 |
| 1980 | 884 |
| 2000 | 901 |
| 2025 | 938 |
Historic sites in Villeret
Reformed church. Built in 1936-1937.[1]
Cartier factory. Industrial building by the architect Jean Nouvel, used by Cartier from 1993 to 2003.[1]
Combe-Grède. Nature park of the Combe-Grède and the Chasseral, created in 1932.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Villeret » (Christine Gagnebin-Diacon), version du 30.05.2012
- Office fédéral de la statistique (OFS), STATPOP, population résidante permanente au 31.12.2025
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Villeret
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