Saint-Imier

Saint-Imier is a common Suisse of the Canton of Bern, located in the District of Courtelary. It belongs to the area of the the Bernese Jura, the French-speaking part of the Canton of Bern.

Geography

Saint-Imier is to 15 km as the crow flies La Chaux-de-Fonds. It is a small shopping mall and industrialist.

The culminating point is at 1490 m, with the Horn, on the side of the Chasseral. On the Mountain of the Right, the communal territory rises to 1289 m, with Mount-Sun. From Mount-Sun, the communal territory kills in direction from Lime-D' Abel, who forms part of the Frank-Mountains geographically

On the southern slope of Mount-Sun the crater of Meusel Field is which could result from the impact of a meteorite.

In direction of south-west, a road leads to the collar of Pontins after having crossed the Suze.

History

The city was founded at the 7th century by the Imier hermit who made there build an oratory dedicated to saint Martin de Tours. The oratory had to make place with a vault in year 992, then with a church in 1146. In 1228, the cartulaire of Evêché of Lausanne, whose the parish depended on Saint-Imier, mentions two churches with Saint-Imier: the parish church of Saint Martin's day and the collegial one, imposing building considered as church of pilgrimage until the Reform. The nave of the Saint Martin's day church was destroyed in 1828. On the other hand, the old bell-tower called also Saint Martin's day Tower of the Berthe queen or quite simply Old woman Tower, was not demolished and was restored for the last time of 1969 to 1971.

The Jurassic Federation of the international association of the workers, anarchistic movement, was born with the Congrès from Saint-Imier in 1872.

Political authorities

The Legislative power is called council of city (before general advice). The General advice of Saint-Imier sat for the first time on January 30th 1887 and was then made of 31 members. The first president was the industrialist Ernest Francillon.

The Executive power is called the municipal council . It consists of 7 members (of which the mayor), each one being chief of a department or dicastère. They are elected by the electorate (inhabitants of Swiss Saint-Imier of nationality) by voting, for one 4 years duration.

Schools

School of engineers Arc, divided with Locle and Porrentruy, partially resulting from the School of clock industry and mechanics of Saint-Imier.
artisanal professional Center and industrialist of the Bernese Jura (CPAI-JB), resulting from the School of clock industry and mechanics of Saint-Imier
the Training center of the professions of health in French language of the Canton of Bern (CEFOPS)
Technical school Baptist-Savoye (LTSI)
National college of business
Music school of the Bernese Jura

Transport

On the railway line Bienne - Sonceboz-Sombeval - La Chaux-de-Fonds (during 17 years, the Flèche of the Jura connected the mountains neuchâteloises to the remainder of Switzerland while passing through Saint-Imier).
Funicular Saint-Imier - Mount-Sun

Tourism

Ski, on the slopes north of the Chasseral, ski-lift of Bugnenets-Savagnières
the Mount-Sun
the Crosin Mount with its wind S and its solar power station

Economy

Company of the watches Longines
Company of the electric forces of Goule
Watches Balmain
Manufacture of the Heads of Monk

Newspaper

the Jura Bernois was the smallest daily newspaper of Switzerland.

Culture

Center of culture and leisures (CCL)
Together vocal of Erguël whose repertory is devoted to the sacred music.
Black Space, arts center.

Demonstrations

Open Mount-Sun Air Festival (in August)
Triathlon of the Centaur (in August)

Personalities

Henri Aragaon, painter
Pierre Alin, poet
Alain Auderset, author of cartoons
Bernard Born, actor.
John Buchs, politician
Paul Charmillot, politician
Sylviane Lord of the manor, writer
Albert Eberhardt, naturalist
Fernand Flueckiger, industrial
Ernest Francillon, industrialist
Maxime Gorce, cleaned
Edouard Heuer, clock and watch maker
Daniel Jeandupeux, footballer
Pierre Jolissaint, politician
Walter von Kaenel, industrialist
Marc Leuenberger, hockeyor
Francis Loetscher, politician
Andre Luy, organist
Jean-Pierre Monnier, writer
Frederic Moser, artist
Bénédict-Alphonse Nicolet, engraver
Daniel de Roulet, writer
Philippe Schwinger, artist
Raymond Tschumi, poet
Michel Wolfender, painter
Zouc, actress

Curiosities

Old collegial, built at the 11th-12th centuries. The upper part of the bell-tower-porch dates from the 19th-20th centuries. Restorations in 1927-1930 and 1985. Basilica with three naves separated by pillars, with apses. Above the porch, old vault Saint-Michel.

Saint Martin's day Tower: below the cantonal road, vestige of a parish church which goes back to the Early middle ages (archaeological excavations in 1986). It is the oldest building of Saint-Imier. Its upper part carries a clock to which it is referred for the first time to the 17th century. The sanctuary, used as baptistry after the Reform, underwent several transformations, accommodating the French troops of the general Oudinot in 1806, then being used as salpêtrière to the soldiers of Napoleon i. It was demolished at the 19th century to allow the construction of the dependences of the Town hall, then of a flour mill. The Hurdy-gurdy Tower, which belongs to the reformed parish, was restored in 1971.

Church catholic-Roman: neo-gothic basilica of 1862-1866: stained glasses of 1942-1944 according to paperboards of Albin Schweri representing of the Swiss, in particular Jurassic saints. Way of Cross (1963) of Georges Schneider. Crucifix 1st quarter 16th century; according to the tradition, it would have been saved the collegial one during the iconoclastie of the Reform. The tower was completed only in 1913, with the construction of the belfry and the arrow. The church was restored twice, in 1953 and 1980.

Church catholic-Christian woman, built in 1912. Its architecture is influenced by Jugendstil. She includes/understands only one nave without sides and an apse. The building was completely renovated in 1976.

Hospital, old principal building built in 1934 in the west of the locality by Otto Salvisberg and Hans Brechbühler.

External bonds

Site of the municipality of Saint-Imier

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