Bernese Jura
Encyclopedia
Bernese Jura is the name for the French-speaking area of the Swiss
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....

 canton of Bern, and from 2010 one of five administrative divisions of the canton.

Comprising the three French-speaking districts in the northern part of the canton
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...

, it contains 49 municipalities with an area of 541.75 km² (209.2 sq mi) and a population of . More than 90% of the population of the three districts speak French.

The Bernese Jura of today comprises only three out of a total of seven districts which were known as the Bernese Jura during the period of 1815–1979. Of the remaining four, three seceded as the canton of Jura
Canton of Jura
The Republic and Canton of the Jura , also known as the Canton of Jura or Canton Jura, is one of the cantons of Switzerland. It is the newest of the 26 Swiss cantons, located in the northwestern part of Switzerland. The capital is Delémont...

 in 1979, while the fourth, the Laufen district, joined the canton of Basel-Landschaft in 1994.

History

Most of the territory of the Bernese Jura was passed from the County of Burgundy
County of Burgundy
The Free County of Burgundy , was a medieval county , within the traditional province and modern French region Franche-Comté, whose very French name is still reminiscent of the unusual title of its count: Freigraf...

 to the Bishopric of Basel
Bishopric of Basel
The Diocese of Basel is a Roman Catholic diocese in Switzerland .Historically, the bishops of Basel were also secular rulers of the Prince-Bishopric of Basel ....

 in AD 999.
It was annexed by France
French First Republic
The French First Republic was founded on 22 September 1792, by the newly established National Convention. The First Republic lasted until the declaration of the First French Empire in 1804 under Napoleon I...

 during the Napoleonic period, 1798-1814.
In 1814, the Congress of Vienna
Congress of Vienna
The Congress of Vienna was a conference of ambassadors of European states chaired by Klemens Wenzel von Metternich, and held in Vienna from September, 1814 to June, 1815. The objective of the Congress was to settle the many issues arising from the French Revolutionary Wars, the Napoleonic Wars,...

 accorded it to the canton of Bern to compensate for the loss of the new canton of Vaud.

From 1815 to 1979, the term Bernese Jura also included the territory now forming the canton of Jura
Canton of Jura
The Republic and Canton of the Jura , also known as the Canton of Jura or Canton Jura, is one of the cantons of Switzerland. It is the newest of the 26 Swiss cantons, located in the northwestern part of Switzerland. The capital is Delémont...

, which seceded following a national popular vote on 24 September 1978.
Its administrative capital was Biel/Bienne
Biel/Bienne
Biel/Bienne is a city in the district of the Biel/Bienne administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.It is located on the language boundary and is throughout bilingual. Biel is the German name for the town, Bienne its French counterpart. The town is often referred to in both...

 from 1815 to 2009. Since 2010, Biel/Bienne has been made the administrative capital of a separate district
Biel/Bienne (administrative district)
Biel/Bienne District is an administrative district in the Canton of Bern, Switzerland. It is located along both shores of the northeastern half of Lake Biel and is part of the Seeland administrative region, and its capital is Biel/Bienne. It contains 19 municipalities with an area of and a...

, and the administrative capital of the remaining Bernese Jura is now Courtelary
Courtelary
Courtelary is a municipality of the French-speaking Bernese Jura, in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The town is the capital of the Jura bernois administrative district.-Geography:...

.

Representation

According to the canton's constitution, one of the seven members of the Executive Council of Bern
Executive Council of Bern
The Executive Council is the executive of the Swiss canton of Bern.This seven-member collegial body is elected by the people for a period of four years. The cantonal constitution reserves one seat in the Executive Council for a French-speaking citizen from the Bernese Jura...

 has to be a French-speaking citizen of this area. Of the 160 seats in the Grand Council of Bern
Grand Council of Bern
The Grand Council is the parliament of the Swiss canton of Bern.It consists of 160 members elected by proportional representation for a four-year term of office...

, 12 seats are reserved for the Bernese Jura and an additional three seats are guaranteed for the French-speaking population of the bilingual district of Biel/Bienne
Biel (district)
Biel/Bienne District was a district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland with its seat Biel/Bienne. It was bi-lingual and included two municipalities in an area of 25 km²:...

.

Administrative divisions

Historically (until 2001), the region was divided into three districts
Districts of Switzerland
In contrast to centrally organised states, in the federally constituted Switzerland each canton iscompletely free to decide its own internal organisation. Therefore there exists a variety of structures and terminology for the subnational entities between canton and municipality, loosely termed...

 (2004 population estimates):
  • District of Courtelary
    Courtelary (district)
    Courtelary District was located in Switzerland and was one of the 3 French-speaking districts of the Bernese Jura. The district was located in the canton of Bern with the seat being Courtelary. It had a population of about 22'224 in 2004....

      (22,224)
  • District of La Neuveville
    La Neuveville (district)
    La Neuveville District was one of the 3 French-speaking districts of the Bernese Jura in the canton of Bern with the seat being La Neuveville. It had a population of about 6,083 in 2004.-References:...

      (6,083)
  • District of Moutier
    Moutier (district)
    Moutier District was one of the 3 French-speaking districts of the Bernese Jura in the canton of Bern with the seat being Moutier. It had a population of about 23'098 in 2004.-References:...

      (23,098)


!colspan="1" align=center bgcolor="#EFEFEF" width="100" | Area in km²
|-
| align="center" |
| Belprahon
Belprahon
Belprahon is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.83
|-
| align="center" |
| Bévilard
Bévilard
Bévilard is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 5.69
|-
| align="center" |
| Champoz
Champoz
Champoz is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland.It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 7.17
|-
| align="center" |
| Châtelat
Châtelat
Châtelat is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 4.15
|-
| align="center" |
| Corcelles || align="center" |
| align="center" | 6.77
|-
| align="center" |
| Corgémont
Corgémont
Corgémont is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 17.61
|-
| align="center" |
| Cormoret
Cormoret
Cormoret is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 13.49
|-
| align="center" |
| Cortébert
Cortébert
Cortébert is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura . It has a population of .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 14.78
|-
| align="center" |
| Court || align="center" |
| align="center" | 24.61
|-
| align="center" |
| Courtelary
Courtelary
Courtelary is a municipality of the French-speaking Bernese Jura, in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. The town is the capital of the Jura bernois administrative district.-Geography:...

|| align="center" |
| align="center" | 22.17
|-
| align="center" |
| Crémines
Crémines
Crémines is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 9.48
|-
| align="center" |
| Diesse
Diesse
Diesse is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland, located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 9.44
|-
| align="center" |
| Eschert
Eschert
Eschert is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 6.58
|-
| align="center" |
| Grandval || align="center" |
| align="center" | 8.23
|-
| align="center" |
| La Ferrière || align="center" |
| align="center" | 14.20
|-
| align="center" |
| La Heutte
La Heutte
La Heutte is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:La Heutte was first mentioned in 1393 as Hütte...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 8.09
|-
| align="center" |
| Lamboing
Lamboing
Lamboing is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland, located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 9.10
|-
| align="center" |
| La Neuveville
La Neuveville
La Neuveville is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland, located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 6.81
|-
| align="center" |
| Loveresse
Loveresse
Loveresse is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 4.72
|-
| align="center" |
| Malleray
Malleray
Malleray is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 10.25
|-
| align="center" |
| Monible
Monible
Monible is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.39
|-
| align="center" |
| Mont-Tramelan
Mont-Tramelan
Mont-Tramelan is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 4.64
|-
| align="center" |
| Moutier
Moutier
Moutier is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 19.60
|-
| align="center" |
| Nods || align="center" |
| align="center" | 26.66
|-
| align="center" |
| Orvin
Orvin
Orvin is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura . Above it, there is a small year round resort, called les "Prés-d'Orvin"....

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 21.59
|-
| align="center" |
| Perrefitte
Perrefitte
Perrefitte is a municipality in the administrative district of Jura bernois in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .Its old German names Beffert and Pfeffert are no longer in use today....

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 8.57
|-
| align="center" |
| Péry
Péry
Péry is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 15.71
|-
| align="center" |
| Plagne || align="center" |
| align="center" | 7.48
|-
| align="center" |
| Pontenet
Pontenet
Pontenet is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 2.73
|-
| align="center" |
| Prêles
Prêles
Prêles is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland, located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 6.97
|-
| align="center" |
| Rebévelier
Rebévelier
Rebévilier is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 3.54
|-
| align="center" |
| Reconvilier
Reconvilier
Reconvilier is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 8.24
|-
| align="center" |
| Renan || align="center" |
| align="center" | 12.63
|-
| align="center" |
| Roches || align="center" |
| align="center" | 9.05
|-
| align="center" |
| Romont || align="center" |
| align="center" | 7.03
|-
| align="center" |
| Saicourt
Saicourt
Saicourt is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It comprises the localities of Le Fuet, Bellelay, La Bottiere and Montbautier. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura ....

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 13.76
|-
| align="center" |
| Saint-Imier
Saint-Imier
Saint-Imier is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .Observatoire Astronomique de Mont-Soleil is located above the village....

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 20.89
|-
| align="center" |
| Saules || align="center" |
| align="center" | 4.28
|-
| align="center" |
| Schelten
Schelten
Schelten is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernse Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 5.57
|-
| align="center" |
| Seehof || align="center" |
| align="center" | 8.41
|-
| align="center" |
| Sonceboz-Sombeval
Sonceboz-Sombeval
Sonceboz-Sombeval is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 15.00
|-
| align="center" |
| Sonvilier
Sonvilier
Sonvilier is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 23.79
|-
| align="center" |
| Sornetan
Sornetan
Sornetan is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 5.65
|-
| align="center" |
| Sorvilier
Sorvilier
Sorvilier is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 6.89
|-
| align="center" |
| Souboz
Souboz
Souboz is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 10.71
|-
| align="center" |
| Tavannes
Tavannes
Tavannes is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 14.78
|-
| align="center" |
| Tramelan
Tramelan
Tramelan is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 24.83
|-
| align="center" |
| Vauffelin
Vauffelin
Vauffelin is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-Geography:...

 || align="center" |
| align="center" | 5.96
|-
| align="center" |
| Villeret || align="center" |
| align="center" | 16.23
|-
| || Total (49) || align="center" |
| align="center" | 541.75
|-
|}

External links

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