Canton of Neuchâtel
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| Neuchâtel | |||
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| Capital | Neuchâtel | ||
| Population (2007) | 169,640 (Ranked 16th) | ||
| - Density | 210 /km² | ||
| Area | 803 km² (Ranked 15th) | ||
| Highest point | 1552 m - Chasseral | ||
| Lowest point | 429 m - Lake Biel | ||
| Joined | 1815 | ||
| Abbreviation | NE | ||
| Languages | French | ||
| Executive | Conseil d'Etat (5) | ||
| Legislative | Grand Conseil (115) | ||
| Municipalities | 62 municipalities | ||
| Districts | 6 districts | ||
| Website | www.NE.ch | ||
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Neuchâtel (French: Canton de Neuchâtel; German: Kanton Neuenburg) is a canton of western Switzerland. In 2007, its population was 169,640. The capital is Neuchâtel.
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[edit] Geography
The canton of Neuchâtel is located in Romandy, the western part of Switzerland. To its northeast it borders the canton of Bern, to the northwest France. The Lake Neuchâtel lies southeast of the canton, while the canton of Vaud is southwest of the canton of Neuchâtel. The canton lies in the central area of the Jura Mountains. Lake Neuchâtel drains the lands in the south, whilst the River Doubs drains the northern areas.
The canton is commonly divided into three regions. The viticultural region is located along the lake. Its name derives from the many vineyards found there. The region called Les Vallées lies further north. The two largest valleys of the canton of Neuchâtel lie in this region: the Ruz Valley and the Val de Travers. Both valley lie at about 700 m (2,297 ft). The highest region of the canton, however, is the Neuchâtelois Mountains at 900 m (2,953 ft) to 1,065 m (3,494 ft). This region is made up of a long valley home to La Chaux-de-Fonds, Le Locle and La Brévine.
[edit] History
The name of the canton goes back to the Roman designation of Novum Castellum (new castle). Rudolph III of Burgundy mentioned Neuchâtel in his will in 1032. The dynasty of Count Ulrich von Fenis took over the town and its territories in 1034. The dynasty prospered and by 1373 all the lands now part of the canton belonged to the count. In 1405, the cities of Berne and Neuchâtel entered a union. The lands of Neuchâtel passed to the lords of Freiburg about a century later, and then in 1504 to the French house of Orléans-Longueville.
The French preacher Guillaume Farel brought the teachings of the Protestant Reformation to the area in 1530. When the house of Orléans-Longueville became extinct in 1707, the lands of Neuchâtel went to King Frederick I of Prussia. The Kingdom of Prussia governed the Principality of Neuchâtel (German: Fürstentum Neuenburg) until 1848, with the exception of the period between 1806 and 1814 when the lands went as a sovereign principality to Napoleon Bonaparte's chief of staff, Louis Alexandre Berthier.
During the Prussian time, some families of Neuchâtel were engaged in slave labor. David de Pury was a Hoffactor for the Portuguese Monarch. Jean-Pierre de Pury, who founded Purrysburg, South Carolina, owned and traded with slaves. Jacques Louis Poutales became a slave owner in Grenada. Pierre Alexandre DuPeyrou became a slave owner in the Dutch colony Surinam. Charles Daniel de Meuron became a slave owner in South Africa. Other slave owners and producers of tobacco were from the Neuchâtel family Coulon. The activities of these families made Neuchâtel rich. Members of the slave owner families tried to keep Neuchâtel Prussian, when it became part of Switzerland. Louis Agassiz was from the canton as well.
In 1815, the canton of Neuchâtel became part of the Swiss Confederation as a full member. For the first time, the Swiss admitted a canton that did not have a republican administration. This situation changed in 1848 when a peaceful revolution took place and established a republic. King Frederick William IV of Prussia did not give in immediately and several attempts at counter-revolution took place. In 1857, Frederick William renounced his claims on the area.
[edit] Economy
The canton is well-known for its wines, which are grown along the Lake Neuchâtel. There are dairy farming and cattle breeding in the valleys, but it is for the breeding of horses that Neuchâtel has a fine reputation. Watchmaking is well established in the canton, with fine mechanics and microchip production being established more recently.
[edit] Demographics
The population is almost entirely French-speaking. About two-thirds are Protestant and about one-third Roman Catholic.
[edit] Districts
The Canton of Neuchâtel is divided into 6 districts which belong to 4 geographic regions:
- District of Neuchâtel, Le Littoral region, capital Neuchâtel
- District of Boudry, Le Littoral region, capital Boudry
- District of Val-de-Ruz, Val-de-Ruz region, capital Cernier
- District of Val-de-Travers, Val-de-Travers region, capital Môtiers
- District of La Chaux-de-Fonds, Montagnes Neuchâteloises region, capital La Chaux-de-Fonds
- District of Le Locle, Montagnes Neuchâteloises region, capital Le Locle
[edit] Municipalities
The following is a list of municipalities (communes) by district.
[edit] Neuchâtel
[edit] Boudry
[edit] La Chaux-de-Fonds |
[edit] Le Locle
[edit] Val-de-Ruz |
[edit] Val-de-Travers |
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Official Site
- Official Statistics
- Tourism: Neuchâtel and surroundings "Watch Valley"
- Portal Neuch.ch
- Village of Valangin
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