Saignelégier facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Saignelégier
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 Saignelégier
Location in Switzerland
Saignelégier
Location in Canton of Jura
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| Country | Switzerland | |
| Canton | Jura | |
| District | Franches-Montagnes | |
| Area | ||
| • Total | 31.67 km2 (12.23 sq mi) | |
| Elevation | 978 m (3,209 ft) | |
| Population
(Dec 2020 )
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| • Total | 2,615 | |
| • Density | 82.570/km2 (213.86/sq mi) | |
| Postal code |
2350
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| Surrounded by | La Chaux-des-Breuleux, Le Bémont, Les Enfers, Muriaux, Soubey, Tramelan (BE) | |
Saignelégier is a town in the canton of Jura in Switzerland. It is the main town of the Franches-Montagnes district. On January 1, 2009, the towns of Goumois and Les Pommerats joined with Saignelégier.
You can find the beautiful bog and nature reserve around étang de la Gruère in this area. Saignelégier is also home to the famous Brasserie des Franches-Montagnes brewery.
Contents
History of Saignelégier
Saignelégier was first mentioned in records in 1294. It was once known by its German name, Sankt Leodegar, but this name is not used anymore.
During the Middle Ages, Saignelégier was part of the diocese of Basel. In the 1400s, the village started to grow into an important regional center. A chapel was built, and a yearly market began in 1428. Around the same time, the main priest of the Franches-Montagnes region moved to Saignelégier. In 1629, it became its own church parish.
In 1691, Saignelégier became the home of the Bishop's bailiff, who was like a local governor. The bailiff's castle was built around the end of the 1600s. After the French Revolutionary Wars (1793–1813), Saignelégier was the capital of a canton in France. Later, in 1815, it became part of the Canton of Bern. It stayed there until the Canton of Jura was created in 1978.
In the 1800s, the watch industry grew in Switzerland. With new train lines opening in 1892 and 1904, many precision manufacturing companies came to Saignelégier. By 2005, many people worked in factories, and even more worked in technology and services.
Geography and Nature
Saignelégier covers an area of 31.67 km2 (12.23 sq mi). About 42.5% of this land is used for farming. Forests cover about 50.8% of the area. Buildings and roads take up about 5.4% of the land. Rivers and lakes make up 0.7%, and 1.0% is land that cannot be used for farming or building.
The town is the capital of the Franches-Montagnes district. Since the merger in 2009, it stretches from the Doubs river to the Etang de la Gruère. The original village is located where several roads meet. These roads lead to Delémont, Tramelan, La Chaux-de-Fonds, and France. Saignelégier includes the villages of Saignelégier, Les Pommerats, and Goumois, along with several smaller hamlets.
Some nearby towns are thinking about joining together to form a new, larger town called Franches-Montagnes. These towns include Le Bémont, Les Bois, Les Breuleux, La Chaux-des-Breuleux, Les Enfers, Les Genevez, Lajoux, Montfaucon, Muriaux, Le Noirmont, Saignelégier, Saint-Brais, and Soubey.
Town Symbol (Coat of Arms)
The blazon of Saignelégier's coat of arms shows a gold background. It has a silver circle with a black border. At the bottom, there are six red hills.
People and Population
Saignelégier has a population of 2,615 as of as of December 2020[update]. In 2008, about 8.5% of the people living here were from other countries. Over ten years (2000–2010), the population grew by 10%. Most of this growth was from people moving into the town.
Most people in Saignelégier speak French. In 2000, about 91.4% of the population spoke French as their main language. German was the second most common language (3.2%), followed by Italian (0.9%).
In 2008, about 49.5% of the population was male and 50.5% was female. Many people living in Saignelégier were born there or in the same canton. About 12.1% were born outside Switzerland.
In 2000, children and teenagers (0–19 years old) made up 27.1% of the population. Adults (20–64 years old) made up 56.5%, and seniors (over 64 years old) were 16.4%.
Here is a chart showing how the population has changed over time:
Important Sights
The entire village of Les Pommerats and the small community of Les Cerlatez are special. They are recognized as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites. This means they have important historical or cultural value.
Economy and Jobs
In 2010, the unemployment rate in Saignelégier was 4.1%. In 2008, many people worked in different types of jobs.
- About 109 people worked in the primary sector, which includes farming.
- About 567 people worked in the secondary sector, like manufacturing and construction.
- About 911 people worked in the tertiary sector, which includes services like sales, transport, hotels, and healthcare.
Many people who live in Saignelégier also work there. However, some people travel into Saignelégier for work, and some residents travel to other towns for their jobs. In 2000, about 55.1% of working people used a private car to get to work.
Transportation
Saignelégier has its own railway station. It is called Saignelégier and is on the La Chaux-de-Fonds–Glovelier line. This train line connects Saignelégier to other towns.
Religion
Based on the 2000 census, most people in Saignelégier are Roman Catholic (72.0%). About 11.0% belong to the Swiss Reformed Church. A smaller number of people belong to other Christian churches, or are Islamic, Buddhist, or Hindu. About 6.81% of the population stated they did not belong to any church.
Weather
Saignelégier has about 153.6 days of rain or snow each year. On average, it gets about 1,511 mm (59.5 in) of precipitation. June is usually the wettest month, with about 152 mm (6.0 in) of rain or snow. May has the most days with precipitation, but October is the driest month.
Education
In Saignelégier, about 34.8% of the population has finished non-mandatory upper secondary education. Also, 8.5% have completed higher education, like attending a university.
The Canton of Jura school system has a few steps:
- Two years of optional Kindergarten.
- Six years of Primary school.
- Three years of required lower Secondary school, where students are grouped by their skills.
After lower Secondary, students can choose to go to an optional upper Secondary school for three or four years. They can also enter an apprenticeship to learn a trade.
During the 2009–10 school year, 343 students attended 18 classes in Saignelégier. This included kindergarten, primary, and lower secondary students.
See also
In Spanish: Saignelégier para niños
