Perrefitte

Infobox Swiss town
subject_name = Perrefitte
municipality_name = Perrefitte
municipality_type = municipality
imagepath_coa = Perrefitte-coat of arms.svg|pixel_coa=


languages = German
canton = Berne
iso-code-region = CH-BE
district = Moutier
lat_d=47|lat_m=17|lat_NS=N|long_d=7|long_m=21|long_EW=E
postal_code = 2742
municipality_code =
area = 8.67
elevation = 600|elevation_description=
population = 503|populationof = December 2005 | popofyear = 2005
website =
mayor = |mayor_asof=|mayor_party=
mayor_title = |list_of_mayors =
places =
demonym =
neighboring_municipalities= Moutier, Champoz, Souboz, Soulce
twintowns = |

Perrefitte is a municipality in the district of Moutier in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura ("Jura Bernois").Its old German names Beffert and Pfeffert are no longer in use today.

Geography

Perrefitte is located at 600 meters of altitude. This old agricultural village lies 2 km West of Moutier, in the chain of the Jura, on the left bank of the Chalière brook, which merges into the Birse river in Moutier. Its total surface of 8.7 km ² constitutes the western part of the Grand Val (valley of Moutier). In the southern area Combe Fabet, a kind of small throat has formed a secondary valley, from where the Chalière flows down. The Moron mountain marks the southern border of the community, rising to 1140 m of altitude. To the North, the communal territory extends to the chain from Mountain of Moutier, which constitutes the highest point of Perrefitte with its 1158 m.

In 1997, the territory was distributed in the following proportions: 4% of dwellings, 66% of forest, 29% of agricultural surface and a little less than 1% of unproductive surface. The bordering communities are Moutier, Champoz and Souboz in canton of Bern, and Soulce in canton of Jura

History

The first written mention of the village goes back to 1295 under the name of Pierefite. In 1321 appears the Perefiten terminology, then followed by Pierefetteau, and in 1548 Pierrefette. This name is derived from the Latin “petra ficta”. The village remains incorporated to the Moutier-Grandval community until the end of the XVIIIe century. From 1797 to 1815, Perrefitte belongs to France, within the French Department of "Mont-Terrible". As from 1800, it becomes a part of the Haut-Rhin Department, to which the department of "Mont-Terrible" was attached.

By decision of the congress of Vienna, the territory of the old Basel diocese was allotted to canton of Bern, in 1815.

Industry

Perrefitte was characterized for a long time by agriculture. Then, following the industrialization of Moutier, some small companies were established along the Chalière, at the border of Moutier. Within the last decades the village was transformed into a quiet residential area. Now, many of its inhabitants work in nearby Moutier or commute even much further.

Transportation

The community lies along the cantonal road which connects Moutier with Bellelay via Souboz. Soon, with the finalization of the "transjura" motorway A16, which shall connect the Swiss motorway network with that of France, Perrefitte shall obtain a fast access to the other areas.

port

Over the past years, Perrefitte has become, during one weekend, the Swiss capital of the VTT, when the races of SwissPowerCup and Bike Cup Watch Valley proceed through the splendid landscapes of the mountains of the Jura.

Gastronomy

The gastronomic guide Gault-Millau mentions a restaurant in Perrefitte: the " Restaurant de l’Etoile " (13 points out of 20 in the guide 2005) [http://www.restaurant-etoile.ch Site of the Restaurant]

Internet links

* [http://www.jurabernois.ch official Site of the tourist bureau of the Bernese Jura]
* [http://www.berneinvest.com/2167/2249.asp official Site of the economic promotion of the Canton of Bern]
* [http://www.cep.ch official Site of the economic room of the Bernese Jura]
* [http://www.m-ici.ch Research center and documentation of the Bernese Jura]

References