Les Eplatures
Origin of the name Les Eplatures
Name origin: not explained in the sources consulted.
Founding of Les Eplatures
Les Eplatures, in the valley linking Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds, consisted of scattered farms and hamlets, including Bonne-Fontaine and Le Crêt-du-Locle. No founder is known. Until 1848 the area belonged to the municipality and parish of Le Locle; with the creation of the Republic of Neuchâtel it was attached to the district of La Chaux-de-Fonds, became a municipality and parish in 1851 and a political municipality in 1888. Following a petition it was merged into La Chaux-de-Fonds in 1900, of which it is now an industrial district.
History of Les Eplatures
1847. Construction of the church begins with the support of the King of Prussia; it is inspired by Prussian models.
1848. The change of regime halts work on the church; Les Eplatures, until then part of Le Locle, pass to the district of La Chaux-de-Fonds.
1851. Les Eplatures become a residents' municipality and a parish, separate from that of Le Locle.
1853. The church is built.
1857. Construction of Le Crêt-du-Locle station, on the territory of Les Eplatures (to be cross-checked).
1858. Les Eplatures are connected to the railway.
1872. The Jewish cemetery is created.
1873. Almost all parishioners join the Independent Church of the canton of Neuchâtel, which merged with the National Church in 1943.
1888. Les Eplatures become a political municipality.
1900. Following a petition, the municipality (about 1'500 inhabitants) is merged into La Chaux-de-Fonds.
1926. The regional airport opens; it is modernised in 1956.
2013. The church loses its religious function.
2023. On 24 July a storm tears off the church steeple; the building is to become a cultural venue.
Population of Les Eplatures
| 1850 | 1'320 |
| 1900 | 1'500 (approximately, at the time of the merger with La Chaux-de-Fonds) |
Historic sites in Les Eplatures
The church of Les Eplatures. Begun in 1847 with the support of the King of Prussia and inspired by Prussian models, completed in 1853; for lack of funds the steeple was first built of wood and clad with metal plates. Deconsecrated in 2013, it lost its steeple in the storm of 24 July 2023 and is to become a cultural venue open to the public and to academic exchanges.
The Jewish cemetery. Created in 1872 at Les Eplatures.
Les Eplatures regional airport. Opened in 1926 and modernised in 1956, in the middle of the industrial zone that hosts new factories.
Sources
- Historisches Lexikon der Schweiz, « Les Eplatures » (version allemande du Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Chaux-de-Fonds, La »
- Office du patrimoine et de l'archéologie du canton de Neuchâtel, Journées européennes du patrimoine 2025, « Temple des Eplatures »
- Structurae, « Le Crêt-du-Locle Station » (à recouper)
Other villages near Les Eplatures
Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.
Suggest a change