Le Bémont

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Le Bémont is a small Swiss municipality in the Jura canton, in the Franches-Montagnes district. It covers about 11.6 square kilometers and sits at around 982 meters above sea level. The population was about 324 people in 2020, and most residents speak French.

The village includes several hamlets, such as La Bosse and Les Rouges-Terres. Most of the land is used for farming (about two-thirds) with forests making up another large part. A small portion is settled with buildings and roads.

Le Bémont was first mentioned in 1330 as Le Belmont. A notable heritage site is the farm house at La Bosse 38, and the hamlet of La Bosse is part of Switzerland’s Inventory of Heritage Sites.

Politically, the 2007 federal election saw the CSP as the most popular party, with about 42% voter turnout.

Economy and transport: the area has a low unemployment rate (around 4%), and most jobs are in agriculture. The municipality is a net exporter of workers, meaning more people commute out for work than commute in. Le Bémont has its own railway station on the La Chaux-de-Fonds–Glovelier line.

Religion and schools: in 2000, the population was mainly Roman Catholic, with a smaller Swiss Reformed community. The cantonal school system provides kindergarten and primary schooling locally, while secondary schooling happens in other municipalities. In the 2009–10 school year, there were 55 students in the Le Bémont–Les Enfers district across four classes.