Sonvilier

Sonvilier
Sonvilier village from the ruins of Erguel Castle
Coat of arms
Sonvilier Show map of Switzerland Sonvilier Show map of Canton of Bern
Location of Sonvilier
Coordinates: 47°8′N 6°58′E / 47.133°N 6.967°E / 47.133; 6.967Coordinates: 47°8′N 6°58′E / 47.133°N 6.967°E / 47.133; 6.967
Country	Switzerland
Canton	Bern
District	Jura bernois
Government
• Mayor	Maire
Area
• Total	23.78 km2 (9.18 sq mi)
Elevation	802 m (2,631 ft)
Population (Dec 2015)
• Total	1,257
• Density	53/km2 (140/sq mi)
Postal code	2615
SFOS number	0445
Surrounded by	Renan, Saint-Imier, Les Bois, Le Pâquier, Dombresson, Chézard-Saint-Martin
Website	www.sonvilier.ch SFSO statistics

Sonvilier is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura (Jura Bernois).

Sonvilier is first mentioned in 1298 as Sunuilier. In 1307 it was mentioned as Sonvelier.

Erguel Castle, now in ruins, was built south-east of the village in the 11th century. The castle was the center of government for the lands that the Lords of Arguel (or Erguel) ruled. In 1264 Otto von Erguel, who at the time lived in Basel, ceded the lands to the Prince-Bishop of Basel. In return the bishop granted him lands in Alsace. Under the Prince-Bishop the Erguel lands, including Sonvilier, became part of the seigniory of Erguel. During the 13th and 14th century a local noble family was mentioned in Sonvilier. During the 16th century the municipality was the largest in the Erguel and was home to a half dozen mills that were held in fief to the Prince-Bishop of Basel.

After the 1797 French victory and the Treaty of Campo Formio, Sonvilier became part of the French Département of Mont-Terrible. Three years later, in 1800 it became part of the Département of Haut-Rhin. After Napoleon's defeat and the Congress of Vienna, Sonvilier was assigned to the Canton of Bern in 1815.