Fontainemelon — former municipality in the canton of Neuchâtel

History and municipal reorganisation

On 1 January 2013 a municipal reorganisation took effect in this part of Neuchâtel. Fontainemelon and a number of neighbouring communes merged to create a single larger municipality named Val-de-Ruz. The consolidation aimed to streamline administration and share public services across the valley.

• Boudevilliers
• Cernier
• Chézard-Saint-Martin
• Coffrane
• Dombresson
• Engollon
• Fenin-Vilars-Saules
• Fontainemelon
• Fontaines
• Les Geneveys-sur-Coffrane
• Les Hauts-Geneveys
• Montmollin
• Le Pâquier
• Savagnier
• Villiers

Geography and environment

The locality lies within the mixed agricultural and wooded landscape typical of the Neuchâtel Jura plateau. Terrain around Fontainemelon is gently undulating rather than mountainous; fields, pastures and small forests frame the village. Its setting makes it suited to outdoor activities such as walking and local farming, and it forms part of a network of villages that share infrastructure and services.

Economy, culture and built heritage

Like many communities in this part of Switzerland, Fontainemelon was influenced by the watchmaking and precision industries that developed across the Neuchâtel region; small workshops and related trades have contributed to the local economy alongside agriculture and services. The village contains examples of traditional Swiss village architecture—church buildings, domestic houses and former industrial workshops—that reflect the region's economic history.

Legacy and present-day status

Since the 2013 merger, Fontainemelon no longer exists as an independent municipality but remains a distinct locality and neighbourhood within the larger administrative entity of Val-de-Ruz. Residents continue to identify with the former commune while benefiting from shared municipal services, consolidated schools and broader planning initiatives. For administrative, historical or genealogical enquiries, local records are now held by the Val-de-Ruz municipal authority and cantonal services.