Grand Val
The Valley of Moutier or Grand Val is a valley in northern reach of Canton Berne in the Bernese Jura of Switzerland. It is located northeast of the Vallée de Tavannes between Canton Solothurn to the south and Canton Jura to the north.
The name Grand Val historically referred to a broad region centered on the town of Moutier, and that town is often referred to as "Moutier-Grandval" today. The valley is accessed from the south through the gorges de Court and includes the watchmaking towns of Moutier and Corcelles.
Moutier and the Grand Val was linked by rail to Basel in 1876, following a route through the gorge north of the town through Delémont. The following year another railroad line was added, connecting the town to Bienne through the Vallée de Tavannes, passing through Court, Malleray, Reconvillier, and Tavannes. In 1908 a line to Solothurn was added, passing through Corcelles, Oberdorf, and Langendorf. Finally, the 8.6 kilometer Grenchenberg tunnel was completed in 1915, linking Moutier directly to Grenchen, Pieterlen, and Bienne.