Clavaleyres, Rural municipality in Bern-Mittelland, Switzerland.
Clavaleyres is a small rural municipality in the Bern-Mittelland region of Switzerland, spanning roughly one square kilometer of land. Most of the territory is used for farming, while forests cover a smaller portion of the area.
For centuries the territory was controlled by Münchenwiler Priory until 1527, when Bern took over the region. This transfer reshaped the area's political ties and administrative framework.
The coat of arms shows a golden bear paw holding a key on red, symbols tied to the region's feudal past. Such heraldic imagery speaks to historical relationships between rulers and their territories.
The settlement became part of the city of Murten in the Canton of Fribourg in 2022 following a municipal merger. Today visitors can only explore it as a historic district within the larger administrative entity.
With roughly 46 residents it was one of Switzerland's tiniest settlements and formed a German-speaking enclave within a French-speaking region. This unusual combination of a minuscule population and linguistic identity made it a notable oddity in Swiss geography.
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