Beginning in 1530 the Protestant Reformation gradually gained power until the parish switched to the new faith in 1554.

Following the 1798 French invasion, Diesse became part of France, where it remained until the Congress of Vienna returned it to Bern.

The village's population slowly declined until the 1980s, when commuters to the surrounding towns began to move into Diesse.

The major landowners in the village included the collegiate church of Saint-Imier and Erlach Abbey.

After Napoleon's defeat and the Congress of Vienna, Prêles was assigned to the Canton of Bern in 1815.

The construction of a cable railway between Ligerz and Prêles in 1912 turned it into a minor tourist destination.

[6] The former municipalities that now make up Plateau de Diesse have a total combined area of 25.55 km2 (9.86 sq mi).

[8] The historical population is given in the following chart:[9] The entire village of Diesse is designated as part of the Inventory of Swiss Heritage Sites.