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| Canton of Jura | |
| Capital | Delémont |
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| Residents | 73.419 (2018) |
| surface | 838.51 km² |
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| location | |
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The Canton of Jura lies in the French-speaking Switzerland in the northwest of the Switzerland. It borders in the north with the Territoire de Belfort department, in the west with the Doubs department, in the south-western tip for a few kilometers with the canton Neuchâtel, in the south with the canton Bern and in the east with the cantons Solothurn and Basel-Landschaft and the department Haut Rhin. The main town is Delémont (in German Delsberg). The canton of Jura is worth a visit at any time of the year. In summer it invites you to go hiking, cycling and horse riding, or you like it a bit "wild" and go canoeing or paragliding. In winter you can go hiking in the snow, cross-country skiing or tobogganing. There are historical cities, fortified castles, great museums and, above all, one thing - tranquility. If you are looking for peace and quiet, you will find it in the remote Franconian mountains, in the hilly Ajoie or directly on the Doubs, where a road is nowhere to be seen. There are also numerous festivals in the Jura. The carnival in January, the horse market in Saignelégier in August or the Christmas market in Saint-Ursanne on December 1st, to name just a few.
Regions
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- Delsberg Basin - about 110 square kilometers and about 400-500 m above sea level. The region is roughly congruent with the District of Delémont. The main town is Delémont.
- Val-Terbi - Designates the eastern Delsberg basin from Courchapoix to Mervelier.
- Ajoie - about 300 square kilometers and at about 400-600 m above sea level. located. The Ajoie is roughly congruent with the District Porrentruy. The main town is Porrentruy.
- Franches-Montagnes (Eng. Freiberge) - about 200 square kilometers in size and at about 1000 m above sea level. located. The region is congruent with the district of the same name. The main town is Saignelégier.
- Clos du Doubs (Jurassic Doubstal) - about 80 square kilometers and at about 400-500 m above sea level. located. From a political point of view, the region belongs to the District Porrentruy and the District Franches-Montagnes (Freiberge). The most important place is Saint-Ursanne. The region has around 1,500 inhabitants and is therefore very sparsely populated.
places
- 1 Delémont
- is the capital of the canton of Jura - 2 Porrentruy -
- 3 Saignelégier -
- 4 Saint-Ursanne -
Delémont
Porrentruy
Saignelégier
Saint-Ursanne
- 5 Boncourt -
- 6 Bassecourt -
- 7 Le Noirmont -
- 8 Les Bois -
Boncourt
Bassecourt
Le Noirmont
Les Bois
- 9 Moutier -
Other goals
- The Etang de la Gruère is a moor lake in the municipality of Saingelégier. It is around 4 km from the center of the village.
- The Chêne des Bosses is located in Châtillon and is the largest and oldest pedunculate oak in Europe.
background
The canton of Jura is the youngest canton in Switzerland. On September 24, 1978 there was a federal vote. Since this was accepted, the canton of Jura was split off from the canton of Bern on January 1, 1979.
In the Middle Ages, the canton of Jura belonged to the Principality of Basel. The bishop has resided in Porrentruy since the Reformation in the city of Basel. In 1792 French revolutionary troops occupied the area and founded the Raurak Republic, which was incorporated into the French Republic as a department a year later. At the Congress of Vienna in 1815, the area was added to the Canton of Bern. However, the people of the Jura were anything but satisfied with this decision. There was a scandal in the Moeckli affair. The building department was not handed over to the politician Moeckli because it was "too important" for a French politician. In addition, the canton of Bern is mainly reformed and, with the exception of the Bernese Jura, mainly German-speaking. However, the Jurassians speak French and are Catholic. As a result, there were violent riots in the 1960s and 1970s. The Béliers youth organization carried out explosive attacks, including the soldier memorial in Les Rangiers.
Even today, the canton of Jura is named for a merger with the southern Jura (also Bernese Jura) (districts of Moutier, Courtelary and La Neuveville) in order to establish the "unity of the Jura people".
Economically, the canton of Jura is not exactly a bed of roses. It is a typical peripheral region, the population growth is not particularly great, in some communities, such as in the second largest city Porrentruy, the population is declining. The canton is hoping for new impulses through the Autobahn 16, also known as Transjurane, and the reactivation of the railway line to the French Delle and on to Belfort, where there is a connection to the TGV network. With a population density of 84 square kilometers, the canton is well below the Swiss average (193 inhabitants per km²).
language
French is spoken in the Jura, but some people also speak German. The only German-speaking community is Ederswiler. Many Jura municipalities are also known by their German names, such as Delsberg / Delémont and Pruntrut / Porrentruy.
getting there
By train
Delémont is accessed by Inter-City tilting trains from Basel SBB and Biel / Bienne - Lausanne / Biel / Bienne - Geneva and the Regio-Express Delle (F) - Biel / Bienne. The Regio-Express also stops in Porrentruy, Glovelier, St-Ursanne, Courgenauy and Bassecourt, among others. A narrow-gauge train runs from La Chaux-de-Fonds to Glovelier, which also stops in Saingelégier, among other places. Further information can be found at SBB.
By car
The partly unfinished A16 is the most important connection in the Jura. It begins at Boncourt on the French border and goes via Porrentruy - Delémont - Moutier-Tavannes to Biel / Bienne, where there is a connection to the A5 (Solothurn - Biel / Bienne - Neuchâtel - Yverdon les-Bains). There are also several main roads.
By plane
The travel times by public transport to the nearest airport are listed here.
Delémont - EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg around 1 hour
Delémont - Zurich Airport around 2 hours
Delémont - Bern-Belp around 2 hours
Delémont - Geneva around 2h 15 min.
mobility
Almost every village is connected to the local public transport system, but buses in particular do not always run every hour. However, there are always two trains per hour between Porrentruy and Delémont, with these two trains not running every half hour, but rather every 15/45 minutes. These two moves that RE Biel / Bienne - Delle (F) and the S3 Porrentruy - Basel are important for the entire canton, as they stop at various stations and always run every hour.
The Chemins de Fer du Jura CJ also operates several lines with good frequency, usually every hour, but not always. The most important line is certainly that of Glovelier to Saingelégier and on to Le Noirmont and La Chaux-de-Fonds and the route from Le Noirmont to Tavannes. In Tavannes, La Chaux-de-Fonds and Glovelier there is a connection to the SBB network. Another CJ route leads from Porrentruy to Bonfol. However, this route is isolated and has no connection to the rest of the network.
In the Ajoie and around Delémont, that takes care of it Post bus an important part of public transport. But there are also CJ buses that serve certain villages. These buses in particular often do not run every hour. From Monday to Friday you have a bus every 2-3 hours. At the weekend, especially on Sunday, there are only 2-4 buses per day or no connections at all (e.g. to La Motte). Current timetables at SBB.
The roads in the canton of Jura are generally in good condition. Sometimes there are potholes and the streets are sometimes very narrow, also due to the topography. The Transjurane A16 is still under construction and will noticeably improve mobility in the canton of Jura.
The canton of Jura has very well-developed and signposted hiking trails. However, most of them - as in all of Switzerland - are not tarred and therefore there are many puddles after rain showers. Good shoes are generally recommended, especially if you want to hike from the Franches-Montagnes to the Doubs, because a few kilometers there are up to 400 meters of altitude, the hiking trails are very steep and lead through the forest. Almost flat hiking trails without steep inclines can be found on the Freiberg plateau.
Cyclists open up that Jura route from Basel near Nyon the region. A GPS track for the 277 km long route can be found in the Bike tour wiki.
Tourist Attractions
- The canton of Jura owns the three historic cities Delémont, Porrentruy and Saint-Ursanne. All three old towns are absolutely worth seeing.
- The 1 Collegiate Church and the Saint-Ursanne Monastery is in Saint-Ursanne and was from 12.-14. Century built. It is kept in the Romanesque style, but already shows Gothic influences. The cloister is very nice to visit. The old town of Saint-Ursanne is also well worth seeing. All three city gates have been preserved and an old bridge spans the Doubs. In the middle there is a statue of St. Nepomuk.
- The 2 Porrentruy Castle was the seat of the Basel prince-bishops in the 18th century. At the foot of the castle is the old town of Porrentruy and the Gothic town church. The Porte de France, the largest city gate of Porrentruy, is also very impressive.
- The 3 Delémont Castle was the summer residence of the Prince-Bishop of Basel and was built from 1716-1721 in the Baroque style. The castle is located on the southwest corner of the old town and is now used as a primary school and kindergarten.
- The Hamlet of Les Cerlatezwhich to the community Saignelégier belongs, consists of six old Jura houses, which are whitewashed and have a huge, but very flat roof in order to offer little exposure to the wind.
- The 4 Chapelle du Vorbourg is located below the old castle ruins of Vorbourg on a high ledge above the Birs, around 2 km from Delémont. It is extremely popular as a place of pilgrimage in the canton of Jura and there are also church services.
activities
winter
- Sled dog racing. Takes place in the last weekend of January. About 800 dogs take part.Price: Admission: CHF 7.- for both days.
- Snowshoeing. There are five different tours in the Canton of Jura, all of these tours are listed on the website. There are also the prices for snowshoe rental, which can be rented at various CJ train stations.
- Cross-country skiing in the Jura. There are many cross-country trails in the Jura. From sporty trails to those that are suitable for families.
- Alpine skiing and sledding. In the Jura you can go alpine skiing in Les Genevez and Les Breuleux. These two places are especially suitable for families and are very small with only one lift each, but both places are over 1000 meters above sea level and snow is guaranteed on most days in winter.
- Winter hiking trails. There are also many signposted winter hiking trails in the Jura. More on this on this page.
- Snowup Saignelégier-Les Reusilles. Leads from Saignelégier to Les Reusilles, past Les Cherlatez and the Etang de la Gruère. Snowshoes can be rented.
summer
- Canoeing on the Doubs. The navigability of the river depends on how high the flow is.
- Paragliding. A tandem flight is available from CHF 90. It takes around 10 minutes. Further information and contacts on the website.
- With the scooter through the Jura. You can ride a scooter in Porrentruy and Saingelégier. Information and contacts on the website.
- Kneipp barefoot path. A 2 km long barefoot path in Rebeuvillier, modeled on nature, further information and contact on the website.Price: CHF 5.
- Marché-Concours national des chevauxam. Held annually on the second Sunday in August in Saignelégier. This is the most important horse market for horses of the breed of the Freiberger.
Culture
- 5 Jurassic Museum, Rue du 23-Juin 52, 2800 Delémont. Tel.: (0)32 422 80 74. Price: Adults CHF 6.-, children free up to 16 years and other discounts.
- Rural Museum, Case Postal 41, 2714 Les Genevez. Tel.: (0)32 484 00 80. Open: Sunday 14: 00-17: 00 or by appointment.Price: Adults CHF 8.-, children with parents CHF 2.
- Carnival in the Jura - The three largest carnivals in the Jura take place in Bassecourt, Le Noirmont and Delémont each February. With the free night on Ash Wednesday in Delémont, where the restaurants are open until the early hours of the morning. The carnival lasts several days and there are also parades.
kitchen
- Toétché - It is the only salty cream cake in Switzerland and is made from sour cream. Traditionally, it is eaten on Martin's Day as a dessert.
- Saucisse Ajoie - As the name suggests, this sausage is made in the Ajoie. The name is protected to ensure that it is really only made in the Ajoie. Today there are ten butchers who produce the sausage. It tastes like caraway seeds.
- Tete de Moine - The cheese was produced by the monks of the Bellelay monastery in the canton of Bern and is therefore more native to the Bernese Jura. It has been around for over 800 years and is the only AOC product in the Jura. A cheese dairy that also produces Tête de Moine is located in Saignelégier. It is served in rosettes.
Saucisse Ajoie
Tete de Moine
- Wines in the Jura - In the Jura there are two relatively large wine regions where real Jura wine is produced.
- Damassine is a brandy made from the damassine plum variety in the canton of Jura and mainly in the Ajoie. The damassine is the small plum that is pink-red on the sunny side and yellow-orange on the shady side. The yield of the trees varies from year to year. The fruits are hand picked as soon as they are ripe and fall to the ground. After the harvest, the fruits are completely filled into barrels without being pitted or crushed. They are then distilled in traditional stills to obtain a brandy with a minimum alcohol content of 40 °. This is after two to three years of storage eau-de-vie ripe for enjoyment.
nightlife
- In Delémont, but also in Porrentruy you can find one or the other bar that is open until late at night, but mostly only on weekends longer than midnight.
- Croisée des Loisirs, Rue Emile Boécha 87, 2800 Delémont. Tel.: 41 (0)32 422 96 66. A diverse sports center with bowling alleys, pool tables, table football and two bars.Open: Mon - Thu 8.00 a.m. - 0.30 a.m., Fri 8.00 a.m. - 1.30 a.m., Sat 2.00 p.m. - 1.30 a.m., Sun 2.00 p.m. - 0.30 a.m.
security
The headquarters of the Jura canton police are in Delémont. Address: Près-Roses 1, 2800 Delémont. Tel .: 032 420 65 05.
The following emergency numbers are also important:
- 117 police
- 118 fire brigade
- 144 Medical emergency number / ambulance
- 1414 Air ambulance watch
- 145 poison information
- 143 Offered Hand - Pastoral Care by Telephone
- 147 child and youth emergency number
climate
This table comes from the Meteodienst of the Swiss Confederation.
trips
- The clock cities La Chaux-de-Fonds and Le Locle have been a Unesco World Heritage Site since 2009. From Saingelégier it is 35 minutes by train to La Chaux-de-Fonds.
- Biel is only 30 minutes away from Delémont. The city is picturesquely situated on Lake Biel and impresses with its medieval old town.
- Basel is 30 minutes from Delémont. The city shines with the beautiful Rhine promenade, has a beautiful cathedral and a variety of shopping opportunities.
- Dent is located in France, but right on the Swiss border, and has a very beautiful old town.
- The Mont-Soleil at St-Imier there is a wonderful vantage point and accessible by a mountain railway. From Le Noirmont you have about an hour by public transport.
literature
- "French and Swiss Jura" travel guide from Oase-Verlag.
