Porrentruy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Coordinates: 47°25′N, 07°05′E

Porrentruy
Country Switzerland
Canton Jura
District Porrentruy
Coordinates 47°25′N, 07°05′E
Population 6,593  (2005)
  - Density 444 /km² (1,151 /sq.mi.)
Area 14.84 km² (5.7 sq mi)
Elevation 423 m (1,388 ft)
The historic city center of Porrentruy.
The historic city center of Porrentruy.
Postal code 2900
SFOS number 6800
Mayor Guenat Gérard
Surrounded by
(view map)		 Fontenais, Bressaucourt, Courtedoux, Bure, Courchavon, Coeuve, Alle, Courgenay
Website www.porrentruy.ch

Porrentruy (German: Pruntrut) is a Swiss municipality and seat of the district of the same name located in the canton of Jura.

Contents

[edit] Geography

The municipality lies on both sides of the Allaine River, in Ajoie (the bulge in the northwest corner of Switzerland that extends into France) at the foot of the Jura Mountains on the north. In addition to the wide valley of the Allaine itself, it includes the watershed of the Creux-Genat River, that flows down from the peaks of La Banné (511 m) and La Perche (526 m). In the north, the municipality includes the hills and forests of the Petit Fahy (543 m) und Grand Fahy (570 m). The highest point in the municipality is the ridge that divides it from the municipality of Bure at 580 m.

In 1997, the land of the municipality was about evenly divided between woodland (41%) and farms (38%), with 20% of land use residential and 1% unutilized.

[edit] Population and language

Population History
Year Population
1809 2355
1818 1896
1850 2880
1870 4452
1900 6959
1910 6591
1930 5805
1950 6523
1960 7095
1970 7827
1980 7039
1990 6857
2000 6753
2005 6593

With a population of 6593 (as of the end of 2005) Porrentruy is the second-largest town in the canton of Jura. Of that population, 89.5% are French-speaking, 2.8% are German-speaking, and 2.2% Italian-speaking. The highest population was recorded in 1970, with 7827 inhabitants. Since then, the population has continuously decreased.

[edit] Transportation

Porrentruy lies on the Swiss Federal rail lines Delle-Delémont-Basel and Delle-Delémont-Bienne. There is also a local rail line of the Chemins de fer du Jura (CJ) Porrentruy-Bonfol.

The municipality lies on the first stretch of the motorway (A16 or E27) to open (in 1998) in the canton of Jura between Delémont and Belfort, France.

[edit] Economy

In the course of the 19th century, Porrentruy developed from a trading center to an important industrial town, with traditional industries such as watchmaking, shoemaking, and textiles. In the 20th century, other important industries were added, notably metalworking, machine manufacturing, electronics, and furniture building. Agriculture is no longer a major factor in the labor market of the municipality.

[edit] Culture

Porrentruy is the site of many important institutions of the canton of Jura, including the cantonal courts, and also of the archives of the former Episcopal See of Basel. It is also the location of the Université Populaire Jurassienne.

In 1988, Porrentruy was awarded the Wakker Prize for the development and preservation of its architectural heritage.

[edit] History

This view of Porrentruy dates from the 17th century.
This view of Porrentruy dates from the 17th century.

The first known settlement in what became Porrentruy goes back to Roman times. In 1983, ruins of a temple were discovered in the cemetery on the north of town, and Roman coins were found there.

Hôtel de Ville
Hôtel de Ville

The first historical mention of the name occurs in 1136 as Purrentru. The name presumably comes from the Latin pons Ragentrudis (Ragentrud bridge). Ragentrud was the wife of the Frankish King Dagobert I. The German form of the name, Pruntrut may have a separate etymology from Bruntrutum, which means an abundant spring.

Porrentruy first belonged to the county of Montbéliard, before it became subject to the Bishop of Basel in 1271. When the town was invaded by the Burgundians, King Rudolf I of Habsburg entered the town and forced its return to the Bishop of Basel. He also declared it a free Imperial city on April 10, 1283. Financial difficulties forced the Bishop to sell the Ajoie (including Porrentruy) back to the lords of Montbéliard in 1386. But in 1461, the town once again became subject to the episcopal see. Because of the Reformation in Basel, the Bishopric moved its official headquarters to Porrentruy in 1527. Under Bishop Jakob Christoph Blarer von Wartensee, who reigned from 1575 to 1608, the town reached the apogee of its importance. In his time, many architectural projects, including expansion of the castle and the building of a Jesuit college, were undertaken. This period of prosperity ended in 1618 with the outbreak of the 30 Years' War. Porrentruy was repeatedly occupied, besieged, and plundered.

In 1792, French Revolutionary troops conquered Ajoie. Porrentruy became the capital of a dependent republic, which was then incorporated into France in 1793 as the Département du Mont Terrible. In 1800, this department was incorporated into the Département du Haut-Rhin. After the fall of Napoleon, the municipality was given to the Canton of Bern (in 1815) to compensate for the loss of the Canton of Vaud, which had become a separate canton in 1803.

Until World War I, Porrentruy was the cultural center of the region and had a larger population than Delémont. However, with the increase in automobile traffic, its situation on the edge of the country became a liability and caused economic stagnation. In the second half of the 20th century, tensions between the French-speaking minority in the Canton of Bern and the German-speaking majority led to the creation of the new Canton of Jura on January 1, 1979. To the chagrin of the inhabitants of Ajoie, Delémont was chosen as the cantonal capital.

[edit] Tourism

Château de Porrentruy
Château de Porrentruy

The scenic historic city center has many buildings in gothic, baroque, and neo-classical styles, notably the buildings of the Jesuit college, which are now used by the cantonal school. The only remaining medieval city gate is the Porte de France, which was built in 1563.

The Catholic church of Saint-Pierre is a gothic basilica that was built from 1330-50. It houses valuable relics and has a late-gothic altar. The Catholic church of Saint-Germain, was built in the 13th century and restored and expanded in 1698. The chapel of the Jesuit college (1599-1603) has an octagonal tower built in 1701, which is now used as a concert hall. The church of the Ursulines was dedicated in 1626.

On a prominence stands the Château de Porrentruy, which was the residence of the Bishop of Basel from 1527-1792. The oldest part is the round Bergfried, which was built in 1271.

Important baroque buildings are the Hôtel de Ville (1761-63), the Hôtel-Dieu (1761-65), the Hôtel de Gléresse (built in 1750 for the Baron of Ligerz), and the Hôtel des Halles (1766-69). On the squares of the old city are monumental fountains, including the Fontaine des Samarites (1564) and the Fontaine Suisse (1518).

[edit] References

This article was largely adapted from the German Wikipedia article on Porrentruy.

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:
v • d • e
Municipalities in the district of Porrentruy, Switzerland
Coat of Arms of the Canton of Jura