Coeuve
Origin of the name Coeuve
The village appears in 1136 as « Cova ». No explanation has yet been found for this name.[2]
Founding of Coeuve
Neither the founder of Coeuve nor the date of its creation is known. The area was frequented in Roman times, as shown by a hoard of 3rd-century coins found at the place called Cras Roquet. The village belonged to the County of Ferrette until the end of the 13th century, when, with the rest of Ajoie, it was detached from that county and incorporated into the Bishopric of Basel. Lords of Coeuve lived in a castle, which later passed to the Prince-Bishop.[2]
History of Coeuve
3rd century. Roman coins of this period are buried at Cras Roquet. The hoard of 600 to 800 pieces will be discovered in 1840.[2]
1136. First mention of the village: « Cova ».[2]
Mid-13th century. Construction of the ashlar tower of the church of Saint-Jean-devant-la-Porte-Latine (mid-13th or early 14th century).[2]
Late 13th century. With the rest of Ajoie, Coeuve is detached from the County of Ferrette and incorporated into the Bishopric of Basel.[2]
1317. First mention of the church.[2]
14th century. The great tithe belongs to the Duke of Austria, who grants it in fief to Jean-Rodolphe de Morimond. It later passes to the Counts of Vignacourt.[2]
16th century. Coeuve becomes the seat of one of the five great mayoralties of Ajoie, comprising seven communities.[2]
1602. The castle, residence of the lords of Coeuve, is sold to the Prince-Bishop of Basel.[2]
1634-1640. Abuses by mercenary troops during the Thirty Years' War.[2]
1726-1740. Coeuve is one of the hot spots of the Troubles that shake the principality.
1730-1793. The castle serves as the prince-bishops' summer residence.[2]
1755. Construction of the public wash houses in front of the castle, altered in 1894 and restored in 1999.[2]
1786. Construction of the presbytery with a mansard roof.[2]
1793-1813. Annexation to the French departments of Mont-Terrible, then Haut-Rhin.
1802. Coeuve, until then dependent on Porrentruy in spiritual matters, becomes a parish.[2]
1815. Attachment to the canton of Bern, to which Coeuve belongs until 1978.[2]
1825. Rebuilding of the church nave.[2]
1836. Adoption of the status of mixed municipality.[2]
1877. Construction of the neoclassical primary school.[2]
1979. Coeuve becomes part of the new canton of Jura. The locality has remained essentially agricultural.
Population of Coeuve
Sources and references: [2]
| 1770 | 384 |
| 1818 | 444 |
| 1850 | 630 |
| 1900 | 757 |
| 1930 | 690 |
| 1950 | 721 |
| 1990 | 557 |
| 2000 | 637 |
| 2010 | 677 |
| 2025 | 720 |
Historic sites in Coeuve
Church of Saint-Jean-devant-la-Porte-Latine. Church mentioned in 1317, whose ashlar tower, set on a spur, dates from the mid-13th or early 14th century. The nave was rebuilt in 1825.[2]
Coeuve Castle. Residence of the lords of Coeuve, of medieval origin (13th century), sold in 1602 to the Prince-Bishop of Basel and remodelled in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was the prince-bishops' summer residence from 1730 to 1793. A farmhouse and a dovecote adjoin it.[2]
Public wash houses. Built in 1755 in front of the castle, altered in 1894 and restored in 1999.[2]
Presbytery. Building of 1786 with a mansard roof, set against the wall of the church terrace.[2]
Fountains and school. The village has several fountains, including a large obelisk fountain of 1859, as well as a neoclassical primary school of 1877 and a communal wine press from the early 20th century.[2]
Remains in Coeuve
Cras Roquet coin hoard. In 1840 a hoard of 600 to 800 Roman coins of the 3rd century was unearthed at the place called Cras Roquet.[2]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Cœuve » (Dominique Prongué)
- Inventaire fédéral des sites construits d'importance nationale (ISOS), « Coeuve »
- Statistique Jura, tableau JU-T.01.01.03, population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025
- geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Coeuve »
Other villages near Coeuve
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