Courchavon
Origin of the name Courchavon
First recorded in 1279 as « Corchavon ». The etymology of the name remains unexplained.[1]
Founding of Courchavon
Neither the founder of Courchavon nor the date of its creation is known. Mammoth bones and two flints, probably Mousterian, show that the area was frequented long before the village. In the Middle Ages Châtelvouhay Castle, seat of the advocates of Ajoie, stood on its territory, and the Châtelvouhay family held Courchavon and the neighbouring hamlet of Mormont as a fief of the Bishop of Basel.[1]
History of Courchavon
Palaeolithic. Mammoth bones and two flints, probably Mousterian, bear witness to a presence in the area.[1]
13th century. Construction of Châtelvouhay Castle, seat of the advocates of Ajoie in the 13th and 14th centuries.[1]
1279. First mention: « Corchavon ».[1]
14th century. The Châtelvouhay family holds Courchavon and Mormont as a fief of the Bishop of Basel.[1]
Ancien Régime. Courchavon is part of the great mayoralty of Courtedoux in the Bishopric of Basel.[1]
1618. Courchavon, until then part of the parish of Porrentruy, separates from it.[1]
1628. Construction of the post-Gothic bell tower of the old parish church.[1]
1779. The parish passes from the diocese of Besançon to that of Basel.[1]
1793-1814. Courchavon is part of the French departments of Mont-Terrible and Haut-Rhin.[1]
1815-1978. Courchavon belongs to the Bernese bailiwick, then district, of Porrentruy.[1]
1836. Adoption of the status of mixed municipality.[1]
1844-1845. Construction of the present church of Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste. The old church is demolished in the 19th century, except for its bell tower.[1]
1872. Arrival of the railway (Bern-Paris line, now Porrentruy-Boncourt), which encourages the beginnings of industrialisation (watchmaking).[1]
1956. Land consolidation.[1]
1975-1976. Construction of a chapel at Mormont.[1]
Population of Courchavon
Sources and references: [1]
| 1770 | 225 |
| 1818 | 239 |
| 1850 | 306 |
| 1870 | 457 |
| 1900 | 311 |
| 1910 | 278 |
| 1950 | 321 |
| 1980 | 269 |
| 2000 | 293 |
| 2010 | 306 |
| 2025 | 332 |
Historic sites in Courchavon
Church of Saint-Jean-l'Évangéliste. Parish church built in 1844-1845, which holds a 13th-century statue of the Virgin and Child.[1]
Post-Gothic bell tower. Bell tower of 1628, the only remnant of the old parish church demolished in the 19th century.[1]
Mormont. Hamlet of the municipality, held as a fief in the 14th century by the Châtelvouhay family together with Courchavon. A chapel was built there in 1975-1976.[1]
Remains in Courchavon
Châtelvouhay Castle. Remains of a 13th-century castle, seat of the advocates of Ajoie in the 13th and 14th centuries. The Châtelvouhay family held Courchavon and Mormont as a fief of the Bishop of Basel.[1]
Mammoth bones. Mammoth bones found together with two flints, probably Mousterian.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Courchavon » (Dominique Prongué)
- Statistique Jura, tableau JU-T.01.01.03, population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025
- geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Courchavon »
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Courchavon
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