Delémont

Town Canton of Jura · District: Delémont · 12'991 inhabitants (31.12.2025)

Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Remains Legends Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Delémont

Name origin: the place is mentioned in 736/737 as « in figo Delemonte », then in 1131 as « Telsperg »; its German name is « Delsberg ». The etymology of the name is not explained in the sources consulted.

Founding of Delémont

The site was inhabited from the Middle Bronze Age, then in the Iron Age and in Roman times, when a Gallo-Roman mausoleum and probably one or more villas suggest a vicus. When the natural terrace forming the core of the old town was settled remains unknown; this core was already fortified by the middle of the 13th century. The valley, held by the Dukes of Alsace from the 7th century, belonged from the 12th century to the lordship of Ferrette, bought by the Bishop of Basel in 1271. Delémont then comprised a fortified borough and two castles overlooking the Vorbourg gorge, where the lords of Telsberg probably lived. On 6 January 1289, Bishop Pierre Reich de Reichenstein granted a charter of liberties giving Delémont the status of a town and setting the conditions for dividing up the land.

History of Delémont

Middle Bronze Age. About fifteen cinerary urns, found in the alluvial plain, are the first traces of settlement; Late Bronze Age settlements have been located to the west, to the south and in the Vorbourg gorge.

Roman period. Remains of a Gallo-Roman mausoleum and of a small coin hoard at the place called la Communance; one or more Roman villas suggest a vicus.

736/737. First written mention: « in figo Delemonte ».

7th century. The valley belongs to the Dukes of Alsace; in the 12th century it passes to the lordship of Ferrette.

1255. First mention of the parish of Saint-Marcel.

1271. The Bishop of Basel buys the lordship of Ferrette; Delémont has a fortified borough and two castles at the Vorbourg.

1289. On 6 January, Bishop Pierre Reich de Reichenstein grants a charter of liberties: Delémont becomes a town.

1338. The town obtains the right to levy the angal (excise duty) on wine and goods.

1416. First mention of the weekly market.

1447. Foundation of the hospital.

1487. On 16 November, a great fire destroys a large part of the town.

1534-1792. The parish church also serves as collegiate church for the chapter of Moutier-Grandval, driven out by the Reformation.

1586. Rebuilding of the Vorbourg chapel, dedicated to the Virgin.

1716-1721. Construction of the episcopal castle by Pierre Racine of Tramelan.

1742-1745. Construction of the town hall by Giovanni Gaspare Bagnato.

1762-1767. Construction of the church of Saint-Marcel to plans by Pierre-François Paris.

1793. Delémont becomes the chief town of one of the two districts of the French department of Mont-Terrible.

1815. Union with the canton of Bern: chief town of a bailiwick, then of a district from 1831.

1875. Construction of the railway station, which shapes the town's growth; Delémont becomes a rail hub between the Basel-Biel and Bern-Paris lines.

1909. Foundation of the Musée jurassien d'art et d'histoire.

1948. First Festival of the Jura People (Fête du peuple jurassien), held every year since in Delémont, headquarters of the separatist movement.

1979. Delémont becomes the seat of the parliament and government of the Republic and Canton of Jura.

Population of Delémont

921

1770

1'062

1798

1'650

1850

2'793

1880

6'161

1910

6'393

1930

7'504

1950

11'797

1970

11'548

1990

11'353

2000

12'991

2025

Historic sites in Delémont

Old town. Built on a roughly rectangular plan, with two main longitudinal streets crossing three transverse ones, it was surrounded by ramparts and pierced by four gates (porte Monsieur, porte au Loup, porte des Moulins, porte des Prés). Its monumental fountains date from the late Renaissance.

Episcopal castle. Summer residence of the Prince-Bishops of Basel, built in 1716-1721 by Pierre Racine of Tramelan. It long housed the town's schools.

Town hall. Built in 1742-1745 by Giovanni Gaspare Bagnato.

Church of Saint-Marcel. Parish church mentioned in 1255, rebuilt in 1762-1767 to plans by Pierre-François Paris; the bell tower dates from 1850-1851.

Chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Vorbourg. Former oratory of the lower castle of Telsberg, on a rocky spur north of the town, rebuilt in 1586 and dedicated to the Virgin, enlarged several times (1669-1670, 1695-1697, 1719). After the Kulturkampf, the Vorbourg became the most popular place of pilgrimage in Catholic Jura; the coronation of Our Lady took place there in 1869.

Musée jurassien d'art et d'histoire. Museum founded in 1909.

Former synagogue. Built in 1911 for the Jewish community, made up mainly of cattle and textile merchants from Alsace; closed for worship in 1982, restored in 2000 and now a cultural centre.

Remains in Delémont

Bronze Age urns. About fifteen cinerary urns from the Middle Bronze Age, found in the alluvial plain, are the oldest traces of settlement.

Gallo-Roman mausoleum of la Communance. Remains of a Gallo-Roman mausoleum and of a small coin hoard found at the place called la Communance.

Ruins of the Vorbourg castle. From the 11th to the 15th century, a feudal castle inhabited by the knights of Telsperg stood on the promontory overlooking the Birs gorge between Delémont and Soyhières. What remains are the restored ruins of the main tower, the square Sainte-Anne tower and the chapel of Notre-Dame-du-Vorbourg.

Legends of Delémont

The consecration of the Vorbourg by Pope Leo IX. According to tradition, the original chapel of the Vorbourg castle was consecrated in 1049 to Saints Imier and Othmar by Pope Leo IX, brother of Gerard I of Eguisheim.

Sources

Other villages near Delémont

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