Fontenais
Origin of the name Fontenais
The form « Fonteneis » is recorded in 1148. The etymology has not yet been explained, and a link with the springs around which the village grew up is not established.[1]
Founding of Fontenais
The village grew up around springs in a small valley south of Porrentruy. Later their water would supply the town's fountains. It shared the fate of the lordship of Ajoie, incorporated into the Prince-Bishopric of Basel at the end of the 13th century. The present municipality includes the hamlet of Villars-sur-Fontenais, a few isolated farms and, since 2013, the former municipality of Bressaucourt. Who founded Fontenais is not known.[1]
History of Fontenais
11th century. The undulating ground of the Chételat is thought to cover the remains of a castle from this period (hypothesis).[1]
1148. Earliest known mention, in the form « Fonteneis ».[1]
late 13th century. The lordship of Ajoie, whose fate Fontenais shares, is incorporated into the Prince-Bishopric of Basel.[1]
1455. Foundation of the Sainte-Croix chapel, south-west of the village, which becomes an important place of pilgrimage for the Ajoie.[1]
16th century. Water from the Fontenais springs supplies the fountains of Porrentruy.[1]
Ancien Régime. An old parish of the diocese of Besançon, Fontenais belongs to the mairie of Alle.[1]
1740. The castle is built for Jean Faber, physician to the prince-bishop of Basel.[1]
1779. The parish passes from the diocese of Besançon to that of Basel.[1]
1793-1814. Fontenais is part of France, in the departments of Mont-Terrible and then Haut-Rhin.[1]
1815. Joined to the canton of Bern, until 1978.[1]
1836. Fontenais becomes a mixed municipality.[1]
around 1850. The village, until then essentially agricultural, takes up watchmaking and long remains the working-class suburb of Porrentruy.[1]
1935. The church of Saints-Pierre-et-Paul is rebuilt in the style of the Groupe de Saint-Luc et Saint-Maurice.[1]
1979. Fontenais becomes part of the new canton of Jura (district of Porrentruy).
2000. More than two thirds of the working population work outside the municipality, mainly in the tertiary and secondary sectors.[1]
2013. On 1 January, Fontenais merges with Bressaucourt.[1]
Population of Fontenais
Sources and references: [1]
| 1809 | 423 |
| 1850 | 680 |
| 1900 | 1'248 |
| 1950 | 1'012 |
| 2000 | 1'249 |
| 2010 | 1'251 |
| 2013 | 1'677 (with Bressaucourt) |
| 2025 | 1'645 |
Historic sites in Fontenais
Sainte-Croix chapel. Founded in 1455 south-west of the village, it was an important place of pilgrimage for the Ajoie. Cultural property of regional significance (federal PCP inventory).[1][4]
Fontenais castle. Built in 1740 for Jean Faber, physician to the prince-bishop of Basel. It now houses the municipal administration. Cultural property of regional significance (federal PCP inventory).[1][4]
Church of Saints-Pierre-et-Paul. Rebuilt in 1935, its architecture, furnishings and decoration are characteristic of the Groupe de Saint-Luc et Saint-Maurice, very active in French-speaking Switzerland at the time. Cultural property of regional significance (federal PCP inventory).[1][4]
Villars-sur-Fontenais. Hamlet belonging to the municipality of Fontenais.
Remains in Fontenais
Le Chételat. The undulating ground of the Le Chételat site may cover the remains of an 11th-century castle. This is only a hypothesis.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Fontenais » (Dominique Prongué)
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Bressaucourt » (Dominique Prongué)
- République et Canton du Jura, Gouvernement, réponse à la question écrite n° 3074 « Fusions de communes : où en est-on ? » (23 octobre 2018)
- Office fédéral de la protection de la population (OFPP), Inventaire PBC, liste cantonale du canton du Jura (état au 1.1.2026)
- Statistique Jura, tableau JU-T.01.01.03, population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025
- geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Fontenais »
Localities of the municipality with a page
Other villages near Fontenais
Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.
Suggest a change