Grandgourt
Origin of the name Grandgourt
The place appears in 1182 as « Grantgour ». What the name means is not yet known.[1]
Founding of Grandgourt
Grandgourt grew out of a convent built in the 12th century in a gorge of the Allaine, south-west of Montignez. Who founded it is not certain: one tradition attributes it to the canons of Lanthenans, in Franche-Comté, another to the Cluniac movement. First a dependency of the Premonstratensian abbey of Bellelay, it briefly became an abbey, then a priory of Bellelay. Sold as national property during the Revolution, the estate became a farm in the 19th century, then housed a large fish farm in the 20th century. The hamlet lies in the former municipality of Montignez, part of Basse-Allaine since 2009, but uses the postcode of Courtemaîche.[1][2][3]
History of Grandgourt
12th century. A convent is built in a gorge of the Allaine.[1][3]
1182. First mention, « Grantgour », in a privilege of Pope Lucius III for Bellelay Abbey, on which the convent depends.[1]
1188. Grandgourt becomes an abbey; Pope Clement III confirms the possessions of Bellelay and Grandgourt at Montignez, Bure, Courtemaîche and Coeuve.[1][2]
1208. After a period in which the Cluniacs of Altkirch are thought to have occupied the house, Bellelay recovers it and makes it a priory.[1][2]
1244. On 30 April, Hugues de Buix gives Bellelay a meadow for the church of Grandgourt. The deed is reportedly the oldest document written in French in Switzerland. The Grandgourt mill is mentioned the same year.[2]
1593. Prince-Bishop Jacques-Christophe Blarer de Wartensee reportedly annexes the priories of Miserez and Grandgourt to the Porrentruy college.[2]
1675. Grandgourt is plundered.[2]
1738-1744. The priory is rebuilt.[1]
1770. The two-arched bridge over the Allaine is built. An agreement of 25 May 1773 divides the costs between Bellelay and the bailiwick of Ajoie.[1][2][4]
1792. On 24 September, volunteers from the Haut-Rhin invade the priory.[2]
1798. On 9 July, the priory is sold as national property.[1][2]
1801. The church is partly destroyed. It is demolished in 1860 to widen the road.[1]
1828. A fountain is built at the end of the wall separating the priory park from the road.[4]
1830. The estate is sold to the Girardin brothers of Delle.
1878. On 1 June, Grandgourt station opens.[2]
1976-1977. The priory is restored; the Bernese government lists it as a historic monument in 1977.[1]
1982. The Jura Cantonal Bank buys the priory.[2]
2001. The priory becomes a training and wellness centre. The operator goes bankrupt and the building is auctioned in 2003.[1][2]
Historic sites in Grandgourt
Grandgourt Priory. Imposing building rebuilt in 1738-1744, with rich interior decoration, restored in 1976-1977.[1]
Grandgourt bridge. Stone bridge of 1770 over the Allaine, with two round arches, 15 m long, still in use.[1][2][4]
Fountain. Fountain of 1828 at the end of the wall separating the priory park from the road.[4]
Fish farm. Set up on the former priory estate in the 20th century.[1]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Grandgourt » (Dominique Prongué), version du 17.11.2016
- Denis Moine, Chronologie jurassienne, « Grandgourt Courtemaîche »
- Inventaire fédéral des sites construits (ISOS), « Montignez », fiche n° 2405
- Inventaire des voies de communication historiques de la Suisse (IVS), JU 7.1.1
- Statistique Jura, tableau JU-T.01.01.03, population résidante permanente au 31 décembre 2025
- geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux et limites communales historiques
Other villages near Grandgourt
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