La Motte
Origin of the name La Motte
The origin of the name has not yet been explained. The hamlet gave its name to the former parish of Ocourt-La Motte.
Founding of La Motte
When La Motte came into being is not known. This hamlet of the former municipality of Ocourt lies in the Doubs valley, on the French border, where the river leaves Switzerland. It gave its name to the very old parish of Ocourt-La Motte, whose church of Saint-Valbert stands apart on the bank of the Doubs between Ocourt and La Motte. It also served Bremoncourt, in the Doubs department. On the road from Saint-Ursanne to Saint-Hippolyte, La Motte housed toll and customs offices in the 19th and 20th centuries. With Ocourt, the hamlet now belongs to the municipality of Clos du Doubs.[1][2]
History of La Motte
1139. First mention of the church of Saint-Valbert, between Ocourt and La Motte.[1]
1636. The church burns; Saint-Valbert is rebuilt from 1636 to 1641. A rebuilding in 1717 is also reported, but it is not confirmed.[1][3]
1796. On 23 May, the administration of the Mont-Terrible department refuses to separate La Motte and Monturban from the municipality of Ocourt.[3]
1843. The Bernese government sets up a toll and ohmgeld (drinks tax) office at La Motte on the road from Porrentruy to Besançon.[3]
1850. The parish of Ocourt-La Motte stops serving Bremoncourt (Doubs). The federal toll administration decides to set up a gendarmerie post at La Motte.[1][3]
1859. The ohmgeld office is moved from Ocourt to La Motte.[3]
1865. On 19 March, the parish assembly discusses moving the church from La Motte to the village of Ocourt.[3]
1889. The Bernese government makes La Motte a vicariate of the parish of Saint-Ursanne.[3]
1894. On 28 October, the restored church is inaugurated. The bell tower is built in 1897.[3]
1904. On 1 October, the Saint-Ursanne-Ocourt stagecoach is extended to La Motte.[3]
1909. On 1 April, the customs office closes.[3]
1925. On 4 June, the Clos du Doubs postal bus service is inaugurated, serving among others the Saint-Ursanne-Ocourt-La Motte route.[3]
1940. In June, civilian refugees and, on 19 and 20 June, French troops cross the border, at La Motte among other places, to be interned in Switzerland. A monument to the internees is unveiled in 1950.[3]
1964. On 6 June, the restored church is consecrated. The Bernese government had listed it as a historic monument in 1961.[3]
1973. The post office closes.[3]
2000. On 1 January, the customs post closes.[3]
2009. On 1 January, Ocourt, together with La Motte, joins the municipality of Clos du Doubs.
Historic sites in La Motte
Church of Saint-Valbert. Church of the former parish of Ocourt-La Motte, an isolated building on the bank of the Doubs between Ocourt and La Motte, mentioned from 1139. Rebuilt in 1636-1641 and listed as a historic monument by the Bernese government in 1961, it is now cultural property of regional importance.[1][3][4]
Border crossing. At La Motte the Doubs leaves Switzerland and the road from Saint-Ursanne reaches France. The hamlet housed toll, customs and post offices that are now closed.[2][3]
Sources
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Ocourt » (Dominique Prongué), version du 18.05.2020
- Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Doubs » (Claude Rebetez), version du 27.02.2024
- Denis Moine, Chronologie jurassienne, « Motte (Clos du Doubs) »
- 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 « La Motte »
Other villages near La Motte
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