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Villages / Jura / Porrentruy district / Miécourt
Coat of arms of Miécourt

Miécourt

Canton of Jura · District: Porrentruy · 427 inhabitants (2008, former municipality of Miécourt, last figure before the merger)
Part of the municipality of La Baroche
View of Miécourt
Photo: Roland Zumbuehl, CC BY 3.0, Wikimedia Commons · Coat of arms: Public domain
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Miécourt

The village is first recorded in 866, as « Curtem que Mietiam ». In German it was once called « Mieschdorf ». The origin of the name is not explained.[1]

Founding of Miécourt

Nobody knows who founded the village or when. In the 12th century the lords of Miécourt built a fortified house here, held from the Bishop of Basel. The lordship then passed to the Morimont family, while the rest of Ajoie went to the counts of Montbéliard. The abbeys of Lucelle and Bellelay owned property in Miécourt. From the 14th century the lords of Valangin, then the counts of Neuchâtel, held manorial estates (colonges) here, which they granted as a fief to the Spechbach family around 1450. Miécourt then returned to the Bishop of Basel and belonged to the lordship of Ajoie until the Revolution. The village has remained agricultural.[1]

History of Miécourt

866. First mention: « Curtem que Mietiam ».[1]

12th century. Construction of the fortified house of the lords of Miécourt, held from the Bishop of Basel.[1]

14th century. The lords of Valangin, then the counts of Neuchâtel, hold manorial estates (colonges) in Miécourt.[1]

1386-1468. The lordship of Miécourt belongs to the Morimont family, while the rest of Ajoie goes to the counts of Montbéliard.[1]

around 1450. The colonges are granted as a fief to the Spechbach family.[1]

1611. Miécourt, until then part of the parish of La Baroche (Charmoille), becomes a parish. Lucelle Abbey keeps the right of collation.[1]

late 18th century. The Church of the Nativity of the Virgin is rebuilt.[1]

1792. End of Miécourt's membership of the lordship of Ajoie in the Prince-Bishopric of Basel.[1]

1793-1813. Miécourt belongs to the French departments of Mont-Terrible, then Haut-Rhin.[1]

1815-1978. Miécourt belongs to the Bernese bailiwick, then district, of Porrentruy.[1]

1836. Miécourt adopts the status of a mixed municipality.[1]

1909. The Reformed chapel is built.[1]

1950. Immigration from German-speaking Switzerland reaches 32% of the population. Protestants have exceeded 30% since 1900.[1]

1974. In the plebiscite on the creation of the canton of Jura, 48% of Miécourt's voters vote no.[1]

1995. A foundation is set up that owns the castle and restores it.[1]

1996-1998. Archaeological excavations at the castle.[1]

2009. On 1 January, Miécourt merges with Asuel, Charmoille, Fregiécourt and Pleujouse into the municipality of La Baroche.[1]

Population of Miécourt

Sources and references: [1]

Population of Miécourt
1818534
1850524
1900481
1950450
2000422
2008427

Historic sites in Miécourt

Church of the Nativity of the Virgin. Catholic parish church, rebuilt at the end of the 18th century. The parish was founded in 1611, with Lucelle Abbey holding the right of collation. Cultural property of regional significance, listed in the federal inventory as the church of Notre-Dame-de-l'Immaculée-Conception.[1][3]

Reformed chapel. Built in 1909 for the Protestant community, which had grown through strong immigration from German-speaking Switzerland.[1]

Monument to Lieutenant Walter Flury. Monument a few hundred metres from the French border in memory of balloon officer Lieutenant Walter Flury of Granges (SO). He was reportedly killed when his tethered balloon was shot down by a German aircraft over Miécourt.

Remains in Miécourt

Miécourt castle (fortified house). Fortified house built in the 12th century by the lords of Miécourt and held from the Bishop of Basel. Its remains were excavated from 1996 to 1998. A foundation set up in 1995 owns the castle and restores it.[1]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Miécourt » (Dominique Prongué), version du 11.06.2020
  2. République et Canton du Jura, Gouvernement, message au Parlement relatif à la révision de la législation en matière de fusion de communes (30 mars 2011)
  3. Office fédéral de la protection de la population (OFPP), Inventaire PBC, liste cantonale du canton du Jura (état au 1.1.2026)
  4. geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Miécourt »

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