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Coat of arms of Ocourt

Ocourt

Canton of Jura · District: Porrentruy · 134 inhabitants (2008, former municipality of Ocourt, last figure before the merger)
Part of the municipality of Clos du Doubs
View of Ocourt
Photo: Tinelot Wittermans, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons · Coat of arms: CC BY-SA 3.0
Origin of the name Founding Historical timeline Population over time Must-see historical sites Remains Sources and references Nearby villages

Origin of the name Ocourt

First recorded as « Oscurt » in 1139, according to a copy of 1179, then « Hoscort » in 1210. The nearby castle of Montvoie appears in 1284 as « Montvouel ».[1][2]

Founding of Ocourt

Neither the date nor the founder of Ocourt is known. The village appears in 1139 with its church of Saint-Valbert and remained until 1793 a possession of the chapter of Saint-Ursanne, in the diocese of Basel. The very old parish of Ocourt-La Motte also served Bremoncourt, across today's border, until 1850. On the Lomont range, the lordship of Montvoie, a fief of the Church of Basel from 1284, formed a separate municipality until it was joined to Ocourt in 1882. The former municipality also included the hamlets of La Motte and Monturban. Part of the canton of Bern from 1815 to 1978, then of the canton of Jura, it is now in the municipality of Clos du Doubs (merger of 1 January 2009).[1][2]

History of Ocourt

1139. First mention of Ocourt (« Oscurt », according to a copy of 1179) and of the church of Saint-Valbert.[1]

1210. The village is recorded as « Hoscort ».[1]

1284. Montvoie (« Montvouel »), until then a fief of the Neuchâtel-Bourgogne family between the Ajoie and the provostship of Saint-Ursanne, becomes a fief of the Church of Basel.[2]

13th-16th century. Montvoie is enfeoffed in turn to the lords of Vendlincourt, the Saint-Aubin, the Boncourt known as d'Asuel, the Tavannes and then the Reinach-Grandvillers.[2]

1474. Montvoie Castle, burned during the Burgundian Wars, is rebuilt.

16th century. A forge is recorded in Ocourt in the second half of the century.[1]

17th century. At the beginning of the century, Montvoie returns to the Prince-Bishop of Basel.[2]

1636-1641. Rebuilding of the church of Saint-Valbert.[1]

1793. End of the chapter of Saint-Ursanne's rule. Ocourt and Montvoie pass to the French departments of Mont-Terrible and then Haut-Rhin, until 1813.[1][2]

1815-1978. Ocourt and Montvoie belong to the canton of Bern.[1][2]

1836. Ocourt becomes a mixed municipality.[1]

1850. The parish of Ocourt-La Motte stops serving Bremoncourt (Doubs).[1]

1874-1935. The parish is joined to that of Saint-Ursanne.[1]

1882. The municipality of Montvoie is merged into Ocourt.[1][2]

1979. Ocourt joins the new canton of Jura.

2009. On 1 January, Ocourt merges with Epauvillers, Epiquerez, Montenol, Montmelon, Saint-Ursanne and Seleute to form the municipality of Clos du Doubs (district of Porrentruy).[1]

Population of Ocourt

Sources and references: [1]

Population of Ocourt
1818334
1850381 (including Montvoie)
1900244
1950214
2000132
2008134

Historic sites in Ocourt

Church of Saint-Valbert. First mentioned in 1139, the church of Saint-Valbert stands isolated on the bank of the Doubs between Ocourt and La Motte. Rebuilt in 1636-1641, it has been restored and altered several times. It is a cultural property of regional significance.[1][5]

La Motte. Hamlet of the former municipality in the Doubs valley, on the French border. It gave its name to the very old parish of Ocourt-La Motte, which also served Bremoncourt (Doubs) until 1850.[1]

Monturban. Hamlet of the former municipality of Ocourt.[1]

Road from Saint-Ursanne to Saint-Hippolyte. Ocourt had a customs post on the road running along the river from Saint-Ursanne to Saint-Hippolyte (Doubs).[1]

Remains in Ocourt

Ruins of Montvoie Castle. Castle on the Lomont range, on the territory of the former municipality of Ocourt, listed in the Swiss Inventory of Cultural Property of National Significance. The ruins probably date back to the 11th century. The round tower and the central part date from the 13th century, the curtain wall and artillery towers from the 15th and 16th centuries. A fief of the Church of Basel from 1284, the castle was rebuilt after the fire of 1474. When it was abandoned is uncertain: in the 16th century, or after the damage of the Thirty Years' War. A farmhouse adjoins the ruins. The lordship had five households in 1598, 47 inhabitants in 1793, 34 in 1850 and 35 in 1880.[2][5]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Ocourt » (Dominique Prongué), version du 18.05.2020
  2. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Montvoie » (Jean-Paul Prongué), version du 21.11.2016
  3. Inventaire suisse des biens culturels d'importance nationale (OFPP), fiche KGS 03557 « Château (Ocourt, Montvoie) »
  4. geo.admin.ch (swisstopo), recherche de lieux « Ocourt »
  5. Office fédéral de la protection de la population (OFPP), Inventaire PBC, liste cantonale du canton du Jura (état au 1.1.2026)

Other villages near Ocourt

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