FRDEITEN
Villages / Jura / Porrentruy district / Roche-d'Or
Coat of arms of Roche-d'Or

Roche-d'Or

Canton of Jura · District: Porrentruy · 37 inhabitants (2008, former municipality of Roche-d'Or, last figure before the merger)
Part of the municipality of Haute-Ajoie
View of Roche-d'Or
Photo: Patrick Herbillon, CC BY-SA 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 Roche-d'Or

The place is first recorded in 1283 in the German form « Goldenvels ». A form « Rozhedor » from 1284 and a Latin form « Rupes Aurea » are reportedly also known, but not confirmed. The old German name is Goldenfels. The name, « golden rock », is reportedly a common castle name, taken from the fortress built in 1283, though this is not confirmed.[1]

Founding of Roche-d'Or

The village, on a shelf of the Lomont ridge overlooking the Haute-Ajoie, is linked to the castle built in 1283 west of the village by the Prince-Bishop of Basel Henri d'Isny, then fighting the Count of Montbéliard for possession of the Ajoie. The castle became the seat of a lordship comprising Damvant, Grandfontaine, Réclère, Chevenez and Fahy. The village later came under the grande mairie of Chevenez and, for worship, always belonged to the parish of Grandfontaine. A commune mixte from 1836 and still agricultural, it is now part of the municipality of Haute-Ajoie (merger of 1 January 2009).[1]

History of Roche-d'Or

1283. The Prince-Bishop of Basel Henri d'Isny has the castle built. First mention as « Goldenvels ».[1][2]

Late 13th century. The castle becomes the seat of a lordship comprising Damvant, Grandfontaine, Réclère, Chevenez and Fahy.[1]

1425. Prince-Bishop Johann von Fleckenstein retakes the lordship of Roche-d'Or by force from the counts of Neuchâtel.[2]

1474-1477. During the Burgundian Wars the prince-bishop retakes by force the lordship pledged to the Counts of Montbéliard.[1]

1595. The castle is demolished.[1][2]

1793-1813. Roche-d'Or belongs to the French departments of Mont-Terrible, then Haut-Rhin.[1]

1815-1978. The village is part of the canton of Bern, in the bailiwick and later district of Porrentruy.[1]

1836. Roche-d'Or becomes a commune mixte.[1]

1974. In the plebiscite of 23 June on the creation of the canton of Jura, the municipality votes no (17 no, 9 yes).[1][2]

1979. Roche-d'Or joins the new canton of Jura.

2009. On 1 January Roche-d'Or merges with Chevenez, Damvant and Réclère into the municipality of Haute-Ajoie.[1]

Population of Roche-d'Or

Sources and references: [1]

Population of Roche-d'Or
181891
1850128
190077
195074
200033
200837

Historic sites in Roche-d'Or

Faux d'Enson. Highest point of the former municipality (927 m, altitude not confirmed). An observation tower was built here in 1902 on the decision of the Federal Military Department. A new tower was inaugurated on 15 October 1989.[2]

Notre-Dame chapel. Village chapel, inaugurated in 1924, restored and inaugurated again in 1982. The village has always belonged to the parish of Grandfontaine.[1][2]

Remains in Roche-d'Or

Site of Roche-d'Or castle. Castle built in 1283 west of the village by Prince-Bishop Henri d'Isny, seat of a lordship, demolished in 1595. Its ruins are a cultural property of regional importance. Reportedly almost nothing of it is visible today.[1][3]

Sources

  1. Dictionnaire historique de la Suisse, « Roche-d'Or » (Dominique Prongué), version du 04.06.2020
  2. Denis Moine, Chronologie jurassienne, « Roche-d'Or »
  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 « Roche-d'Or »

Other villages near Roche-d'Or

Missing information, or do you have a source? Suggest a correction or addition. Every submission is checked before it's published.

Suggest a change