Delémont
Encyclopedia
Delémont is the capital of the Swiss canton
of Jura
. The city has approximately 11,000 inhabitants as of 2007.
, about halfway between Basel and Bienne. It stretches along both sides of the Sorne river, shortly before it flows into the Birs
on the northern edge of the Delémont valley, a wide depression in the Jura Mountains
.
The 22 km² (8.5 sq mi) area of the municipality
is largely given to intensive cultivation. At the south end of the valley is the Montchaibeux, an isolated hill. On the north, the valley is bounded by the Les Rangiers range, with la Chaive (930 m (3,051.2 ft)) as the highest point in the municipality. The eastern boundary is the Birs
River. In 1997, 18% of the land was residential, 43% was wooded, 38% was farmland, and 1% was unutilized.
The following towns belong to the municipality: Les Rondez and Les Vorbourgs. The surrounding municipalities are Develier
, Courtételle
, Rossemaison
, Courrendlin
, Courroux
, Soyhières
, Mettembert
, and Bourrignon
.
With 11,364 inhabitants (at the end of 2007). Delémont is the largest city in the canton of Jura. Of those inhabitants, 84.3% are French-speaking, 4.0% Italian-speaking, and 3.1% German-speaking (as of 2000). The largest population was reached in 1970 at 11,797. Since then, the population has decreased slightly. In 2000, 70% of the population were Catholic
, and 13% Lutheran, and the rest of the population belonged to other religions or had no affiliation.
Perhaps the most well known firm based here is Wenger
. Their factory does not have a show room.
Today, Delémont is the economic and governmental hub of the canton, as well as the neighboring Jura region of the Canton of Bern. In addition to its traditional manufacturing core, it has developed much employment in the service sector. Although, it is plagued by a large unemployment rate, forcing its inhabitants to seek for jobs in the larger neighboring cities such as Basel or Biel.
the railway from Paris, Belfort and Delle connects with the Bienne to Basel line. The section of line between Belfort and Delle is currently
being electrified and an hourly optymo bus service maintains the connection between Delle and Belfort.
Delémont has good road connections to the surrounding cities. It lies on the main road between Basel
and Bienne, as well as La Chaux-de-Fonds
. In 1998, the first stretch of motorway in the canton of Jura (the A 16) was opened between Delémont and Porrentruy
.
The first stretch of rail line reached Delémont from Basel in 1875. The continuation to Moutier
was completed in 1876. All trains from Basel to Bienne must reverse in Delémont.
During World War II
, the railway station was bombed several times by the Allies
, killing a number of railway employees.
A well-developed bus system serves the surrounding countryside.
was already settled in the Bronze Age. Fifteen urn burials have been discovered in the municipality. There is also evidence of a Roman
settlement. The first historic mention of the name dates from 737 as Delemonte. In 1131, the first mention of the German name Telsperg was recorded. It is also mentioned as Laimunt (1181) and Deleymunt (1225). The name is a combination of the Germanic Tello or Dagili with the Latin word mons for mountain.
Since the 7th century, the region belonged to the lands of the counts of Alsace
. In the 12th century, it was sold to the Bishop of Basel. The city was declared to have municipal rights by Bishop Peter Reich von Reichenstein on January 6, 1289. From 1289 to 1793, it was the capital of the estate of Delémont. During the Counter-Reformation
a monastery of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
and an Ursuline
convent were established, which remained until 1793.
In 1793, Delémont was conquered by French Revolution
ary troops and became the seat of one of the districts of the Département du Mont Terrible. In 1800, this was incorporated into the Département du Haut-Rhin
. After the fall of Napoleon, the region was given to the Canton of Bern in 1815.
During the 19th century industrialization, the German-speaking population increased greatly, and in 1880 reached nearly 40%. The city was briefly bilingual, but since 1920, the German-speaking minority has continuously decreased.
Since 1947, the city became a center for agitation for separation from the Canton of Bern. In the referendums in 1959 und 1974, a large majority voted for the creation of the Canton of Jura. From 1976 to 1978, Delémont was the meetingplace for the drafting of the cantonal constitution for the new canton, which was created January 1, 1979, with Delémont as its capital.
style.
The Catholic
church of Saint-Marcel was built from 1762 to 1767 with a mixture of architectural styles from the baroque
to the classical
. Other important buildings from the time of the Bishops of Basel are the Hôtel de Ville (built from 1742 to 1745), the Châtellenie (now used as a courthouse, remodeled in 1717), and the Episcopal Palace (1716–21). The late gothic chapel of Saint-Michel dates from the 17th century.
The synagogue of Delémont is in the western part of the city. The Castle of Domont, built in 1560, is now a restaurant. There are also ruins of an early medieval castle, the Vorbourg, on the west side of the Birs. Next to them stands a chapel, dedicated in 1049 and repeatedly renovated. The main altar with the Madonna dates from the 16th century.
for preservation of its architectural heritage in 2006.
play in the Swiss Challenge League.
Cantons of Switzerland
The 26 cantons of Switzerland are the member states of the federal state of Switzerland. Each canton was a fully sovereign state with its own borders, army and currency from the Treaty of Westphalia until the establishment of the Swiss federal state in 1848...
of Jura
Canton of Jura
The Republic and Canton of the Jura , also known as the Canton of Jura or Canton Jura, is one of the cantons of Switzerland. It is the newest of the 26 Swiss cantons, located in the northwestern part of Switzerland. The capital is Delémont...
. The city has approximately 11,000 inhabitants as of 2007.
Geography
Delémont lies 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) southwest of BaselBasel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
, about halfway between Basel and Bienne. It stretches along both sides of the Sorne river, shortly before it flows into the Birs
Birs
The Birs is a 73-km long river in Switzerland that flows through the Jura region and ends as a tributary to the Rhine between Basel and Birsfelden.- Picture gallery :...
on the northern edge of the Delémont valley, a wide depression in the Jura Mountains
Jura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
.
The 22 km² (8.5 sq mi) area of the municipality
Municipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
is largely given to intensive cultivation. At the south end of the valley is the Montchaibeux, an isolated hill. On the north, the valley is bounded by the Les Rangiers range, with la Chaive (930 m (3,051.2 ft)) as the highest point in the municipality. The eastern boundary is the Birs
Birs
The Birs is a 73-km long river in Switzerland that flows through the Jura region and ends as a tributary to the Rhine between Basel and Birsfelden.- Picture gallery :...
River. In 1997, 18% of the land was residential, 43% was wooded, 38% was farmland, and 1% was unutilized.
The following towns belong to the municipality: Les Rondez and Les Vorbourgs. The surrounding municipalities are Develier
Develier
Develier is a municipality in the district of Delémont in the canton of Jura in Switzerland....
, Courtételle
Courtételle
Courtételle is a municipality in the district of Delémont in the canton of Jura in Switzerland.-External links:*http://www.courtetelle.ch...
, Rossemaison
Rossemaison
Rossemaison is a municipality in the district of Delémont of the canton of Jura in Switzerland....
, Courrendlin
Courrendlin
Courrendlin is a municipality in the district of Delémont in the canton of Jura in Switzerland....
, Courroux
Courroux
Courroux is a municipality in the district of Delémont in the canton of Jura in Switzerland.It is located three kilometers southeast of the city of Delémont.It is the third largest municipality in Jura.-External links:...
, Soyhières
Soyhières
Soyhières is a municipality in the district of Delémont in the canton of Jura in Switzerland.-References:...
, Mettembert
Mettembert
Mettembert is a municipality in the district of Delémont in the canton of Jura in Switzerland.-References:...
, and Bourrignon
Bourrignon
Bourrignon is a municipality in the district of Delémont in the canton of Jura in Switzerland....
.
Population and language
| History of Population | |
|---|---|
| Year | Population |
| 1770 | 921 |
| 1850 | 1650 |
| 1880 | 2793 |
| 1900 | 5053 |
| 1910 | 6161 |
| 1930 | 6393 |
| 1950 | 7504 |
| 1960 | 9542 |
| 1970 | 11,797 |
| 1980 | 11,682 |
| 1990 | 11,548 |
| 2000 | 11,353 |
With 11,364 inhabitants (at the end of 2007). Delémont is the largest city in the canton of Jura. Of those inhabitants, 84.3% are French-speaking, 4.0% Italian-speaking, and 3.1% German-speaking (as of 2000). The largest population was reached in 1970 at 11,797. Since then, the population has decreased slightly. In 2000, 70% of the population were Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
, and 13% Lutheran, and the rest of the population belonged to other religions or had no affiliation.
Government
Delémont hosts the parliament and government of the Canton of Jura, but many other governmental functions are housed in Porrentruy, such as the cantonal courts.Economy
Already in 1770, the city began to develop as a strong trading and manufacturing center. Only about 25% of the population was still engaged in agriculture. In the 19th century, industrialization began, led by steel mills, watchmaking, and machine, cigar, and cement manufacturing.Perhaps the most well known firm based here is Wenger
Wenger
Wenger is one of two companies that have manufactured Swiss Army knives. Based in Delémont, Wenger was acquired by rival Victorinox in 2005.- History :The history of Wenger S.A...
. Their factory does not have a show room.
Today, Delémont is the economic and governmental hub of the canton, as well as the neighboring Jura region of the Canton of Bern. In addition to its traditional manufacturing core, it has developed much employment in the service sector. Although, it is plagued by a large unemployment rate, forcing its inhabitants to seek for jobs in the larger neighboring cities such as Basel or Biel.
Transportation
At Delémont railway stationDelémont railway station
-External links:* - official site This article is based upon a translation of the French language version as at November 2011....
the railway from Paris, Belfort and Delle connects with the Bienne to Basel line. The section of line between Belfort and Delle is currently
being electrified and an hourly optymo bus service maintains the connection between Delle and Belfort.
Delémont has good road connections to the surrounding cities. It lies on the main road between Basel
Basel
Basel or Basle In the national languages of Switzerland the city is also known as Bâle , Basilea and Basilea is Switzerland's third most populous city with about 166,000 inhabitants. Located where the Swiss, French and German borders meet, Basel also has suburbs in France and Germany...
and Bienne, as well as La Chaux-de-Fonds
La Chaux-de-Fonds
La Chaux-de-Fonds is a Swiss city of the district of La Chaux-de-Fonds in the canton of Neuchâtel. It is located in the Jura mountains at an altitude of 1000 m, a few kilometres from the French border. After Geneva and Lausanne, it is the third largest city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of...
. In 1998, the first stretch of motorway in the canton of Jura (the A 16) was opened between Delémont and Porrentruy
Porrentruy
Porrentruy is a Swiss municipality and seat of the district of the same name located in the canton of Jura.-Geography:The municipality lies on both sides of the Allaine River, in Ajoie at the foot of the Jura Mountains on the north...
.
The first stretch of rail line reached Delémont from Basel in 1875. The continuation to Moutier
Moutier
Moutier is a municipality in the Jura bernois administrative district in the canton of Bern in Switzerland. It is located in the French-speaking Bernese Jura .-History:...
was completed in 1876. All trains from Basel to Bienne must reverse in Delémont.
During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, the railway station was bombed several times by the Allies
Allies
In everyday English usage, allies are people, groups, or nations that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose, whether or not explicit agreement has been worked out between them...
, killing a number of railway employees.
A well-developed bus system serves the surrounding countryside.
History
The area of the municipalityMunicipalities of Switzerland
Communes , also known as municipalities, are the smallest government division in Switzerland, numbering 2,596 . While many have a population of a few hundred citizens, the largest cities such as Zürich or Geneva also have the legal status of municipalities...
was already settled in the Bronze Age. Fifteen urn burials have been discovered in the municipality. There is also evidence of a Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
settlement. The first historic mention of the name dates from 737 as Delemonte. In 1131, the first mention of the German name Telsperg was recorded. It is also mentioned as Laimunt (1181) and Deleymunt (1225). The name is a combination of the Germanic Tello or Dagili with the Latin word mons for mountain.
Since the 7th century, the region belonged to the lands of the counts of Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
. In the 12th century, it was sold to the Bishop of Basel. The city was declared to have municipal rights by Bishop Peter Reich von Reichenstein on January 6, 1289. From 1289 to 1793, it was the capital of the estate of Delémont. During the Counter-Reformation
Counter-Reformation
The Counter-Reformation was the period of Catholic revival beginning with the Council of Trent and ending at the close of the Thirty Years' War, 1648 as a response to the Protestant Reformation.The Counter-Reformation was a comprehensive effort, composed of four major elements:#Ecclesiastical or...
a monastery of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
Order of Friars Minor Capuchin
The Order of Friars Minor Capuchin is an Order of friars in the Catholic Church, among the chief offshoots of the Franciscans. The worldwide head of the Order, called the Minister General, is currently Father Mauro Jöhri.-Origins :...
and an Ursuline
Ursulines
The Ursulines are a Roman Catholic religious order for women founded at Brescia, Italy, by Saint Angela de Merici in November 1535, primarily for the education of girls and the care of the sick and needy. Their patron saint is Saint Ursula.-History:St Angela de Merici spent 17 years leading a...
convent were established, which remained until 1793.
In 1793, Delémont was conquered by French Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
ary troops and became the seat of one of the districts of the Département du Mont Terrible. In 1800, this was incorporated into the Département du Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin is a département of the Alsace region of France, named after the Rhine river. Its name means Upper Rhine. Haut-Rhin is the smaller and less populated of the two departements of Alsace, although is still densely populated compared to the rest of France.-Subdivisions:The department...
. After the fall of Napoleon, the region was given to the Canton of Bern in 1815.
During the 19th century industrialization, the German-speaking population increased greatly, and in 1880 reached nearly 40%. The city was briefly bilingual, but since 1920, the German-speaking minority has continuously decreased.
Since 1947, the city became a center for agitation for separation from the Canton of Bern. In the referendums in 1959 und 1974, a large majority voted for the creation of the Canton of Jura. From 1976 to 1978, Delémont was the meetingplace for the drafting of the cantonal constitution for the new canton, which was created January 1, 1979, with Delémont as its capital.
Tourism
The medieval city center still has its original outline. Two of the city gates date from the 18th century: the Porte au Loup (1775) and the Porte de Porrentruy (1756–59). There are also still parts of the city wall, with the Tour des Archives, which was originally built in the 13th century. The city squares are marked by monumental fountains dating from the 16th century, in RenaissanceRenaissance
The Renaissance was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Ages and later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historical era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not...
style.
The Catholic
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
church of Saint-Marcel was built from 1762 to 1767 with a mixture of architectural styles from the baroque
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
to the classical
Classical architecture
Classical architecture is a mode of architecture employing vocabulary derived in part from the Greek and Roman architecture of classical antiquity, enriched by classicizing architectural practice in Europe since the Renaissance...
. Other important buildings from the time of the Bishops of Basel are the Hôtel de Ville (built from 1742 to 1745), the Châtellenie (now used as a courthouse, remodeled in 1717), and the Episcopal Palace (1716–21). The late gothic chapel of Saint-Michel dates from the 17th century.
The synagogue of Delémont is in the western part of the city. The Castle of Domont, built in 1560, is now a restaurant. There are also ruins of an early medieval castle, the Vorbourg, on the west side of the Birs. Next to them stands a chapel, dedicated in 1049 and repeatedly renovated. The main altar with the Madonna dates from the 16th century.
Culture
Delémont was awarded the Wakker PrizeWakker Prize
The Wakker Prize is awarded annually by the Swiss Heritage Society to a Municipality of Switzerland for the development and preservation of its architectural heritage....
for preservation of its architectural heritage in 2006.
Sport
The football club SR DelémontSR Delémont
SR Delémont is a Swiss football club based in Delémont. It was founded in 1909 and has played in the Swiss Super League during the periods of 2000-2001 and 2002-2003.-Current squad:As of 16 July, 2011-External links:...
play in the Swiss Challenge League.