Porrentruy

In Porrentruy you will find an old town with baroque town houses and a castle with a view. You’ll love the city’s museums, such as the Hôtel-Dieu or the Jurassica. Discover the Uhrenweg and the Botanical Garden, or explore the Ajoie region and trace the footsteps of the dinosaurs.

This is Porrentruy

Porrentruy (German: Pruntrut) is a municipality in the Ajoie region of Switzerland, the northernmost part of the Canton of Jura. The beautiful old town, the castle and the Jurassica Museum with the botanical garden make this a popular destination.

Discover Porrentruy

Porrentruy is small and quaint and can be easily discovered on foot. Stroll along the cobbled streets in the old town, past baroque town houses with towers and courtyards. The town hall, the Jesuit church and the Hôtel-Dieu with its museum are all worth a visit: take a look inside the pharmacy of the former hospital, a masterpiece of artistic carpentry. In summer, a tour of one of the oldest botanical gardens in Switzerland is worthwhile. Here you can marvel at around 800 Jura plants, poisonous plants, old vegetable and fruit varieties and 600 species of cacti.

Porrentruy Castle

From the old town, you can already see Porrentruy Castle. The complex includes several buildings, including the striking Réfous Tower and the 18th-century Baroque main wing. The castle courtyard and the Réfous tower are freely accessible during the day and are open for a visit. The magnificent view of the town will inspire you.

The Uhrenweg

Immerse yourself in the rich history of Porrentruy’s watchmaking industry. Start at the sundials in the botanical garden, marvel at the movements of Foucault’s pendulum and admire the tower clock of the Porte de France. A collection of miniature watches is on display at the Hôtel-Dieu Museum and the Horlogère Foundation.

Around Porrentruy

Explore the area around Porrentruy by bike or complement your visit to the Jurassica Museum with the educational trail “In the footsteps of the giants” in Courtedoux. Millions of years ago, the Jurassic Sea reached this point – the footprints are the remnants of dinosaurs’ walks on the beach. Dinosaurs are also the focus of the Préhisto Park in Réclère. Other popular destinations are the ponds of Bonfol and Vendlincourt as well as the picturesque Saint-Ursanne on the Doubs.