Saint-Ursanne is an old town and a former

municipality A municipality is usually a single administrative division having corporate status and powers of self-government or jurisdiction as granted by national and regional laws to which it is subordinate. The term ''municipality'' may also mean the go ...

of the district of Porrentruy in the

canton of Jura The Republic and Canton of Jura (french: République et canton du Jura), less formally the Canton of Jura or Canton Jura ( , ), is the newest (founded in 1979) of the 26 Swiss cantons, located in the northwestern part of Switzerland. The capita ...

Switzerland ). Swiss law does not designate a ''capital'' as such, but the federal parliament and government are installed in Bern, while other federal institutions, such as the federal courts, are in other cities (Bellinzona, Lausanne, Luzern, Neuchâtel ...

which has preserved much of its

medieval In the history of Europe, the Middle Ages or medieval period lasted approximately from the late 5th to the late 15th centuries, similar to the Post-classical, post-classical period of World history (field), global history. It began with t ...

character. The town contains many historical buildings, including a Romanesque abbey church, a collegiate church, a

cloister A cloister (from Latin ''claustrum'', "enclosure") is a covered walk, open gallery, or open arcade running along the walls of buildings and forming a quadrangle or garth. The attachment of a cloister to a cathedral or church, commonly against a ...

, many medieval houses, a hermitage and an 18th-century bridge. The river

Doubs Doubs (, ; ; frp, Dubs) is a department in the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region in Eastern France. Named after the river Doubs, it had a population of 543,974 in 2019.France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. Since 2009 Saint-Ursanne has been a part of the new municipality

Clos du Doubs Clos du Doubs ( fc, Chôs di Doubs) is a municipality in the district of Porrentruy in the canton of Jura in Switzerland. It was founded on January 1, 2009 by the former municipalities of Epauvillers, Epiquerez, Montenol, Montmelon, Ocourt, Sa ...

. An active

railway station Rail transport (also known as train transport) is a means of transport that transfers passengers and goods on wheeled vehicles running on rails, which are incorporated in tracks. In contrast to road transport, where the vehicles run on a pre ...

is located above the town, to the east. The town is famous for the medieval festival which it organizes each summer, and for the annual St-Ursanne - Les Rangiers International

Hill Climb Hillclimbing, also known as hill climbing, speed hillclimbing, or speed hill climbing, is a branch of motorsport in which drivers compete against the clock to complete an uphill course. It is one of the oldest forms of motorsport, since the fir ...

in August. Its name refers to Saint Ursicinus, a seventh-century monk who built a monastery here. Fontaine Saint-Jean, au centre du bourg.jpg, Fountain in the city centre 2018 Abbaye de Saint-Ursanne 2022.jpg, Detail of the abbey 2022 ETH-BIB-St. Ursanne-LBS H1-018727.tif, Aerial view 1955

Notable people

Ursicinus of Saint-Ursanne Ursicinus (also ''Hursannus, Ursitz, Oschanne'', fl. 620) was an Irish missionary and hermit in the Jura region. Information A ''vita'' of his is preserved in a redaction of the 11th century. According to this account, he was a disciple of ...

(7th century), an Irish missionary and hermit, his supposed sarcophagus is preserved in St-Ursanne * Saint

Wandregisel Saint Wandregisel (french: Wandrille) (c. 605–668 AD) was a Frankish courtier, monk, and abbot. Life The son of Walchisus, a kinsman of Pepin of Landen, he was born around 605, near Verdun in the region then known as Austrasia. He was educate ...

(c. 605–668 AD), a Frankish courtier, monk, and abbot; lived as a hermit in complete solitude at Saint-Ursanne *

Lionel Régal Lionel Régal (21 July 1975 – 15 August 2010) was a French hillclimbing racer. After winning the French hillclimbing championship in 2005, 2006 and 2007, he won the French and European championships in 2008, becoming the first winner of both ...

(1975 – 2010 in Saint-Ursanne), a French hillclimbing racer, died in a crash in Saint-Ursanne *

Cathérine Hug Cathérine Hug (born 1976) is a Swiss art historian and curator. Life and work Hug was born 1976 in Basel, Switzerland. With her parents and siblings she grew up in Saint-Ursanne and Delémont, Switzerland. Hug studied Computer Science, Media ...

(born 1976), an art historian and curator, was brought up in Saint-Ursanne *

Benjamin Conz Benjamin Conz (born September 13, 1991) is a Swiss professional ice hockey goaltender who currently plays for HC Ambrì-Piotta of the National League (NL). He was eligible for the 2009 NHL Entry Draft and 2010 NHL Entry Draft, but went undrafted ...

(born 1991 in Saint-Ursanne), a Swiss professional ice hockey goaltender

References

External links

Events and Culture program in St-Ursanne

"Saint-Ursanne La Fantastique !" a fantasy fair for Summer 2011
with the collaboration of the illustrator

Grzegorz Rosinski Grzegorz (german: Falkenstein) is a village in the administrative district of Gmina Chełmża, within Toruń County, Kuyavian-Pomeranian Voivodeship, in north-central Poland. It lies approximately north-east of Chełmża and north of Toruń ...

{{DEFAULTSORT:S Ursanne Cities in Switzerland Clos du Doubs Former municipalities of the canton of Jura