Discover Courchavon

Courchavon lies in the Ajoie, in the valley floor of the Allaine. On 31 December 2024, the municipality had 323 inhabitants and was one of the smaller municipalities in the canton of Jura. Local history includes the ruins of Châtel-Vouhay, the Église de Courchavon, the bell tower of the former parish church and the Grotte Notre-Dame de la Roche. A 5 km circular trail also starts and ends in Courchavon.

Châtel-Vouhay

The ruins of Châtel-Vouhay stand on a rocky spur southwest of Courchavon. According to W. Meyer, the complex was probably built by the Bishop of Basel towards the end of the 13th century; it served as the seat of a seigneurial official. Châtel-Vouhay thus combines a striking location with a historic administrative function.

Church architecture and structural traces

The Église de Courchavon was built in 1844–1845 at the initiative of Abbé Augustin Schaller. Its interior is designed in the Late Neoclassical style and features characteristic Tuscan, Ionic and Corinthian architectural elements, as well as an elaborately articulated choir. The three orders of columns represent different classical forms; together with the choir, they create a nuanced architectural impression.

Another historic building is the Late Gothic bell tower of the former parish church. It dates from 1628 and stands on a rise above the village, in the middle of the cemetery. On the east façade, you can see where the nave joined the tower; the nave was demolished in the mid-19th century. The tower and the façade junction make both the surviving structure and the loss of the nave understandable.

The timeline ranges from the presumed construction of Châtel-Vouhay towards the end of the 13th century, through the bell tower of 1628, to the church built in 1844–1845.

Grotte Notre-Dame de la Roche

The Grotte Notre-Dame de la Roche is at the edge of Courchavon, on the Porrentruy–Boncourt road. The grotto is associated with the original wooden statue of the Virgin Mary, dating from the 13th century; it is displayed under strict supervision in the parish church of Courchavon.

Exploring on foot

The Sur le Chemin de Damas circular trail is 5 km long and starts and ends in Courchavon. By contrast, access to the ruins of Châtel-Vouhay is via a steep footpath from the village church. Two different details are therefore important for planning your walk: the total length of the circular route and the gradient of the access path. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

Food and drink in the wider area

In the Jura region, you will find restaurants serving regional dishes. There are also restaurants with views of the Jura landscapes.

Location and getting there

At Courchavon railway station, the platform allows level boarding onto trains. SBB announced the completion of the platform modernisation on 19 June 2013.

Courchavon lies on main road 6. It runs from Porrentruy via the Boncourt border crossing to Belfort or Montbéliard in France. Since the opening of the A16 motorway section between Boncourt and Porrentruy, the village has been relieved of through traffic.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Mormont, Vendlincourt, Courgenay Ju, Beurnevésin, Seleute, Saint-Ursanne, Lugnez, Porrentruy.

Return to the higher-level travel overview: Porrentruy.