Delemont
About the City
Delémont (German: Delsberg), the capital of the Jura canton, lies between the towns of Basel and Biel in northwest Switzerland, near the French border. This historic town is embedded in the densely forested, hilly Jurassic landscape. Medieval buildings, neat house facades, and attractive museums form the townscape of the old town.
The two town gates of the medieval old town, the ‘Porte au Loup’ and the ‘Porte de Porrentruy’, and parts of the former city wall are still in good condition. The squares of the old town are decorated by five monumental Renaissance-style figure fountains dating from the 16th century. The old town is home to the Jurassic Museum of Art and History, the parliament building of the cantonal government, and the Episcopal Palace.
A 13-km circular path, the Sentier Auguste Quiquerez, leads from Delémont to Soyhières and then back again to Delémont. The archaeology, flora and fauna, geology, and ecology of the surrounding region are explained on 30 information panels. Several historic buildings, such as Vorbourg Castle, are encountered en route.
A visit to the Museum of Model Aircraft Construction, holding probably the largest collection of model aircraft in the world, shouldn’t be missed. A sculpture trail, the Balade de Séprais, west of Delémont, attracts visitors with its monumental, modern sculptures. The Swiss Jurassic Arc—the stronghold of precision manufacturing—produces not only watch masterpieces. The Wenger knife factory, which was founded in 1893 in Delémont, is characterized by a spirit of innovation, precision, and quality in the manufacture of the genuine Swiss pocket knife.
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