kids encyclopedia robot

Saint-Ursanne facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
Quick facts for kids
Saint-Ursanne
Former municipality of Switzerland
City gate of Saint-Ursanne
City gate of Saint-Ursanne
Coat of arms of Saint-Ursanne
Coat of arms
Saint-Ursanne is located in Switzerland
Saint-Ursanne
Saint-Ursanne
Location in Switzerland
Saint-Ursanne is located in Canton of Jura
Saint-Ursanne
Saint-Ursanne
Location in Canton of Jura
Country Switzerland
Canton Jura
District Porrentruy
Area
 • Total 11.46 km2 (4.42 sq mi)
Elevation
440 m (1,440 ft)
Population
 • Total 730
 • Density 63.7/km2 (165.0/sq mi)
Postal code
2882
Surrounded by Seleute, Ocourt, Montmelon, Asuel, Montenol, Saint-Brais, Epauvillers
Twin towns La Motte, Var (France)

Saint-Ursanne is an old town and a former municipality of the district of Porrentruy in the canton of Jura, Switzerland which has preserved much of its medieval character. The town contains many historical buildings, including a Romanesque abbey church, a collegiate church, a cloister, many medieval houses, a hermitage and an 18th-century bridge. The river Doubs makes a loop near Saint-Ursanne before flowing into France. Since 2009 Saint-Ursanne has been a part of the new municipality Clos du Doubs. An active railway station 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 in August.

Its name refers to Saint Ursicinus, a seventh-century monk who built a monastery here.

It is important to note that this town received an award as being one of the "best tourism villages" worldwide by UNWTO.

  • Fontaine Saint-Jean, au centre du bourg

    Fountain in the city centre 2018

  • Abbaye de Saint-Ursanne 2022

    Detail of the abbey 2022

  • ETH-BIB-St. Ursanne-LBS H1-018727

    Aerial view 1955

Notable people

  • Ursicinus of Saint-Ursanne (7th century), an Irish missionary and hermit, his supposed sarcophagus is preserved in St-Ursanne
  • Saint Wandregisel (c. 605–668 AD), a Frankish courtier, monk, and abbot; lived as a hermit in complete solitude at Saint-Ursanne
  • Lionel Régal (1975 – 2010 in Saint-Ursanne), a French hillclimbing racer, died in a crash in Saint-Ursanne
  • Cathérine Hug (born 1976), an art historian and curator, was brought up in Saint-Ursanne
  • Benjamin Conz (born 1991 in Saint-Ursanne), a Swiss professional ice hockey goaltender
kids search engine
All content from Kiddle encyclopedia articles (including the article images and facts) can be freely used under Attribution-ShareAlike license, unless stated otherwise. Cite this article:
Saint-Ursanne Facts for Kids. Kiddle Encyclopedia.