Délemont is the capital of the Canton of Jura – the newest canton in Switzerland formed by a secession from Bern in 1979. It is also the only canton in Switzerland that has allowed women to vote in all matters since its formation. The secession of Jura came from religious differences between the majority French-speaking Catholic population of Jura versus the majority German-speaking Protestant population in the rest of Bern.
However, the commune of Moutier, now located in the Canton of Bern, will vote in June 2020 to see if it’s French-speaking but Protestant population would like to join Jura. If they do join jura, this would be a significant signal that the divide between eastern and western Switzerland is no longer based on religious denomination, but on language and culture.
St. Marcel church 
Prince-Bishop’s Castle
History aside, I’m not actually sure what Délemont is most well-known for. Perhaps it’s the five fountains that they have within a 200 meter radius, or maybe it’s the good deals on fresh fruits at the mini mart. There is the Lion Fountain, the Ball Fountain, the St. Henri Fountain, the Sauvage Fountain, the St. Maurice Fountain, and the Fountain of the Virgin.
Lion Fountain 
Ball Fountain 
Fountain of the Virgin 
Sauvage Fountain 
St. Maurice Fountain 
St. Henri Fountain
Downhill from the five fountains is the St. Marcel church, though there are other churches in town this one offers the best view of the valley. Just west of the church is a small alleyway that leads to the Prince-Bishop’s Castle, it looks pretty deserted so I didn’t bother finding out anything about it. Go to Délemont on a Saturday afternoon in winter and you’ll find a ghost town with a bus service.
