Jura

A Western Barrier

The Jura mountain chain extends along the entire western border of Switzerland from Geneva to Basle. This lengthly middle range forms a natural barrier between Switzerland and France over a distance of about 200 km (125 miles). The highest mountain groups reach 1700 metres (5577 feet).

Geological Split

There are different landscape forms within the Jura range. The classic division refers to Folded Jura and High Plateau Jura. Types of house and settlement also differ. The Ballenberg Open-Air Museum displays four buildings from different Jurassian landscapes.

Folded Jura

This raw mountainous part of the Jura is sprinkled with informal villages and many isolated farms. The stone multipurpose buildings accommodate people, livestock and winter reserves under a single roof. At various elevations farmers cultivated fields until the 19th century. More recently the broad open spaces have served as extensively farmed pastures. The house from La Recorne/La Chaux-de-Fonds (111) with its cistern (112) is part of a typical farmstead from the High Jura. The granary from Montsevelier (122) represents the field husbandry still practiced today lower down in the Delsberg basin.

High Plateau Jura

The milder and lower part of the Jura extends at its northern end towards the river Rhine. There are fewer isolated farms there and in exchange more villages. Hayfields, ploughed fields and orchards predominate; occasionally wine plantations flourish. The house from Therwil (131) at this edge of the Jura is a traditional multipurpose building – although that of a rich farmer, as is evident from the house.