Courgenay (488m) is an industrial village in the Ajoie Region, situated on the plain to the south of the Allaine at the northern foot of the Jura Mountains. The area’s attractions include lush vegetation and floral diversity.

Courgenay has a municipal area of 18.4 square kilometres. To the north, it stretches across the plain to the Allaine River. The Cras d’Hermont elevation (537 metres) marks the border to the north-west, to the south it is marked by the densely forested Jura ridge (Lomont range 910 metres) with the dry valley of Combe de Secroux. To the east, Courgenay borders on the Mont Terri.

Courgenay’s transformation from agricultural to industrial village took place in the 19th century. Watch cases, cigars and hosiery were manufactured. Today’s Courgenay has a population of 2150 and offers jobs mostly in the precision engineering sector and manufacture of vending machines. Agriculture is still of significance and the region has good farmland. There are well-preserved characteristic 18th and 19th century farmhouses in the village centre.

The area surrounding Courgenay was first settled in the Neolithic Period. Traces of Roman settlements are also still visible. A special attraction of the area is the Grottes du Saint-Nicolas cave network in a landscape reminiscent of a tropical forest. Botanical theme trail.

The story of Gilberte de Courgenay, the daughter of the owner of the Hôtel de la Gare who took care of soldiers during WWI, is told in the popular song of the time: «Gilberte de Courgenay». The story was filmed during WWII with Anne-Marie Blanc in the leading role and was the national success that put Courgenay on the map. The Hôtel de la Gare is still open.

Highlights

• Pierre-Percée: 3 metre-high limestone monolith. Erected around 5000 years ago, it has a round hole through the centre
• Village centre with typical farmhouses
• Paplemont Mill, built in 1691. The large mill wheel was reconstructed.
• Grottes du Saint-Nicolas caves with botanical theme trail