Musée jurassien d'art et d'histoire

About the museum

The impetus for the museum came in 1909, when a commission was tasked with founding a "Jura Museum" in Delémont to collect objects relating to the history of the Jura. In 1910 the first collections were shown in a room of the castle, and the founding act followed in 1914. In 1922 the museum moved into an 18th-century house on what was then the Grand'Rue (today Rue du 23-Juin), provided by the town.

Over the following decades the museum grew: in the 1950s, rooms in the former gendarmerie and the Porte de Porrentruy town gate were added, and in 1973 the entire former gendarmerie and the neighbouring house were incorporated. After the canton of Jura was founded in 1979, the new canton joined the sponsoring foundation, and in 1986 the museum received its present name. Between 1996 and 1999 the building complex was renovated, and in 2011 the museum reopened with a newly designed permanent exhibition.

The permanent exhibition presents the Jura through seven well-known clichés, such as Jura limestone or Tête de moine cheese. The collections include church treasures, paintings and prints, archaeology, crafts and industry, everyday objects, photographs, weapons and furniture; the highlights include a decorated 7th-century crozier considered the oldest known in the world, and a remnant of the carriage in which Louis XVI travelled to his coronation in 1775. The museum is run by a private-law foundation in which the cantons of Jura and Bern as well as the town and the burgher community of Delémont are represented.

Highlights

• Permanent exhibition on the Jura through seven clichés
• Decorated 7th-century crozier, the oldest known in the world
• Remnant of Louis XVI's carriage from 1775
• Church treasures, art and archaeology of the Jura
• 18th- and 19th-century old town buildings on the old town walls
• Family tour featuring the animals of the region, and children's birthday parties

Permanent exhibition

• Dauerausstellung zum Jura – The permanent exhibition presents the Jura and its history through seven well-known clichés and symbols of Switzerland's youngest canton.

Founded

1909

Operated by

Stiftung des Jurassischen Museums für Kunst und Geschichte

Director

Nathalie Fleury

Admission & discounts

Free admission: Last Sunday of the month

Admission is also free with the Swiss Museums Association pass (AMS/VMS), the Upper Rhine Museum Pass, an ICOM card, a Raiffeisen card with the Member Plus logo, the Carte Avantage Jeune and the Abo 20 ans 100 francs. During the special exhibition from 6 September 2026 to 31 January 2027, higher prices apply (CHF 9, reduced CHF 6), along with a combined ticket for three museums (CHF 20, reduced CHF 15).

Accessibility

• Partially wheelchair accessible
• Elevator: no information
• Accessible restroom: no information
• Accessible parking: no information
• Service dogs welcome
• Tactile models & exhibits: no information
• Sign language tours: no information
• Easy-to-read materials: no information
• Audio description: no information

Accessibility of the historic building is limited in some rooms; the team offers adapted solutions and tours for older people, people with visual or hearing impairments and people with disabilities (register on +41 32 422 80 77 or reservation@mjah.ch). Lectures take place in a room on the ground floor. Guide dogs for the blind are welcome; other animals are only admitted to the café.

Kids & families

Great for kids & families

• Family tours & workshops
• Activity booklet, scavenger hunt or kids’ audio guide
• Kids’ birthday parties

Children's workshops, a "Little Explorers" tour featuring the animals of the region, Wednesday afternoons at the museum for children, young museum guides and "My Birthday at the Museum".

Getting there & parking

Amenities & dining

• Café
• Museum shop

Reception area with museum shop and cafeteria.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Corporate events

A museum hall with multimedia equipment (projector, screen, microphones, Wi-Fi) and rearrangeable furniture can be rented for conferences, meetings, seminars and workshops; with a guided tour and an apéritif on request.

Plan your visit