Musée rural jurassien

About the museum

The museum is housed in a double farmhouse standing on land belonging to the Bellelay Abbey. Dendrochronological analysis of the roof beams dates the felling of the timber to the winter of 1513/14; the house was built in one go in 1515. Preserved from the construction period are, among other things, a vaulted kitchen with a rammed clay floor, the stable, a stone spiral staircase, two paneled parlors on the upper floor and the cellar.

The farmhouse, with its hipped roof, is completely covered with wooden shingles, around 40,000 of spruce; it is thus the last rural building in the canton of Jura with this kind of roof. In 1978 the foundation of the Bauernmuseum acquired part of the building, and in 1999 the entire farm. With support from the canton of Jura and the federal government, other public and private funders, donations and many hours of volunteer work, the house was prepared for visitors.

In the southern living section the furnishings of the 19th and 20th centuries have been preserved: a vaulted kitchen with a bread oven, a bedroom with short beds, and the workshop of a farmer-watchmaker who assembled movements at the window in winter. In the eastern living section are the oldest vaulted kitchen of the former Diocese of Basel, the cellar rooms and two rooms on the upper floor. Tools for woodworking, the stable and the roof structure are also on show.

Highlights

• Double farmhouse from 1515, the oldest rural residential building in the canton of Jura
• Wooden shingle roof with around 40,000 wooden shingles
• Vaulted kitchen with clay floor and bread oven
• Watchmaker's workshop of a farmer-watchmaker
• Rich collection of farm tools and woodwork

Permanent exhibition

• Doppelbauernhof von 1515 mit Wohnräumen und Uhrmacherstube – A tour through two kitchens from the 16th and 18th centuries, sleeping chambers, the watchmaker's workshop, the stable and the roof structure of the farmhouse.

Operated by

Stiftung des Musée rural jurassien

Admission & discounts

Adults from age 15 CHF 10, children accompanied CHF 3. Group rate from 6 people: adults CHF 8, students and apprentices CHF 4, pupils CHF 3 per person, plus CHF 30 for the guided tour.

Accessibility

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Kids & families

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Getting there & parking

The museum hasn’t published any information on this.

Amenities & dining

For groups, museum volunteers serve apéros and country meals on request in the Grange or the Belle chambre.

Events & venue rental

• Spaces for rent
• Private parties
• Corporate events
• Weddings / ceremonies

Up to 100 guests.

Two rooms for rent: Belle chambre (up to 24 seats) and Grange (up to 100 seats); catering by museum volunteers is possible. Museum admission is not included.

Plan your visit