Porrentruy Castle

Porrentruy Castle is a citadel in the municipality of Porrentruy of the Canton of Jura in Switzerland. It is a Swiss heritage site of country wide significance. Construction of the castle came about among the mid-13th century and the start of the eighteenth century. The oldest part is the 13th century Refous Tower. 14th century ramparts live to tell the tale on the western and northern aspects.

Since 1271 belonging to the bishopric of Basel, the citadel served as exile residence of the prince-bishops of Basel from 1527 till 1792. The bishops had been exiled from Basel at some stage in the Swiss Reformation in 1529, while they had been capable of maintain most of their territories out of doors the city. At the start of the 19th century the Romanesque chapel within the fort walls became destroyed.

The Refous Tower, which was probably built shortly after 1271, can be determined near the fortress. A conical roof was delivered to the crenellations inside the 16th century. A door leading to the tower’s second ground is located approximately nine meters from the floor, and become as soon as handy by means of a timber bridge main to the Lydda building. The bridge became built in the 14th century and destroyed in 1804. The tower is on the market to the general public through a staircase.