History of Switzerland · The 20th century
The youngest canton: Jura
Topic
Jura is the youngest canton in Switzerland. The area used to belong to the Prince-Bishopric of Basel. In 1815 the Congress of Vienna gave it to the canton of Bern. The north of the Jura is French-speaking and Catholic. Bern is mostly German-speaking and Reformed. That is why many people from the Jura did not feel at home in Bern.
In the 20th century the conflict became stronger. People spoke of the Jura question. In 1974 the people in the northern Jura voted for a canton of their own. In 1978 the Swiss people and all cantons said yes. Since 1 January 1979, Jura has been an independent canton, the 26th in Switzerland. Its capital is Delémont (Delsberg). Since 2026 the town of Moutier has also belonged to the canton of Jura.
Memory aid: Jura = young: canton number 26 since 1979.
Key terms
- Kanton Jura
- Canton of Jura: the youngest canton in Switzerland, independent since 1979, previously part of the canton of Bern.
- Jurafrage
- Jura question: the long dispute over whether the Jura should belong to Bern or be a canton of its own.
Exam questions on this topic
- Which canton has only been an independent canton since 1979?Correct answer: B, Jura