Jurassica Museum

The exhibition “Jura, in the depths of the Jurassic seas” recalls that 150 to 200 million years ago, the region was covered by a shallow tropical sea. Fossil corals, sea urchins, ammonites, fish, turtles and crocodiles are on display. A podium several metres long recreates the underwater landscape, from the shoreline to the open sea.

The exhibition “Discovering regional wildlife” presents the Jura’s ecosystems and their typical species, as well as nocturnal animals and species that have disappeared from the region. The botanical garden and its greenhouses round off the visit.

In Courtedoux, the Dinotec displays more than 100 dinosaur tracks along an interactive trail, with LED lighting that allows visits at night. An educational trail reveals sauropod tracks, and the Banné digs let you search for 152-million-year-old fossils using a palaeontologist’s tools.

Getting there : the museum is within walking distance of Porrentruy station. The Dinotec is located in Courtedoux.

Visit duration : around 1 hour 30 minutes for the museum, half a day including the botanical garden.

Suitable for : families, children, groups and schools (booking required).

On site : parking nearby. Free access to the botanical garden, educational trail and Dinotec.

Start with the museum, then continue into the neighbouring botanical garden. Palaeontology enthusiasts can combine the visit with the satellite sites.

With children, the Banné digs offer a hands-on introduction to a palaeontologist’s work. The Dinotec can be visited at night for a different atmosphere.

• Porrentruy Castle overlooks the town and traces the history of the Prince-Bishops of Basel.
• The Musée de l’Hôtel-Dieu presents heritage collections in a former 18th-century hospital.
• The Grottes et Préhisto-Parc combine show caves with an outdoor park of prehistoric reconstructions.