Porrentruy

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PORRENTRUY / PRUNTRUT

Canton : Jura

Coat of arms (crest) of Porrentruy

Official blazon

Origin/meaning

The boar already appeared on the 15th century seals of the city. Both are nearly identical, but the second is much smaller. The meaning of the boar is not known, although there are several legends regarding the origin.

The first legend also involves the arms of Laufen and Delémont. In this legend an unnamed Prince-Bishop of Basel granted town rights to the three towns. He proposed to use as arms for the new towns the first animal that would pass the city gates, and stayed in the town, after a hunt. The hunt then took place on a defined time and place and the citizens of the three new towns waited to see which animal would appear. A huge black boar appeared from the forest, raced towards Laufen and entered the city through the open gate. Unfortunately, the city was too small and before the citizens could close the second gate, the boar had passed by. The bishop then decided to grant Laufen the arms of the diocese on a black shield for the black boar.
The boar, by now wounded, continued and reached Delémont. Although the town was larger the boar also here was faster as the citizens and managed to escape before the gates could be closed. However, in the middle of the street the stressed animal relieved himself and left a pile of excrements (..). The bishop then granted Delémont again the arms of the Diocese, but now in red for the wounded boar, and in base the pile of faeces.
Finally, the huge boar reached Porrentruy, entered the gates and collapsed. The bishop thus granted the city arms with the black boar.

The second legend states that a huge black boar jumped over the city ramparts and ran through the streets. Finally the animal was struck by an ax thrown from a window by a brave citizen. The boar finally collapsed in front of the steps of the Town Hall.
This made it clear to the council that the city was not protected well enough to resist the attacks of the enemy as even a boar could easily enter the city. It was therefore decided to increase the ramparts to a more imposing height. The boar was therefore, without a doubt, the messenger towards the protective powers of the city and the Council decided, in solemn meeting, that, henceforth, the boar would become the emblem of the town of Porrentruy.

Seal of Porrentruy

The first seal (used from 1425)
Seal of Porrentruy

The second seal (used 15th century)
Coat of arms (crest) of Porrentruy

The arms in 1918
(Daucourt, 1918)


Wappen von/Blason de Porrentruy

Wappen von/Blason de Porrentruy

Variations of the arms in the Kaffee Hag albums 1914-1960
Wappen von/Blason de Porrentruy



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Literature : Mühlmann, L. : Wappen und Fahnen der Schweiz, Bühler Verlag, Lengnau, 1977 and 1997.; First legend from Daucourt (1904), second from porrentry.ch