Moving to Porrentruy: Old Town and Ajoie

Moving to Porrentruy is not like moving in a lowland town: as the main town of Ajoie, it combines a castle, an old town with narrow streets and a French border close by. To move to Porrentruy without unpleasant surprises, it is best to plan access, parking and paperwork ahead. Describe your project online: professional removal companies in the region will contact you to prepare a free, no-obligation quote.

Porrentruy, the main town of Ajoie: how the town affects a move

Porrentruy is the main town of Ajoie, in the canton of Jura. Its skyline is marked by the castle and the old town, but the commune is not limited to its historic centre: it also has more open areas with apartment blocks and detached houses, where access is generally easier for a removal vehicle.

In the old town, historic buildings and townhouse flats raise other questions: staircases that can be narrow, small landings and entrances that were not designed for bulky furniture. Depending on whether you are leaving an older flat, a more recent building or a house, the volume to transport, the number of floors and the handling method will differ.

The nearby French border also attracts a varied population: families, students and people who work on both sides of the border. This means moves to neighbouring France and arrivals from abroad, which call for a few extra precautions.

Access, parking and floors in Porrentruy: planning for narrow streets

In Porrentruy’s old town, narrow streets limit the size of the vehicle that can get close to the home. A large lorry cannot always reach the door: you may have to park further away and carry boxes and furniture over some distance, or use a smaller vehicle making several trips. This carrying distance lengthens the job and affects the quote.

Remember to tell the movers in your request:

• the approximate width of the street and where a vehicle can stop;
• the number of floors and whether there is a lift;
• the width of the stairwell, doors and landings;
• bulky items (wardrobe, sofa, piano) that might not fit through.

If the staircase is too narrow, a furniture lift allows items to go through a window or balcony, provided there is room to set it up. In the centre, this often means occupying part of the public road: a lorry, a furniture lift or a skip may require prior permission from the commune or the police. Check with the commune a few days or weeks before the date, and read the guide on the parking permit for moving day.

In winter, the canton of Jura sees spells of cold and snow. Ajoie is milder than the Franches-Montagnes, but ice or snow can make a sloping street or a pavement difficult: allow some leeway in your schedule and keep access clear.

When to move to Porrentruy: lease dates and seasons

In Jura as elsewhere, a tenant who terminates a lease must give three months’ notice for the date set by local custom or, failing that, for the end of a quarter of the lease (art. 266c of the Swiss Code of Obligations, CO), unless the contract provides for longer. Customary dates vary by canton and commune: the safest approach is to reread your lease and find out about local custom. Notice must be given in writing (art. 266l CO). For the family home, a married tenant or one in a registered partnership needs the express consent of their spouse or partner (art. 266m and 266n CO).

If you have to leave before the end date, art. 264 CO allows you to be released by proposing a solvent replacement tenant willing to take over the lease on the same terms. The guide on terminating a lease in Switzerland explains how to proceed.

The periods around lease dates are generally the busiest: movers are in greater demand, and booking early helps you choose your date. As for the weather, the Jura winter can complicate access, while a very hot day makes carrying more tiring. The in-between seasons are often the most comfortable, if your lease allows it.

Paperwork in Porrentruy: residents’ registration, lease and border

Every move must be reported to the residents’ registration office (contrôle des habitants): departure in the former commune, arrival in the new one, within the time limit set by the canton. In many communes, the notification can be made online via eMoving (eUmzugCH); check whether this is possible for your commune. The guide on registering with the commune helps you cover everything.

Also remember to change your address with your bank, insurer, employer and subscriptions. When leaving the property, plan for the move-out inspection (état des lieux) and the return of the keys; the cleaning must be thorough. For your new lease, the rental deposit may not exceed three months’ rent for a home (art. 257e CO) and is paid into a blocked account in the tenant’s name.

If you are moving to neighbouring France or arriving from abroad, further formalities apply: customs clearance for your belongings, and a residence permit depending on your situation. Check with the relevant authorities before the date. For a move to France, the guide on moving from France to Geneva gives useful pointers, even though it covers a different starting point.

Useful services for moving to Porrentruy

Residential moving

For a flat or house in Porrentruy, residential moving covers loading, transport and delivery. Specify the floors and access: this determines the number of people and the method.

Packing and unpacking

In an older home with narrow stairs, well-prepared boxes make carrying easier. Packing and unpacking can be handled by the movers, in particular for crockery, fragile items or if you are short of time.

Furniture lift

When the staircase does not allow a bulky item through, a furniture lift is a solution. Its set-up depends on the space available in front of the façade, hence the importance of checking the permit to occupy the public road.

International moving

To move to neighbouring France or arrive from abroad, international moving covers transport across the border. Customs formalities depend on your situation; ask about them when requesting the quote.

End-of-lease cleaning

A careful handover avoids discussions during the move-out inspection. End-of-lease cleaning can be entrusted to professionals, so you can concentrate on the move itself.

Storage

Between two homes, or if the new one is smaller, storage lets you keep part of your belongings for a period to be agreed.

Requesting a quote for your move to Porrentruy

1. You describe your move online: departure and arrival addresses, approximate volume, floors, access, preferred date.
2. Professional removal companies in the region contact you, possibly for a site visit, which is useful in an old town with unusual access.
3. You compare the free quotes and remain free to choose, or not to go ahead.

The cost depends on the volume, the distance, the floors and access, any furniture lift, packing and the date. To request a quote, simply fill in the form.

Around Porrentruy

If you are hesitating between several communes in Ajoie, see the pages for Alle, Courgenay and Haute-Ajoie. For an overview, see moving in the canton of Jura or all the communes covered in French-speaking Switzerland.

Frequently asked questions