Pontarlier
Pontarlier | |
|---|---|
 | |
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Pontarlier  | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté |
| Department | Doubs |
| Arrondissement | Pontarlier |
| Canton | Pontarlier |
| Intercommunality | Larmont |
| Government | |
| • Mayor (2008–2014) | Patrick Genre |
| Area 1 | 41.35 km2 (15.97 sq mi) |
| Population (2008) | 18,639 |
| • Density | 450/km2 (1,200/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 25462 /25300 |
| Elevation | 811–1,323 m (2,661–4,341 ft) (avg. 837 m or 2,746 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Pontarlier (French: [pɔ̃.taʁ.lje] ; Latin: Ariolica) is a commune and one of the two sub-prefectures of the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region near the Swiss border in eastern France.
History
Pontarlier occupies the ancient Roman station of Ariolica, in Gallia and is placed in the Tables on the road from Urba (modern Orbe, Canton Vaud, Switzerland), to Vesontio (modern Besançon). Although the distances in the Antonine Itinerary do not agree with the real distances, French geographer D'Anville recognized a transposition of the numbers. The Theodosian Tabula names the place "Abrolica", which William Smith states as a possible error of transcription.
The city of Pontarlier is briefly mentioned in Victor Hugo's Les Misérables. It was to this city that convict Jean Valjean was to report for his parole after being released from the galleys. Breaking these instructions is a major turning point in the novel, and also creates some major conflict for Valjean later in the story.
Pontarlier was famous for the production of absinthe until its ban in 1915. The distilleries switched over to producing pastis. With the ban partially lifted in the 1990s, distilleries are once again producing absinthe in Pontarlier.
Population
| Year | Pop. | ±% |
|---|---|---|
| 1793 | 3,348 | — |
| 1800 | 3,771 | +12.6% |
| 1806 | 3,526 | −6.5% |
| 1821 | 4,254 | +20.6% |
| 1831 | 4,707 | +10.6% |
| 1836 | 4,922 | +4.6% |
| 1841 | 4,965 | +0.9% |
| 1846 | 5,136 | +3.4% |
| 1851 | 4,953 | −3.6% |
| 1856 | 4,909 | −0.9% |
| 1861 | 5,007 | +2.0% |
| 1866 | 4,945 | −1.2% |
| 1872 | 4,975 | +0.6% |
| 1876 | 5,714 | +14.9% |
| 1881 | 6,118 | +7.1% |
| 1886 | 8,098 | +32.4% |
| 1891 | 7,187 | −11.2% |
| 1896 | 7,577 | +5.4% |
| 1901 | 7,963 | +5.1% |
| 1906 | 8,776 | +10.2% |
| 1911 | 9,439 | +7.6% |
| 1921 | 10,203 | +8.1% |
| 1926 | 11,827 | +15.9% |
| 1931 | 11,984 | +1.3% |
| 1936 | 12,840 | +7.1% |
| 1946 | 12,722 | −0.9% |
| 1954 | 13,768 | +8.2% |
| 1962 | 15,382 | +11.7% |
| 1968 | 16,442 | +6.9% |
| 1975 | 17,983 | +9.4% |
| 1982 | 17,781 | −1.1% |
| 1990 | 18,104 | +1.8% |
| 1999 | 18,360 | +1.4% |
| 2008 | 18,639 | +1.5% |
Personalities
- Edgar Faure, member of the Académie française, president of the city council, and mayor
- Philippe Grenier, physician and politician
- Xavier Marmier, writer and poet
- Robert Fernier, painter
- Pierre Bichet, painter
- Vincent Defrasne, biathlete
- Florence Baverel-Robert, biathlete
Sights
- Triumphal arch of the Porte Saint-Pierre (18th century) ;
- Gate of the ancient church of the Annonciades (18th century) ;
- Stained glass created in 1976 by painter Alfred Manessier for Saint-Bénigne Church;
- Municipal museum, place d'Arçon ;
- Espera museum of Franco Sbarro : car design, prototypes, engines.
International relations
Twin towns – Sister cities
Pontarlier is twinned with:
Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland[1]
Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
Zarautz, Spain
See also
References
- ^ "Association Suisse des Communes et Régions d'Europe". L'Association suisse pour le Conseil des Communes et Régions d'Europe (ASCCRE) (in French). Retrieved 2013-07-20.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Smith, William, ed. (1854–1857). Dictionary of Greek and Roman Geography. London: John Murray. {{cite encyclopedia}}: Missing or empty|title=(help)
External links
