Pontarlier

French commune
nomcommune=Pontarlier


région=Franche-Comté
département=Doubs
arrondissement=Pontarlier
canton=Pontarlier
insee=25462
cp= 25300
maire=Patrick Genre
mandat=2008-2014
intercomm=Larmont
longitude=6.35556
latitude=46.90667
alt moy=837 m
alt mini=811
alt maxi=1,323 m
hectares=4135
km²=41.35
sans=18,360
date-sans=1999
dens=444
date-dens=1999

Pontarlier (Latin: Ariolica) is a commune and one of the two sub-prefectures of the Doubs department in the Franche-Comté region 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", what 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 gallies. 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 distilleries are once again producing absinthe in Pontarlier.

Aviation

Pontarlier was also a "pionnière" city of aviation. The beginning of the aeronautical history of Pontarlier took place on October 29, 1910 by Auguste Junod has edge of his Farman biplane of 50 cv. This first flight caused the admiration of the large crowd that had come to admire this magic machine. July 2 of the following year was marked by the arrival of 2 other machines has Pontarlier to carry out the first air meeting of Franche-Comté. This event attracted approximately 10.000 people. The aero club of Pontarlier was created only 20 years later, on March 12, 1930 by a handle of impassioned aviation. At that time, the association, chaired by Mr. Eugène Thévenin did not yet have a plane for lack of sufficient funds. Their actions were thus limited to propaganda in order to raise money. May 13, 1934 was a great day for the aero club, with the arrival of the first plane, a POTEZ 43, monoplane-three-seater of 100 CV baptized for the occasion "Ville de Pontarlier". A whole generation of apparatuses followed in continuation of this precursor. Today, the aeroclub took true flies away and for an aero club of province it is well equipped: 2 track of 1000 m whose one into hard and the other out of grass, as well as fleet of 4 planes of all types, has wing high, has wings low, two-seater, three-seater or four-seater.

Demographics

DemogFR
1793= 3348
1800= 3771
1806= 3526
1821= 4254
1831= 4707
1836= 4922
1841= 4965
1846= 5136
1851= 4953
1856= 4909
1861= 5007
1866= 4945
1872= 4975
1876= 5714
1881= 6118
1886= 8098
1891= 7187
1896= 7577
1901= 7963
1906= 8776
1911= 9439
1921= 10,203
1926= 11,827
1931= 11,984
1936= 12,840
1946= 12,722
1954= 13,768
1962= 15,382
1968= 16,442
1975= 17,983
1982= 17,781
1990= 18,104
1999= 18,360
2004= 19,321
sansdoublescomptes=1962
source=Cassini [ [http://cassini.ehess.fr/cassini/fr/html/6d_index_dept.php?alpha=25# Population before 1962] ] et INSEE [ [http://www.insee.fr/fr/ffc/docs_ffc/psdc.htm INSEE : Population since 1962] ]

Famous personalities

* Edgar Faure, member of the French academy, 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

Monuments

*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 ;
* [http://www.espera-sbarro.com.fr/ Espera museum] of Franco Sbarro : car design, prototypes, engines.

Twin cities

* Villingen-Schwenningen (Germany)
* Zarautz (Spain)
* Yverdon-les-Bains (Switzerland)

ee also

*Communes of the Doubs department

External links

* [http://www.ville-pontarlier.fr/ City council website] fr icon
* [http://www.aeroclub-pontarlier.org/ Aeroclub of Pontarlier WebSite] fr icon

References

*SmithDGRG