Pontarlier

The history of Pontarlier is built around its advantageous geographical location: a crossroads during the Middle Ages between the North Sea and the Mediterranean Sea, it benefitted from passing trade but also suffered from military invasions. With many forests and a large amount of iron ore, this town was built on farming and craftmanship. Its border location enabled a constant flow of goods, people, know-how and capital. The opening of absinthe distilleries, sometimes in collaboration with Switzerland, generated a period of great prosperity in terms of the town’s development and cultural identity. (PNRHJ - Un tour en ville, “A tour of the town”)