Altitude: 840m / 1323m
3 hours from Paris by TGV
Twinned towns: Villingen - Schwenningen (Germany) and Zarautz (Spanish Basque Country), friendship charter with Yverdon (Switzerland).

The town dates back to the time of Roman domination: Ariolica. This name became Arlica or Arlia from which Arlier, applied to the plain, the name of Chaux d'Arlier which designated the roadway crossing the plain. This name became Pons Arlia and then Pontarlier. Republic of baroichage in the 13th century.

A sub-prefecture, commonly recognised as the capital of the Haut-Doubs, Pontarlier stands out for its dynamism and endurance, i.e. its ability to rise to the challenges it encounters.

As France's 2nd highest town, Pontarlier knows how to face up to the difficulties of a harsh climate and make the most of them. On the border, a long way from Paris, it nevertheless knows how to play its role, unpretentiously but resolutely in the national concert, and thus ensure its population an appreciated quality of life.

Pontarlier has a generally encouraging economy. The unemployment rate bears witness to this. Commerce, crafts and industry are showing a rare fighting spirit.

As a sports town, Pontarlier ranks first among towns with fewer than 30,000 inhabitants. It's also a city of culture, with theatre, cinema and painting events taking place throughout the year. It's a town that's constantly invigorated by the 700 associations it hosts.

An old town, but still young and green, like its legendary absinthe and its reserves of fir and spruce trees.