Pontarlier

Pontarlier is a French commune in the Doubs department, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, in eastern France near the border with Switzerland. It is a subprefecture in the department and is also the capital of the arrrondissement of Pontarlier.

Pontarlier is the third commune of the department by its population, after Besançon and Montbéliard.

Geography
The city of Pontarlier is in the west of the Bourgogne-Franche-Comté region, in the southwestern part of the Doubs department.

The commune of Pontarlier has an area of . The city is on a plateau and its average altitude is ; at the city hall, the altitude is .

The Doubs river flows through the city.

+ Distance from Pontarlier to other cities Besançon  Paris  Bordeaux  Toulouse  Montpellier  Lyon  Nantes             

+ Pontarlier and its neighboring communes 350px|Map of the commune of Pontarlier

The city of Pontarlier is surrounded by the communes:

Climate
The Köppen climate classification type for Pontarlier is an "Oceanic climate" (also known as Maritime Temperate climate) and of the subtype Cfb.

Population
The inhabitants of Pontarlier are known, in French, as Pontissaliens (women: Pontissaliennes).

With a population of 17,413, Pontarlier has a population density of  inhabitants/km2.

Evolution of the population in Pontarlier

 Administration 
Pontarlier is a subprefecture of the Doubs department, the capital of the arrondissement of Pontarlier and the administrative centre () of the canton Pontarlier formed by 10 communes, including Pontarlier, with 26,699 inhabitants (2014).

It is part of the intercommunality Le Grand Pontarlier ().

 Twinned and partner towns 
Pontarlier is twinned with:

  Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany, since 1964;
  Zarautz, Spain, since 1994;
  Yverdon-les-Bains, Switzerland, since 2003.

Places of interest
Some interesting places in Montbéliard are:
 The Château de Sandon.
 Porte Saint-Pierre and Triumphal Arch (18th century).
 The Saint-Bénigne de Pontarlier church.
 The Fort de Joux castle.

 Gallery 

Related pages
 Arrondissement of Pontarlier
 Communes of the Doubs department

References

Other websites

 Ville de Pontarlier official website 
 Pontarlier tourism website 
 Communauté de communes du Grand Pontarlier 

Category:Subprefectures in France
Category:Communes in Doubs