Cycling Highlight
Recommended by 57 out of 61 cyclists
Pontarlier is the capital of the "green fairy". It is here that the absinthe liqueur so popular in the nineteenth century and originating in the Val de Travers in the Swiss jura was produced industrially. The drink was nicknamed so because of its beautiful green color. She probably made you see fairies because wormwood has a hallucinogenic substance. It was forbidden to consume. Pontarlier is the second highest town in France after Briançon. Its city center is very pleasant.
October 11, 2021
Pontarlier is a mountain town located 837 meters above sea level in the heart of the Jura Mountains. As the capital of Haut Doubs, it is located at the entrance to a vast area of protected natural areas, where forests, lakes and green meadows are essential for the production of Mont d'Or and Comté cheese.
Pontarlier was once known worldwide for its production of absinthe at the beginning of the last century. Today, the city has revived this tradition, with two distilleries once again producing absinthe.
March 3, 2024
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