Franche-Comte, France
Pontarlier downtown, Franche-Comté, France — September 5, 2022
Pontarlier is located at the site of the ancient Roman station of Ariolica in Gallia. Following the Burgundian invasion in the 5th century, it became a key trade route from the Kingdom of Burgundy to Switzerland, Germany, and Lombardy. Until the 17th century, Pontarlier was situated along the most accessible route through the Jura Mountains. The town is one of the stops on the Via Francigena, a walking route to Rome that begins in Canterbury, England, and is popular with travelers from northern France, Britain, and the Benelux countries. Pontarlier was renowned for its production of absinthe until its prohibition in 1915. Afterward, local distilleries shifted to producing a special type of pastis known as “Pontarlier.” With the partial lifting of the absinthe ban in the 1990s, these distilleries have resumed producing absinthe. The city of Pontarlier is also mentioned in Victor Hugo’s Les Misérables.
French cows and verdant pastures, Franche-Comté, France — September 5, 2022
This cute cow photo was taken on the scenic route D447, near Les Cernoniers, in Franche-Comté. Literally translated literally as 'Free County', Franche-Comté is a cultural and historical region of eastern France composed of the modern departments of Doubs, Jura, Haute-Saône and the Territoire de Belfort.
Dusk over River Doubs, Pontarlier, France — September 5, 2022
