Morteau

Morteau
region	Bourgogne-Franche-Comté
Department	Doubs
Arrondissement	Pontarlier
Canton	Morteau
Community association	Val de Morteau
Coordinates	47 ° 3 ' N , 6 ° 36' E Coordinates: 47 ° 3 ' N , 6 ° 36' E
height	750-1,114 m
surface	14.11 km 2
Residents	6,935 (January 1, 2017)
Population density	491 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code	25500
INSEE code	25411
Website	www.morteau.org
	; Morteau on the Doubs

Morteau is a French commune with a population of 6,935 (as at 1st January 2017) in the Doubs department in the region of Bourgogne Franche-Comté . It belongs to the arrondissement of Pontarlier and is the capital of the canton of Morteau .

geography

The municipality of Morteau is located in the Jura , not far from the Swiss border, in the valley of the Doubs river , which slopes down towards Morteau from Pontarlier .

history

Morteau is first mentioned in 1105. At that time, monks from Cluny settled here to clear the mountain regions. They drew more people with them who were first residents of settlements like Morteau.

In 1349, the plague reduced the population by two thirds. Then residents from the canton of Friborg and the Aosta Valley immigrated to this area.

In 1639 the Swedes invaded the place, left heavy devastation and caused many residents to leave the area for Savoy and Switzerland.

Throughout history, Morteau has suffered from major fires time and again . The most severe occurred in 1639, 1683, 1702, 1849 and 1865.

In the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678/79, Marteau came under French rule, after the sovereignty had been successively with the Counts of Montfaucon, the city of Neuchâtel and the Habsburgs .

During the Second World War , two Jewish families from Morteau were deported to Auschwitz , which is today commemorated by a memorial stone by the church.

population

year	1962	1968	1975	1982	1990	1999	2009	2016
Residents	5395	6158	6690	6445	6458	6375	6596	6970
Sources: Cassini and INSEE

The population increased especially in the 1960s. In the following decade it peaked at over 6,600. It then fell slightly and has remained constant to this day. In 2018, 40 percent of all employees in the municipality of Morteau commuted daily as cross-border commuters to Switzerland.

Economy and Infrastructure

Morteau sausage specialty

Morteau is located on the cross-border railway line from La Chaux-de-Fonds in the Swiss canton of Neuchâtel to Besançon .

Morteau is a center of the watchmaking industry that dates back to 1680. The clock museum in Château Pertusier - the Musée de l'horlogerie - shows their history. Today the largest private employer is a company for car equipment and accessories: It employs around 500 people.

One of Morteau's specialties is a smoked pork sausage, Saucisse de Morteau , also known as Belle de Morteau . Every year in August there is a sausage festival, the Fête de la Saucisse , with a large parade. Other companies in the food industry, such as the chocolate manufacturer Klaus, are also based in Morteau.