Houtaud

Houtaud is a commune in the French department Doubs in the Franche -Comté.

Geography

Houtaud is located on 811 m above sea level, about four kilometers west-northwest of the town of Pontarlier (air line). The former village street lines extending in the Jura, in the eastern part of the broad plateaux of Arlier ( Pontarlier - Frasnian ), on Drugeon, south of the hill of the Côte du Fol

The area of ​​7.89 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the French Jura. The southern part of the area is occupied by the plateau of Arlier, the average is 810 m and mainly of meadow land, and partly of moorland is covered. Through this moorland, where peat was cut until the Second World War, meandered past the Drugeon. He is now channeled and drains the area northeast to Doubs. To the east of the municipality floor extends to the outskirts of Pontarlier. With a narrow strip, the municipality's area extends north to the height of the Côte du Fol Here the highest elevation of Houtaud is achieved with 901 m.

Neighboring communities of Houtaud are Sombacour in the north, Dommartin and Pontarlier in the east, Granges- Narboz in the south and Chaffois in the West.

History

Is first mentioned in the 12th century Houtaud. In the Middle Ages the village belonged to the rule Dommartin. Together with the Franche -Comté Houtaud came with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 to France. Since 1999 Houtaud is a member of the comprehensive 10 villages municipal association Communauté de communes du Larmont.

Attractions

The village of Saint-Antoine church was built in 1703 and is distinguished by its circular plan and a small central bell tower. At the edge of the height of the Côte du Fol is the chapel of Houtaud.

Population

With 995 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) Houtaud one of the small communities of the department of Doubs. Once the population has consistently had in the first half of the 20th century in the range of approximately 170 people, a striking population growth was recorded since the early 1960s. Since then, the population has more than quadrupled.

Economy and infrastructure

Houtaud was until well into the 20th century a predominantly coined by agriculture, especially dairy farming and livestock village. Meanwhile, the village has been transformed into a residential community and to the suburb of Pontarlier. Since the 1970s, a major commercial and industrial zone developed on the road to Pontarlier. Today Houtaud owns about 50 companies, including trading companies, telecommunication companies, Electrical, numerous shops of the retail trade as well as great shopping. Many workers are also commuters who engage mainly in Pontarlier their work. Houtaud has an equestrian center.

The village has good transport links. It lies on the main road D72, which leads from Pontarlier to Salins- les- Bains. Further road links exist with Dommartin and Sombacour.