Origin and history
Ornans is a commune in the Doubs department in Burgundy-Franche-Comté in eastern France. It is the capital of the canton of Ornans and the seat of the community of communes Loue-Lison, with 4,456 inhabitants in 2018. Its history is marked by its strategic role in the county of Burgundy, its successive destruction during medieval conflicts, and its industrial development in the 19th century, notably thanks to the river Loue, which feeds tanneries, forges and factories. The city is inseparable from Gustave Courbet, a realistic painter born in 1819, whose works, like A funeral in Ornans, immortalized his landscapes and his daily life.
Ornans owes its nickname of "little Comtoise Venice" to its houses with facades bathed by the Loue, a river that crosses the city and shapes its identity. The commune, founded in the Middle Ages, was at stake during the revolt of the Comtian lords (1295-1300) against Philip IV the Bel, then suffering the ravages of the scavengers in the 14th century and French troops after the death of Charles the Temerary. Its religious heritage, such as the church of St. Lawrence (XVI century) or the convent of Minimes (XVII century), bears witness to its historical importance. The city developed economically in the 18th and 19th centuries, with the paving of the streets, the construction of the city hall, and the industrialization linked to the Loue.
In the 20th century, Ornans became an industrial hub with companies like Alstom Transport, specialized in engines for TGV, and Guillin Packagings, European leader in plastic packaging. Its civil heritage, including private hotels from the 16th to 15th centuries and the ruins of the medieval castle, completes its tourist attraction. The commune is also marked by tragic events, such as the 280 hostages case in 1944, where the Resistance negotiated the liberation of the inhabitants threatened by the Germans. Today, Ornans combines economic dynamism, with ten companies with more than 20 employees, and cultural outreach, thanks to its Courbet Museum, festivals, and classified Jurassian landscapes.
The environmental heritage of Ornans, centered on the remote of the Loue and its tributaries like Bremen, offers remarkable natural sites: cliffs of the Roche du Mont, waterfalls of the Poisse, and gazebos like the castle. These landscapes, inspired by Courbet, attract hikers and outdoor sports enthusiasts (climbing, canoeing, mountain biking). Via Ferrata de la Roche du Mont and the Syratu leisure base reinforce its tourist attraction. The commune, labeled Cité de Characterère de Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, actively preserves this heritage through restorations and events such as the Indian Dance Festival with the Loue or the Courbet Days.
The cultural life of Ornans revolves around its museum Courbet, installed in its home, and other institutions such as the Museum of Costume Comtois or the National House of Water and Fisheries. The Eldorado cinema and events such as the Trail de la Loue or the Fête de la Saint-Laurent are animating the town all year round. Its twinning with Hüfingen (Germany), La Tour-de-Peilz (Switzerland), and Cantley (Canada) promotes international trade. Finally, Ornans honours his historical personalities, from Nicolas Perrenot de Granvelle, a 16th-century statesman, to Gustave Courbet, and Pierre Vernier, inventor of the behind-the-scenes foot, whose heritage is celebrated in its heritage and its manifestations.
