Saint-Claude () is a

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

and a

sous-préfecture A subprefecture is an administrative division of a country that is below prefecture or province. Albania There are twelve Albanian counties or prefectures, each of which is divided into several districts, sometimes translated as subprefecture ...

of the Jura department in the

Bourgogne-Franche-Comté Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (; , sometimes abbreviated BFC; Arpitan: ''Borgogne-Franche-Comtât'') is a region in Eastern France created by the 2014 territorial reform of French regions, from a merger of Burgundy and Franche-Comté. The new region ...

region In geography, regions, otherwise referred to as zones, lands or territories, are areas that are broadly divided by physical characteristics (physical geography), human impact characteristics (human geography), and the interaction of humanity and t ...

in eastern

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. It lies on the river

Bienne , french: Biennois(e) , neighboring_municipalities= Brügg, Ipsach, Leubringen/Magglingen (''Evilard/Macolin''), Nidau, Orpund, Orvin, Pieterlen, Port, Safnern, Tüscherz-Alfermée, Vauffelin , twintowns = Iserlohn (Germany) ...

History

The town was originally named ''Saint-Oyand'' after

Saint Eugendus Saint Eugendus (also Augendus; french: Oyand, Oyan; 449 – January 1, 510) was the fourth abbot of Condat Abbey, at Saint-Claude, Jura. He was born at Izernore. Life He was instructed in reading and writing by his father, who had become a pries ...

. However, when St. Claudius had, in 690, resigned his Diocese of

Besançon Besançon (, , , ; archaic german: Bisanz; la, Vesontio) is the prefecture of the department of Doubs in the region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. The city is located in Eastern France, close to the Jura Mountains and the border with Switzerl ...

and had died, in 696, as twelfth abbot, the number of pilgrims who visited his grave was so great that, since the 13th century, the name "Saint-Claude" came more and more into use and has today superseded the other. Was the world capital of wooden smoking pipes crafted by hand from the mid 19th century all the way to the mid 20th century. During WWII the town came under German occupation, yet still remained a haven for Jews escaping to Switzerland due to its close proximity to it (5 miles away from town). As a punishment for the locales consistently assisting and harboring the fleeing Jews, the Nazis executed all the towns males of service age in the town center. There is a memorial plaque in the city square commemorating the event. Today there are several farms and ranches surrounding the town that produce many world famous brands of dairy (Comte cheese), beef (Charolaise), and poultry (Bresse Gauloise).

Population

Transport

Saint-Claude is served by a railway station.

Sport

Saint-Claude has a rugby club. The 2017 Tour de France passed through Saint-Claude. The town's close proximity to the forests and ski resorts makes it a popular destination for hiking, mountain biking, camping, and skiing/snowboarding. Many surrounding lakes (Lac de Vouglans, etc.) also provide numerous fishing and boating activities close to town.

Sights

Saint-Claude Cathedral Saint-Claude Cathedral (french: Cathédrale Saint-Pierre, Saint-Paul et Saint-André de Saint-Claude) is a Roman Catholic cathedral dedicated to Saint Peter, Saint Paul and Saint Andrew, and a national monument of France, located in the town of ...

, former seat of the Bishops of Saint-Claude, is located here. One of the landmarks in the city is the world largest pipe (7.5 meters long and 8.7 meters high, weighing 600 kg) as a proof of its international reputation as the world capital of pipe manufacturing.

Personalities

* Nadir Belhadj, footballer *

Suzanne Belperron Suzanne Belperron (1900–1983), born in Saint-Claude, France, was an influential 20th-century jewellery designer based in Paris. She worked for the Boivin and Herz jewellery houses before the outbreak of World War II. Subsequently, she took ov ...

(1900-1983), jewelry designer *

Angelique Boyer Angelique Monique-Paulette Boyer Rousseau (born 4 July 1988), simply known as Angelique Boyer, is an actress. Born in France, she has spent most of her life and her entire professional career in Mexico, becoming a dual French and Mexican citize ...

, actress *

Mevlüt Erdinç Mevlüt Erdinç (surname spelt Erding in France; born 25 February 1987) is a former professional footballer who played as a forward. Born in France to Turkish parents, he spent most of his career in his country of birth, recording 295 games and ...

, footballer *

Alexis Vuillermoz Alexis Vuillermoz (born 1 June 1988) is a French road bicycle racer, who currently rides for UCI ProTeam . Career He was originally a mountain bike racer before switching to road cycling, winning the French national under-23 mountain bike title t ...