- Stage town for the 5th time
- Sub-prefecture of Jura (39)
- Population: 23,800 (Dolois and Doloises)
Louis Pasteur’s home town has welcomed the Tour de France on four occasions. In 1939, Luxembourg’s François Neuens won here after a breakaway, while Maurice Archambaud won the time trial between Dole and Dijon that same afternoon. Dole hosted a stage start in 1992, when Rolf Jaermann went on to win in Saint-Gervais... although he offered no threat to race leader Pascal Lino, who’d been in the Yellow Jersey for ten days. In 2017, a stage that took place entirely within the Jura saw Lilian Calmejane triumph at Les Rousses. Finally, the 2022 edition featured a stage between Dole and Lausanne that perfectly suited Wout van Aert, who won on a punchy uphill finish in the Olympic city ahead of Michael Matthews and Tadej Pogačar.
DOLE
Maison Pasteur
Foundation: opened in 1923.
History: The fame of Louis Pasteur, French scientist, chemist and physicist, is closely linked to the development of a vaccine against rabies, but his scientific work extends to many fields, from the study of crystals to that of silkworm diseases, including the study of wine and beer fermentation. Through personal objects and documents, his birthplace shows how Louis Pasteur became the quintessential scientist, known throughout the world.
Current use: museum spread over two floors and eight exhibition rooms. Numerous models and videos present his family memories and his great discoveries. Part of the collection comes from a bequest by Louis Pasteur Vallery-Radot, Pasteur's grandson and last heir.
Special feature: Louis Pasteur himself came towards the end of his life to unveil a plaque on the façade commemorating the place where he was born.
Listed as: Historic Monument in 1923 / "Maison des Illustres" label in 2011.
www.terredelouispasteur.fr
Museum of Fine Arts and Archaeology
Founded in 1821, the museum is housed in the Officers' Pavilion, an 18th-century building in the Comtois architectural style. Its collections bring together archaeology, ancient art and contemporary art. The museum is ranked among the 50 best museums in France by the Journal des Arts. It offers a comprehensive overview of the history of the Dole region since prehistoric times, across 1,500 m² of exhibition space.
www.musees-franchecomte.com/index.php?p=237
Notre Dame Collegiate Church of Dole
Foundation: built in the 16th century.
Style: Gothic and Renaissance.
Characteristics: its furnishings and decorations, donated by the city's most prominent figures, are the earliest examples of Renaissance art in Dole. Adorning the façade of the Sainte-Chapelle, the organ loft and the pulpit, the polychrome marble decorations featuring foliage, interlacing patterns and birds are characteristic of the Dole workshop's work. There is an exceptional 3,500-pipe organ built by the German Riepp, one of the very rare examples from the 18th century in France.
History: built in the 16thcentury after the pillaging under Louis XI, it symbolises the city's recovery. Its powerful 73-metre-high bell tower evokes the intensity of the religious struggles of the time.
Current use: today, it continues to be traditionally referred to as a "collegiate church", despite its elevation to minor basilica status in 1951.
Listed as: historic monument since 1910.
Hôtel-Dieu
Foundation: construction began in 1613 and was interrupted for a long time by the sieges and wars that the city endured three times between 1636 and 1674.
Style: Renaissance (architect: Jean Boyvin).
Characteristics: the buildings are arranged in a U-shape on three levels around a courtyard lined with arcaded galleries, including the 18th- and 19th-century wings. There is an ambulatory with two large rooms. At the junction of these rooms is a chapel that allowed patients to follow mass from their beds.
History: the Hôtel-Dieu was intended to take in the sick, especially the poor who could not be treated at home. In 1663, a few Sisters Hospitallers of Saint Martha came from Beaune to found the first community. This hospital operated for several centuries, until 1973, when it was converted into a geriatric centre and the Louis Pasteur Hospital opened its doors.
Current use: renovated between 1998 and 2000, it now houses the municipal archives, the library and the city's media library.
Listed: Historic Monument in 1928.
Fresco of the Dolois
Foundation: inaugurated in September 2017.
Artists: Camille Semelet, Alain Locatelli, Sylvie Casartelli and Anaïs Mazuez, muralist artists from the Haut les murs collective.
Characteristics: trompe-l'oeil mural honouring the women and men who have marked the history of Dole over the past ten centuries.
Personalities depicted: Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), Marcel Aymé (1902-1967), Jean Boyvin (1580-1650), Jacques Duhamel (1924-1977).
Awards: The work won the 2017 Pinceau d'Argent (Silver Paintbrush) award.
The Chat Perché trail
Le Chat Perché (a nod to writer Marcel Aymé, author of Contes du Chat Perché, who grew up in Dole) invites visitors to follow a signposted trail through the town centre. It was designed for pedestrians eager to discover the riches of Dole's urban heritage. In 35 stages, visitors can discover eight centuries of Dole's history through its iconic monuments, main streets, squares and the scenery that adorns the heart of the town.
http://www.chatperche-dole.mobi
Chaux forests and huts from the 14th century
This deciduous forest is the second largest in France. Renowned for its rich wildlife, it is criss-crossed with paths and forest tracks ideal for walking or mountain biking. During the summer season, the huts of the 14, a former hamlet of woodcutters and charcoal burners who once lived in the forest, host exhibitions, activities and evenings of storytelling and legends.
www.jura-tourisme.com
