Osselle
The commune is the site of a set of caves, the entrance to which is near the river Doubs, though the caves themselves extend into the neighboring department of Jura.
History
The caves were discovered in the 13th century, and have been visited since 1504. In 1751 the Intendant of Franche-Comté, Jean-Louis Moreau de Beaumont, had a bridge built over the underground river. During the French Revolution the caves provided a refuge for fugitive priests and there is a clay altar that dates to that time.
Geography
The cave complex consists of some eight kilometers, of which 15 galleries covering a distance of 1.3 kilometers, are currently visitable over flat cement paths. Most of the rooms have stalactites and stalagmites, but there is an area where the ground is less porous to water infiltration and which therefore is dry. The dry area was the venue for feasts in the 18th century, feasts in which the philosopher Voltaire is believed to have participated.
Population
Year | Pop. | ±% |
---|---|---|
1962 | 186 | — |
1968 | 191 | +2.7% |
1975 | 204 | +6.8% |
1982 | 223 | +9.3% |
1990 | 354 | +58.7% |
1999 | 349 | −1.4% |
2008 | 380 | +8.9% |
2012 | 424 | +11.6% |
See also
References
- ^ Téléchargement du fichier d'ensemble des populations légales en 2019, INSEE
- ^ Arrêté préfectoral 21 December 2015 (in French)