Orgelet

Orgelet grew under the lords of Chalon in the Jura, with a castle, market halls and a church incorporated into its defensive walls. Regular fairs brought trade to the town, while the church's tall tower stood above its closely packed town houses. Fire and war repeatedly transformed this fortified community.

In 1606 a fire destroyed the church and fifty-two neighbouring buildings. Its rebuilding preserved the tower and several older chapels, and continued until 1633, only for war to return soon afterwards. In 1637 plague had weakened Orgelet when the French army of the Duke of Longueville entered and burned the town before withdrawing. Its market and judicial buildings were among the losses. Another great fire in 1752 destroyed 122 buildings in the town’s western quarter.