Jean-Marie was born in Montbéliard in 1950. At that time, he lived at 33 rue Georges Clemenceau. The “Tutey” house was simple, with limited comfort, but he keeps very fond memories of it. It was during his early childhood that his strong attachment to Montbéliard was formed—small moments of happiness shared with his parents, family, and a pleasant environment.

After completing technical studies and obtaining his qualifications, he naturally found a job in the automotive industry.

With this local grounding, a desire for escape emerged. Activities with the Montbéliard French Alpine Club—its summer hikes and winter ski mountaineering outings—perfectly matched this need.

Another passion of his is railway modelling. Together with a group of enthusiasts, he recreates at a 1:87 scale the Montbéliard railway station as it was in 1936. To do so, he conducted extensive research to reconstruct this historical setting, gathering documents and photographs of the railway area and surroundings, from Mont-Christ to the Petite Hollande tunnel.

He also enjoys listening to music, ranging from baroque to jazz.

As part of the Ambassadors Network of the Pays de Montbéliard created by the Tourist Office, he is happy to share his knowledge of Montbéliard’s industrial past, its temples and churches, Comtois bell towers, and local architecture.

“This helps highlight the past in order to make it known and project it into the future.”