Brion (Ain)
Brion is a commune in the French department of Ain, in the Rhône -Alpes.
Geography
Brion is located on 479 m above sea level. Level, about 13 kilometers southwest of the city Oyonnax (air line). The village is located in the northern Bugey, at the mouth of In in the Oignin, west of the Lac de Nantua in the Jura, in the midst of a vast plain.
The area of 4.48 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the southern French Jura. The main part is occupied by an approximately 3 km wide and 3 km long level (an average altitude of 470 m. M. ), which propagates in front of the western entrance to the cluse de Nantua. Previously, the plane made an extensive wetland area that was drained after the artificial lowering of the lake level of Lake Nantua in 1856 and converted into cultivated land. The plain is drained by the Oignin which receives here the outflow channel of the Lac de Nantua and the Ange ( from the Oyonnax Valley ). Amid the level rises a long-drawn- hill ( 505 m above sea level. M. ). To the southwest, the municipality's area extends to the ridge of the Montagne de Collégiard, at 642 m above sea level. M. the highest elevation of Brion is achieved.
At the hamlet of Brion Le Mollard ( 475 m above sea level. M. ) is one of the Oignin. Neighboring communities of Brion are Béard - Géovreissiat in the north, Montréal- la- Cluse and Port in the east, Saint -Martin- du- Frêne in the south and Nurieux - Volognat in the West.
History
Several findings indicate a settlement of the municipality of Brion during the Roman period. The place name comes from the Gallic word for Briva bridge. When Brion there was a castle, which was first mentioned in 1090 as castrum Brioni and belonged to the lords of Coligny. In the Middle Ages the village was under the suzerainty of the Counts of Savoy. The Treaty of Lyon in 1601 it passed to France. It was not until 1845 Brion was separated from Géovreissiat and collected as a separate parish.
Attractions
The village church of Brion was built in 1851 and completely restored in 1975 for the last time. From the former castle on the hill east of Brion ruins remain.
Population
With 522 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) Brion is one of the small communities of the department of Ain. Since the early 1960s, a striking increase in population was noted, associated with almost a tripling of the population. After peaking around 1990, however, the population is declining again.
Economy and infrastructure
Brion was until well into the 20th century a predominantly coined by farming village. In addition, there are now a number of companies of small and medium enterprises. Meanwhile, the village has also changed into a residential community. Many workers are therefore commuters who engage in the larger towns in the vicinity of their work.
The village region has a very well developed. It is close to the road department D979 that runs from Nantua to Bourg -en- Bresse. Further road links exist with port Izernore and Montréal. The nearest links to the motorway A404 ( Saint -Martin- du- Frêne - Oyonnax ), which crosses the municipality, is located at a distance of approximately two kilometers.