ChÃ¢tenois-les-Forges

Châtenois -les -Forges ( formerly German Kesten Wood ) is a town in the French department of Territoire de Belfort in the Franche -Comté. It is the capital of the canton of Châtenois -les -Forges in the arrondissement of Belfort.

Geography

Châtenois -les -Forges is located at 335 m above sea level, about halfway between the towns of Belfort Montbéliard and nine kilometers south of Belfort ( a straight line ). The village is located in the northern part of the basin of Montbeliard, on the western edge of the wide valley of the Savoureuse opposite Trévenans, at the eastern foot of the hills of the Bois de Châtenois.

The area of 8.67 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the gently undulating countryside in the Burgundian Gate ( trouée de Belfort ). The eastern boundary runs along the Savoureuse, the multi-turn flows through an approximately one kilometer- wide valley to the south and provides drainage for Allan. From the river, the municipality's area extends westward to the plateau of Châtenois, the average is at 370 m and is mainly consisted of arable and meadow land. It rises to the north to the amount of Bois d' Oye, in the 415 meters, the highest elevation of Châtenois is achieved. In the west the plateau is limited by running in a north-south direction arroyo. Further west ranges of communal land in the extensive Grove of the Bois de Châtenois which is subdivided by several troughs and crests ( to 405 m).

Neighboring communities of Châtenois -les -Forges are Bermont in the north, Trévenans in the east, Nommay and Grand- Charmont in the south and Bethoncourt and Brevilliers in the West.

History

Is first mentioned Châtenois in 1147 under the Latinized name Casteneyaco. At this time there was here an Augustinian priory, which was subordinate to the priory of Lanthenans and in 1435 became a function of the chapter Montbéliard. First, standing in the sphere of influence of the Lords of Montbeliard, Châtenois reached the mid 14th century under the suzerainty of the Habsburg dynasty. It was the center of a dairy farm. End of the 16th century the priory was abandoned. Together with the Sundgau Châtenois came with the 1648 Peace of Westphalia to the French crown.

Since 1793, the village belonged to the Department of Haut -Rhin, however, remained in 1871 as part of the Territoire de Belfort as opposed to the rest of Alsace in France. In the course of the 18th century, the iron processing industry developed with several blast furnaces, in which the iron ore was refined from the environment. Owners of the works were the Mazarin Belfort. With the opening of the tram from Montbéliard to Belfort Châtenois in 1913 connected to the network of public transport. The operation on the route in 1940 but abandoned. To avoid confusion with other communities of the same name, Châtenois in 1933 officially renamed Châtenois -les -Forges. Since 2005 Châtenois -les -Forges part of the community association Communauté d' AgglomÃ Belfortaine.

Attractions

The church of Saint -Étienne with the typical of the Franche-Comté spire was rebuilt in the 18th century, consecrated in June 1745 and has a rich interior. In the village there are several neoclassical fountain.

Population

With 2723 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) Châtenois -les -Forges is one of the medium-sized municipalities in the department of Territoire de Belfort. Once the population has consistently had in the first half of the 20th century in the area of 1800-2200 people, a significant population growth was recorded from 1950 to 1970. With approximately 2700 inhabitants in the late 1970s the provisional limit was reached. The economic crisis and the Restrukturation industry in the Pays de Montbéliard in the period 1985-1990 led to many workers and families moved away. Consequently, a population decrease of 7 % was recorded until 1990. Since then the company again an increase in population. Today, the settlement area of Châtenois -les -Forges with that of Trévenans has grown together almost seamlessly.

Economy and infrastructure

Since the mid 19th century, Châtenois -les -Forges became an industrially defined community. Today in the town of numerous plants of small and medium industries are resident, while metal processing industry, automotive industry and a printer are the most important industries. There are also several shops of retail for your everyday needs. Many workers are also commuters who do their work in the other municipalities of the agglomeration Belfort and Montbéliard.

The village has good transport links. It lies on the main road that leads from Belfort to Montbeliard. The nearest links to the A36 motorway is located at a distance of about four kilometers. With the towns of Belfort Montbéliard and Châtenois -les -Forges is connected by bus routes.

Sites

Municipality in the department of Territoire de Belfort
Place in Franche -Comté

Pictures of ChÃ¢tenois-les-Forges

180458