Châtillon-en-Michaille
Châtillon -en- Michaille is a commune in the French department of Ain, in the Rhône -Alpes.
Geography
Châtillon -en- Michaille is located on 525 m above sea level. M., about five kilometers north-northwest of the town of Bellegarde -sur -Valserine (air line). The village is located in the French Jura in the Valley of Valserine which opens here south to the basin of Bellegarde out between the mountain ranges of the Plateau de Retord in the west and Grand Cret d' Eau in the east.
The area of 37.63 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the high Jura. The main settlement area is occupied by the plateau of the Michaille, an approximate average of 550 m above sea level. M. Located high surface facing east to the Rhone Valley ( basin of Bellegarde) and the deep valley of the Valserine is slightly inclined. The eastern border is the Valserine, the northern her right side Bach Semine. Both waters flow into a gorge sunk into the surrounding valleys. To the west, the municipality's area covers the slopes of the Jura way up to the plateau de Retord ( average at 1200 m above sea level. M. ). The western boundary form of the Cret de Beauregard ( 1249 m above sea level. M. the highest elevation of Châtillon -en- Michaille ) and the erosion valley of Tacon (tributary of Semine ).
At Châtillon -en- Michaille addition to the actual village includes several different villages, hamlets and farmsteads, including:
- Ochiaz (580 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau at the foot of the Michaille Retord
- Vouvray (590 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau at the foot of the Michaille Retord
- La Croix -Saint- Maurice ( 552 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau at the foot of the Michaille Retord
- Ardon (580 m above sea level. M. ) above Châtillon
- Tacon (440 m above sea level. M. ) in the narrow valley of the Semine
Neighboring communities of Châtillon -en- Michaille are Saint- Germain- de -Joux and Mont Anges to the north, Confort, Lancrans and Bellegarde- sur -Valserine in the east, Villes in the south and Le Grand- Abergement and Lalleyriat in the West.
History
Châtillon is first mentioned in the 12th century. In today's district Ardon a priory was founded in the 12th century, which was a function of the Nantua monastery. Until 1973, the church called Châtillon -en -Michaille. When the merger with the previously independent municipalities Ochiaz and Vouvray was the end of 1973, the new parish in Châtillon -en- Michaille has been renamed.
Attractions
The parish church of Châtillon -en- Michaille was built in the early 16th century. In the village are the houses are preserved in the traditional style of the 18th and 19th centuries. In Gothic style forms the Church of Ochiaz was built, but rebuilt in the 17th and 19th centuries. From 1840 comes the Church of Vouvray, while Ardon today has a modern church.
Population
With 3134 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Châtillon -en- Michaille belongs to the medium-sized municipalities in the department of Ain. Thanks to the residential location and good transport links a significant population increase has been recorded since the mid- 1960s.
Economy and infrastructure
Châtillon -en- Michaille 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 been transformed into a residential community. Many working population commuters who engage in the larger towns in the area, mainly in neighboring Bellegarde- sur -Valserine their work.
The place is a good infrastructure. It lies on the secondary road D1084, which runs from Bellegarde- sur -Valserine via Nantua to Pont- d'Ain. Other regional road links exist with Le Grand- Abergement and Seyssel (Ain). The nearest links to the A40 motorway, which runs through the municipality, is located at a distance of around 5 km. Châtillon -en- Michaille had a station on the railway line from Bellegarde via Nantua to Bourg -en- Bresse. The route has been reactivated as a TGV line skin -Bugey again in December 2010 ( without stopping in Châtillon ). The municipal area is also the airfield of Bellegarde- Vouvray.