Chay (Doubs)
Chay [ ʃei ] is a commune in the French department Doubs in the Franche -Comté.
Geography
Chay is located at 255 m, south of Quingey, about 26 km southwest of the city of Besançon (air line). The village is located in the western Jura, on the left ( eastern ) bank of the Loue in a basin between the heights of Trémont in the west and in the east Fourrée.
The area of 6.54 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the western French Jura. The central part of the area occupied by the basin of the Loue, which is about 2 km wide. The Loue here flows south through a basin that is surrounded by the outermost ridges of the Jura. The basin is flanked on the west by the steep and thickly wooded ridge of Trémont (up to 450 m). To the southeast, the municipality's area extends over a gently at first, later relatively steep slope of the Fourrée to the edge of the height of By. This mountain range is part of a chain of the Jura, the north stretches from Mont Poupet to the flow loop of the Loue. Here the highest elevation of Chay is achieved with 502 m.
Neighboring communities of Chay are Mesmay and Brères in the north, and Paroy By the east, Rennes- sur- Loue in the south and Buffard in the West.
History
The reign of Chay was founded in the 10th century and belonged to the powerful noble family de Chay. The Lords of Chay were under the protection of the House Chalon. Together with the Franche -Comté reached the village with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 to France. The castle fell into disrepair in the 17th century and was never rebuilt.
Attractions
Already existed in the 14th century at the Loue a mill which has been modified several times over the centuries and is now out of service. The present stone bridge, which crosses the Loue, was built in 1854. In the village are farmhouses are preserved in the characteristic style of the Franche -Comté from the 17th to 19th centuries.
Population
With 194 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Chay is one of the small communities of the department of Doubs. After the population had decreased significantly in the first half of the 20th century (1886 240 people were still counted ), a population growth was recorded since the early 1980s again.
Economy and infrastructure
Chay was until well into the 20th century a predominantly by agriculture (crops, orchards and livestock ) embossed village. In addition, there are today some of the local small business enterprises. Meanwhile, the village has also changed into a residential community. Many workers are commuters who engage in the larger towns in the vicinity of their work.
The village has good transport links. It is located near the main road N83, which runs from Besançon Lons -le- Saunier. Further road links exist with Brères, Paroy and Rennes- sur- Loue.