Courvières

Courvières is a commune in the French department Doubs in the Franche -Comté.

Geography

Courvières is located on 820 m above sea level, about 19 km west of the town of Pontarlier (air line). The scattered village extends in the Jura, in the midst of the broad plateaux of Arlier ( Pontarlier - Frasnian ).

The area of ​​10.94 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the French Jura. The whole area is occupied by the plateau of Arlier, which is on average 820 m. It is mostly covered by meadows, but it shows, especially in the border areas, some forest areas. The plateau has no above-ground rivers, because the rainwater seeps into the karst underground. The boundaries of the area on the west by a narrow Kalkrippe ( to 867 m) from the west plateau of Boujailles. To the south of the municipality floor extends into the slightly elevated wooded areas of the Bois de la Vigne (870 m) and Bois du Mont, on the 880 meters, the highest elevation of Courvières is achieved.

Neighboring communities of Courvières are Boujailles the west and north, the east, and Frasnian Bief -du- Fourg, Censeau and Cuvier in the south.

History

The territory of Courvières was probably already inhabited during the Roman period. It lay on the trade route that led from Pontarlier to Salins, and of the individual traces are visible today. Is first mentioned in 1250 under the name Courvières Corvieres. The area belonged first to the Lords of Joux, but arrived in 1250 at the house of Chalon, the jurisdiction remained in the former. Since then formed Courvières own rule. A severe plague epidemic in 1636 fell victim to numerous residents. In 1639 Courvières was devastated by the passing troops of Duke Bernhard of Saxe- Weimar. Together with the Franche -Comté reached the village with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 to France. Since 2003 Courvières is a member of the comprehensive 10 villages municipal association Communauté de communes du Plateau de Frasnian et du Val du Drugeon.

Attractions

The village church of Saint- Hubert was built in the 19th century in the Gothic Revival style. On the field west of the village is the chapel of Notre -Dame des Sept Douleurs ( 1640 ), reminiscent of the plague. The windmill was built in 1870.

Population

With 267 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) Courvières one of the small communities of the department of Doubs. After the population had decreased significantly in the first half of the 20th century (1881 517 people were still counted ), a population growth was recorded since the mid-1970s again.

Economy and infrastructure

Courvières was until well into the 20th century a predominantly coined by agriculture, especially dairy farming and livestock village. In addition, there are today some of the local small business enterprises, including a sawmill. 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 is located off the major thoroughfares on a secondary road, leading from Frasnian after Boujailles. Another road connection with Cuvier.