Gex (Ain)

Gex is a commune in the Ain department in the Rhône -Alpes. It is the capital of the Canton of Gex and the arrondissement Gex and the seat of the Municipal Association of the Pays de Gex.

Geography

Gex is located at 600 m above sea level. Level, about 16 kilometers north-northwest of the city of Geneva (air line). The city extends in the Pays de Gex to promising an elevated position at the foot of the Jura Mountains, on the northern edge of the lake basin, on a ridge overlooking the valley of Journans. It is south of the Passfußort Faucille and starting point for excursions into the high Jura.

The area of 32.02 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the Pays de Gex. The main settlement area of Gex is located on the mostly gently sloping hillside facing south on Jurafuß. This slope is divided by the lowlands of the Journans (inflow of Allondon ) and the Oudar (tributary of Versoix ) and their tributaries. In the east the municipality area extends to the heights of Mont Mourex ( 754 m above sea level. M. ), which is upstream of the Jura.

The entire northern part of the municipality is in the range of the strong in relief chain of the high Jura. This high ridge is interrupted only by the gap of the pass Faucille (1320 m above sea level. M. ). To the east of the pass are the heights of Turet ( 1460 m above sea level. M. ) and Vieille Maison (1511 m above sea level. M. ), the west of the Petit Montrond ( 1534m above sea level. M. ), the Mont Rond ( with 1596m ü. M. the highest elevation of Gex ) and the edge of the out-of- area Colomby de Gex. Geologically, this necklace a anticline is composed of sediments of the upper Jurassic period. The steep southern slopes of the Jura mountain range is divided by the Creux de l' Envers, a characteristic Ausräumungskessel in the fracture zone at Faucille, and further erosion valleys. The entire chain is densely forested, larger grazing areas are only available on the highest highs. Here are also typical karst features such as sinkholes and karst fields. That the High Jura belonging northern municipality of Gex is part of the Parc Naturel Régional du Haut -Jura and the nature reserve Haute Chaîne du Jura.

To Gex addition to the actual city includes various outdoor quarters and hamlets, including:

Gex- la -Ville (612 m above sea level. M. ) in the basin at Oudar
Tougin ( 575 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau west of the Journans
Pitegny (580 m above sea level. M. ) on the southwestern slopes of Mont Mourex
Les Maladières (810 m above sea level. M. ) on the climb to the Col de la Faucille
Hotel and holiday village on the summit of the Col de la Faucille

Neighboring communities of Gex are Mijoux the west and north, and Vesancy Grilly the east and Cessy and Echenevex in the south.

History

The territory of Gex was settled very early. The earliest finds date from around 1800 BC. During the Gallo- Roman period Gex formed a military base.

Is first mentioned Gex in 1124 under the name de Gayo. Over the centuries, changed the spelling on Gaix ( 1137 ), Jaz ( 1160 ), Gez ( 1227 ) Jayz ( 1234), Jax ( 1265 ), Jacium ( 1278 ), Geyz ( 1289 ), Gifts ( 1416 ) Gex ( occupied in 1559 writing). Later appeared the variants Gey ( 1589 ) and Gais (1594 ). The name goes back to the Gallo-Roman family names Gaius.

Since the beginning of the 12th century Gex was the center of a rule, the first of the family of Gex was, however, already passed the mid-12th century to the Counts of Geneva. This fortified it Gex and gave him certain liberties. After the occupation by Count Amadeus VI. of Savoy in 1353 came Gex for around 200 years under Savoy rule. In 1536 the city was conquered by the Bernese using the City of Geneva and declared the capital of the Bernese bailiwick Pays de Gex, the Reformation was introduced. With the Treaty of Lausanne in 1564 Gex dropped back to the House of Savoy. During the wars between Geneva and Savoy Gex in 1589 was conquered and pillaged again by the former. The Treaty of Lyon, the city came to France in 1601 and returned to the Catholic faith. With the reorganization of administrative divisions in the Geneva within the framework of the Vienna Congress Gex remained in France, however, belonged to the free trade zone, which encompassed the entire Geneva basin. So close economic relations developed with the City of Geneva.

Attractions

The parish church of Gex was newly built in 1860 on the site of a previous medieval building. It has a baptistery from 1520 and two font from the 13th and 14th centuries. Remnants of the former city wall from the 13th century and several houses from the 17th to 19th centuries have been preserved in the old core. The present Hôtel de Ville (Town Hall ) was built in 1869. From the former feudal Gex witness the remains of the medieval castle of the lords of Gex from the 13th century and the ruins of the former castle Florimont. In Gex is a Fire Museum ( Musée des Sapeur - Pompiers ).

Population

With 10,446 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Gex is one of the larger communities of the department of Ain. Since the 1950s, a continuous increase in population was recorded, which continues today. Outside the old town center created numerous single and multi- family houses and apartment blocks. Meanwhile, the slope is above and overbuilt below Gex loose with residential and commercial areas. The settlement area is almost completely conjoined with that of Cessy. Today Gex belongs to the outer belt agglomeration of Geneva.

Economy and infrastructure

Gex was up to the beginning of the 20th century, mainly stamped by agriculture and small commercial town. Today, agriculture has only a minor role. Since the 1950s, Gex has gradually evolved into a place of residence for the agglomeration of Geneva. Today there are numerous companies of small and medium industries, and various industries, construction and trading companies and firms in the service sector. Commercial and industrial zones developed in the east and south of Gex and at Tougin. Many employed persons are also commuters who work across the border in Geneva agglomeration.

The community is a good infrastructure. It lies on the intersection of the main streets of Geneva on the Col de la Faucille after Morez and Saint- Genis- Pouilly to Divonne -les- Bains. The nearest links to the motorway, the Swiss A1, is located at a distance of around 10 km. The former railway line that ran from Bellegarde- sur -Valserine to Divonne -les- Bains, was shut down and is now replaced by a bus service. By a further bus Gex is connected to Ferney-Voltaire, respectively, with Geneva. From 1900 to 1932 Gex Gex- terminus of the tram Ferney- Voltaire. In Ferney consisted transition to the tram Geneva. Even the airport Genève- Cointrin is easily accessible.

Tourism

Thanks to its proximity to Geneva Gex experienced since 1960 also a tourist boom. The summit of the Col de la Faucille in summer is the starting point for walks on the Jura ridge, while can be operated in winter skiing ( mountain railways and ski lifts). The entire summit was expanded tourism in recent years, and hotels and apartment houses erected. Also, operated year round summer toboggan run ( " piste de luge 4 saisons " ) similar to the Alpine Coaster in Immenstadt is currently under construction.

On Faucille is being built with the Multimedia Dome 's first interactive Tourist Office in France.

Sons and daughters of the town

Jacques -André Emery (1732-1811), priest, Superior General of the Sulpician, church key figure in the revolution time

Arrondissement of Gex Cantons of France Postal codes in France Protestant Reformation Free trade area Saint-Genis-Pouilly Sommerrodelbahn Collonges (Ain) Confort Versonnex (Ain)

263127