Grandecourt

Grande Court is a municipality in the French department of Haute- Saône in the Franche-Comté region.

Geography

Grande Court is located at an altitude of 221 ​​m above sea level, about 22 km west of the town of Vesoul (air line). The village is located in the west of the département, in the rolling countryside of north west of Saônetals, in a clearing in the valley of the Island Ruisseau de Favières.

The area of ​​3.39 km ² municipal area includes a portion in the region of the plateau north of the Saônetals. The central part of the area is occupied by the valley of the Ruisseau de Favières, which provides for drainage south to the Saône. The flood plain is on average 215 m and has a maximum width of 500 m. The valley is flanked on both sides by a plateau, which reaches an average height of 240 m. This plateau consists of an alternation of calcareous and sandy- marly sediments of the upper Jurassic period. The plateau is divided by various depressions that open up to the valley of the Ruisseau de Favières. Grande Court is located in a clearing island, so here is predominant agricultural use. Larger forest land there is in the town limits. The western boundary is formed by the Grand Bois de Theuley. To the north, the municipality's area extends into the Bois de Vauconcourt and east on a wooded hill, in the 253 meters, the highest elevation of Grande Court is achieved.

Neighboring communities of Grande Court are Vauconcourt - Nervezain in the North, Vy- lès- Rupt in the east, and Fédry Vanne in the south and Theuley in the West.

History

Is mentioned in a document Grande Court in 1282 as Grandi Curtis. Later, the names Grandiscuria ( 1481 ) and Grandecort followed. The place name derives from the Germanic personal name Gunderic and the old French word Cortem (Hof ) from. The origin of the settlement constituted a priory of Augustinian canons, which is founded in the early 12th century by the Abbot of Montbenoît and mentioned in 1142 in a papal bull of Innocent II. In the Middle Ages Grandecourt belonged to the Free County of Burgundy and in the territory of the Bailliage d' amont. The patronage of the priory held the Lords of Fouvent. During the Thirty Years' War, the village was completely destroyed in 1636, only the church was spared. Then the place was probably not inhabited around 60 years. Together with the Franche -Comté came Grandecourt with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 definitively to France. Around 1760 the priory was finally dissolved. To a field change occurred in 1806, when Grandecourt was incorporated into Vy- lès- Rupt. Already in 1832 the place obtained its municipal autonomy back. Today Grande Court is a member of the comprehensive 42 villages municipal association Communauté de communes des Quatre Rivières.

Attractions

The Romanesque church of Sainte -Marie -Madeleine is one of the oldest churches in the diocese of Besançon and is classified as a monument historique. It is largely preserved in their original condition ( early 12th century ). Of importance are the Romanesque altar and frescoes from the 12th century, showing the Last Judgment, and the crypt of 1142. From the 19th century, the Lavoir that once served as a laundry and watering cattle originated.

Population

With 36 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) Grande Court is one of the smallest municipalities in the department of Haute- Saône. After the population had decreased significantly in the first half of the 20th century (1886 134 people were still counted ), only small fluctuations were recorded since the mid- 1970s.

Economy and infrastructure

Grande Court is still a predominantly by agriculture ( farming, viticulture, fruit growing and cattle breeding ) embossed village. Outside of the primary sector, there are few jobs in town. Some employed persons are also commuters who engage in the larger towns in the vicinity of their work.

The village is situated away from the larger passage axes on a secondary road that leads from Vauconcourt after Fédry. Further road links exist with Vanne, Theuley and Vy- lès- Rupt.