Levier

Levier is a commune in the French department Doubs in the Franche -Comté. It is the capital of the canton in the Arrondissement Levier Pontarlier.

Geography

Levier is at 718 m above sea level, 19 km west-northwest of the town of Pontarlier (air line). The village is located in the Jura, in the midst of the broad plateaux of Levier, which belongs to the second plateau of the Jura Mountains, east of karst source of Lison.

The area of ​​37.60 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the French Jura. The main part of the area is occupied by the Plateau of Levier, the average is 730 meters and has a width of approximately 5 km. It is mostly covered by meadows, but also shows some forest areas, especially the Forêt de la Joux northeast of the village and the Forêt de Levier in the West. The entire area has no surface watercourses, because the rainwater seeps into the karst underground. In the south, forming the high ridges of the Forêt de Maublin and the Bois de la Chapelle ( 894 m ) the definition of the plateau and the transition to the high level of Arlier. The northern border runs along the crest of Malvaux, on the 901 meters, the highest elevation is achieved by Levier. This long-drawn comb, which is a geological- tectonic anticline in respect is oriented towards the west southwest -northeast, according to the strike of the Jurassic in this region.

Levier to include the hamlet of Granges- Maillot (780 m) on the southern slope of the height of Malveau as well as some individual farms. Neighboring communities of Levier are Labergement -du- Navois, Bolandoz, Reugney and Amathay - Vésigneux in the north, Septfontaines in the east, Chapelle- d'Huin and Boujailles in the south and Villers -sous- Chalamont, Villeneuve- d'Amont and Gevresin in the West.

History

The village is first mentioned in 1261 already under the present name Levier. Subsequently, the names Livii ( 1264 ) and followed Lyvier ( 1277 ). In Granges- Maillot was a small priory, whose monks attended in the early 13th century for the grubbing and reclamation of the plateau. The area belonged since the Middle Ages to the lords of Chalon and formed under the suzerainty a rule.

A severe plague epidemic in 1636 fell victim to numerous residents. In 1639 Levier 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. Over the centuries Levier was affected by numerous devastating village fires, particularly in 1718, 1749, 1855 and 1958. Territory to a change occurred in 1974 when the previously independent Granges- Maillot was incorporated into Levier. Since 2002 Levier is a member of the comprehensive 11 municipalities municipal association Communauté de communes Altitude 800

Attractions

The parish church was rebuilt in 1830 in the Gothic Revival style. From 1860, the Hôtel de Ville dates (Town Hall ). In Granges- Maillot the ruins of the old manor house have been preserved as well as the castle from the 19th century. Worth a visit the Musée du Cheval de trait is.

Population

With 1971 inhabitants (1 January 2011 ) is one of Levier 's medium-sized municipalities in the department of Doubs. Once the population has consistently had in the first half of the 20th century in the range of about 1,300 people, a significant population growth has been recorded since the early 1960s.

Economy and infrastructure

Levier has long been a predominantly coined by agriculture, especially dairy farming and animal husbandry, as well as by the forestry village. Today, the village has developed into a regional center that fulfills central functions for the environment. There are various companies of small and medium enterprises, mainly in the sectors of construction, wood processing, automotive accessories industry (production of disc brakes) and mechanical workshops and numerous shops retailing. Levier has a College and an agricultural vocational school.

The village has good transport links and forms a junction on the main road D72, which runs from Dole via Pontarlier to Lausanne. Further road links exist with Amancey, Frasnian, Septfontaines and Villers -sous- Chalamont.