Ruffieu
Ruffieu is a town in the French department of Ain , in the Rhône -Alpes.
Geography
Ruffieu lies on 728 meters. Level, about 26 kilometers north of the town of Belley (air line). The farming village extends in the southeastern Bugey, a scenic location on the west slope of the Séran, in the valley of the Valromey, at the eastern foot of the plan agate northward reaching the ridge.
The area of 14.03 km ² municipal area comprises a portion of Valromey. The Valromey forms a broad valley between two high, oriented in north-south direction Jura ridges. The eastern municipal boundary runs along the Séran, which flows into the open Talniederung the upper Valromey south. From the river, the municipality's area extends westward across the slope of Ruffieu to the subsequent broad ridge, which is mainly covered by forests. On a hilltop in the Bois de la Valorse is with 1199 m above sea level. M. reached the highest elevation of Ruffieu.
To Ruffieu include the hamlet Préoux ( 690 m above sea level. M. ) in the valley of Séran and some homesteads. Neighboring communities of Ruffieu are Le Petit- Abergement and Le Grand- Abergement in the north, and Hotonnes Songieu in the east, the south and Lompnieu Hauteville- Lompnes and Champdor in the West.
History
The territory of Ruffieu was already inhabited during the Roman period. First mentioned is the place in 1135 under the name Rufiacus. Subsequently, the names Rufeu ( 1267 ), Ruffiacus and Ruffiou published ( 1345 ). The name goes back to the Gallo-Roman personal name Ruffius and means something like estate of Ruffius.
Since its first mention Ruffieu formed a parish, which was dependent on Ceyzérieu. The village belonged in the Middle Ages to the rule of Valromey, which was under the suzerainty of the Counts of Savoy. The Treaty of Lyon Ruffieu arrived in 1601 to France.
Attractions
The parish church of Saint -Didier is originally from the 12th century but was largely rebuilt in the 17th century. In the old town several farmhouses are obtained in a traditional style from the 17th to 19th centuries.
Population
With 202 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Ruffieu one of the small communities of the department of Ain. After the population had decreased significantly in the first half of the 20th century, a constancy has been achieved since the early 1990s again.
Economy and infrastructure
Ruffieu was until well into the 20th century a predominantly coined by agriculture and forestry village. In addition, there are today some of the local small business enterprises. Meanwhile, the village has changed thanks to the lovely position 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 Arte Mare to Brénod. Further road links exist with Hotonnes and over the Col de la Rochette with Hauteville- Lompnes.
Personalities
- Sandrine Bailly, French biathlete, Overall World Cup winner in 2005 and multiple medal winners at the Olympic Games and World Championships, lives in the village.