Saxel

Saxel is a commune in the French department of Haute- Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region.

Geography

Saxel located at 900 meters above sea level. M., about 20 km east of the city of Geneva (air line). The scattered settlement municipality extends south of the pass traversal Col de Saxel in a northern tributary of the Vallée Verte in the northwestern Savoy Alps.

The area of ​​5.63 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the western Chablais Alps. The main part of the municipality area is drained by the Brevon, which rises at the Col de Saxel south to Menoge. To the north the area over the wide saddle of the Col de Saxel extends into the catchment area of ​​the Foron, a southern tributary of Lake Geneva. On both sides of the ball crossing the communal land extends to the adjacent heights, to the west to the slopes of Les Voirons, in the east to the height above Superaxel. Here it is with 1298 m above sea. M. reached the highest elevation of Saxel.

To Saxel include various hamlet settlements, including Challande ( 895 m above sea level. M. ), Chez Lanceyme (920 m above sea level. M. ) and Clavel ( 975 m above sea level. M. ), all located in the area of the Col de Saxel. Neighboring communities of Saxel are Bons- en- Chablais and Brenthonne in the north, and Fessy Burdignin in the east and in the west Boëge.

History

The place name derives from the Latin word saxellum ( small rock ) from. Saxel belonged until 1860 to the canton Douvaine before it was assigned to the newly created Canton Boëge. With this canton it moved in 1939 from district to district Bonneville Thonon -les- Bains.

Attractions

The village church in the Renaissance style was built in 1840 with the plan of a clover leaf.

Population

With 411 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Saxel one of the small towns in the Haute-Savoie region. A continuous strong growth of the population since the mid- 1960s has been recorded thanks to the beautiful residential area.

Economy and infrastructure

Saxel is a predominantly agricultural village today. In Superaxel on the hillside east of the village of winter sports can be operated. The village is located off the major thoroughfares on a route connecting Bons- en- Chablais on the Col de Saxel after Boëge. From Saxel a local road leads to the crest of Les Voirons ( Monastère de Bethléem ).