Bellevaux

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

Geography

Bellevaux is 903 m above sea level. M., 13 km south-southeast of the town of Thonon -les- Bains ( straight line ). The mountain village is located in the central Chablais, in the Vallée du Brevon on the lower eastern slopes of Narmont, in the northern Savoy Alps.

The area of ​​48.97 km ² municipal area comprises the central and southern part of the Vallée du Brevon. The Brevon, a left tributary of the Dranse, the area from the south crosses to the north in a valley in which alternate with narrow Talweiten regularly. In the southern section, the Lac de Vallon, who was only in 1943 dammed up by the rubble of a large landslide is located.

West of Brevon enough the community area of the forest height of Narmont (1363 m above sea level. M. ) in the headwaters of the Follaz in the area of the Col de Terra Mont, and up to the alpine meadows of the Montagne d' Hirmentaz (1607 m above sea level. M. ). East of Brevon, the area extends to the ridge that separates the Vallée du Brevon from the Vallée d' Aulps. The border runs over the heights of Pointe d' Ireuse (1891 m above sea level. M. ), Pointe de la Gay (1802 m above sea level. M. ) and Grande Pointe (1800 m above sea level. M. ). The southern end of the valley make some striking limestone peaks of the Chablais Alps, namely from west to east the Haute- Pointe (1958 m above sea level. M. ), the Pointe de Chavasse (2010 m above sea level. M. ), the Pointe de Chalune ( 2114 m ü. M. ) and the Roc d' Enfer, on the western ridge of 2140 m above sea level. M. the highest elevation of Bellevaux is achieved. A small corner of the church floor extends further south to the Col de la Ramaz.

Community structure

To Bellevaux addition to the actual village center includes several hamlets settlements, namely:

• Chez Maurice ( 829 m above sea level. M. ) in Brevontal at the foot of Narmont
• Le Brogel (860 m above sea level. M. ) in Brevontal at the foot of Narmont
• La Cour (870 m above sea level. M. ) then north to the village
• La Côte (1150 m above sea level. M. ) on a saddle south of Narmont
• Les Pontets ( 1126 m above sea level. M. ) on a ridge southwest of the Narmont
• Terra Mont ( 1040 m above sea level. M. ) on the Follaz on the climb to the Col de Terra Mont
• Les Mouilles ( 1127 m above sea level. M. ) on the east elevation of the Montagne d' Hirmentaz
• Hirmentaz (1200 m above sea level. M. ) on the northern slopes of the Montagne d' Hirmentaz
• Jambaz de çà (1020 m above sea level. M. ) on the west slope of the Brevon
• Jambaz de là (1030 m above sea level. M. ) on the Col de Jambaz
• Le Frêne (1000 m above sea level. M. ) on a terrace east of Brevon
• L' Ermont (1013 m above sea level. M. ) east of Brevon
• L' Epuyer ( 955 m above sea level. M. ) on Brevon
• La Clusaz (980 m above sea level. M. ) on Brevon
• Chèvrerie La (1110 m above sea level. M. ) at the rear of the Vallée du Brevon

Neighboring communities of Bellevaux are Lullin and VAILLY in the north, La Baume, Seytroux and Saint -Jean- d'Aulps to the east, La Côte- d'Arbroz and Mieussy in the south and Onnion, Mégevette, Habère -Lullin and Habère- Poche in the West.

History

Bellevaux was next to a Benedictine priory, which was founded here in 1136. Another priory was founded in 1138 at Vallon (near La Chèvrerie ).

Attractions

The church of Notre Dame de l' Assomption built around 1830 and has a copper onion dome and a rich interior ( Schnitzmobiliar ). At the Charterhouse in Vallon, which was destroyed in 1536 by the Bernese, reminds the chapel Saint- Bruno in the 17th century. In the vicinity of Bellevaux there are numerous chapels, including the Chapelle de Nifflon from the 19th century on the Alp d' en Haut Nifflon. In Bellevaux houses the Musée de la Faune and the Musée de l' Histoire et des Traditions.

Population

With 1321 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Bellevaux one of the smaller towns in the Haute-Savoie region. After the population had decreased markedly during the first half of the 20th century (1901 Bellevaux still counted 1627 inhabitants), only small fluctuations in the population have been recorded since the 1960s. Only in recent years shows again an increasing trend.

Economy and infrastructure

Bellevaux was until well into the 20th century a predominantly coined by agriculture and forestry village. Today there are various businesses of the local small business sector. Many working population commuters who engage in the larger towns in the area, especially in Thonon -les- Bains, their work. In the vicinity of Hirmentaz and La Chèvrerie zuhinterst in the Vallée du Brevon emerged in recent decades two winter sports areas.

The village is located off the major thoroughfares, but is of Thonon -les- Bains on the D26, which leads to Saint -Jeoire, relatively easily accessible. Further road links exist with Lullin and Habère- Poche.