Belvoir, Doubs
Belvoir is a commune in the French department Doubs in the Franche -Comté.
Geography
Belvoir is located at 650 m, 3 km northeast of Sancey -le- Grand and about 26 km southwest of the town of Montbéliard (air line). The village is located in the Jura, on a flung to the south spur of the plateau of Mont de Belvoir, on the eastern edge of the basin of Sancey ( Vallon de Sancey ), south of the ridge of Lomont.
The area of 9.31 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the French Jura. The main part of the area is occupied by the plateau of Mont de Belvoir, which is on average 650 m. It is mainly consisted of arable and meadow land, but also shows some of larger forest areas, especially the Forêt du Chanois et épaisses in the south. Here is 671 m reaches the highest point of Belvoir. The Mont de Belvoir is the plateau of an escarpment that slopes towards the west, north and east with a 100 m high steep slope to the adjacent, low-lying basins. This step in the terrain is dissected by several valleys in a series of projections. The parish boundary runs partly along the edge of the plateau above the escarpment, and partly extends down into the valleys. In the West, Belvoir has a small share of the pool of Sancey, to the east the headwaters of the Barbèche (left side stream of the Doubs ) belongs to the municipality.
Neighboring communities of Belvoir are Vellerot -lès- Belvoir and Vyt -lès- Belvoir in the north, Vernois- lès- Belvoir in the east, and Provenchère Sancey -le-Long in the south and Rahon in the West.
History
Belvoir is one of the oldest settlements in the region. In pre-Roman times was on the spur of Belvoir, a Celtic oppidum. In Roman times the place was attached to control the traffic on the salt road between Vesontio (Besançon ) and the Upper Rhine. Finds from different periods indicate that the place is probably inhabited continuously since Roman times.
The castle of Belvoir was built in the late 12th and early 13th century. It was the seat of a barony, which belonged successively to the families of Belvoir, Vergy and Cusance in the Middle Ages. Next to the castle is the place Belvoir developed as a fortified borough. The castle was built during the Burgundian Wars of Louis XI. 1674 and occupied by Louis XIV. Together with the Franche -Comté Belvoir came with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 to France.
Attractions
On the southeast slope of the mountain spur is the Church of Saint -Nicolas, which dates in its present form from the 16th century Gothic style forms shows. However, the most important attraction of the place is the Belvoir Castle, the first and foremost stands in a prominent position on the spur. It was conceived in the mid-20th century decay, but was restored in extensive restoration since 1958. It consists of a round keep (13th century), more additional square towers, a chapel and a number of residential respectively former storage and livestock buildings (mostly from the 18th and 19th centuries ).
In the lower part of the village are the so-called Halles from the 15th century, where markets were held earlier. There are also numerous other houses in the traditional style of the Franche -Comté, dating back in part to the 16th century. Open field at the edge of the plateau, the chapels of Sainte -Anne ( 15th century ) and Saint- Maximin (17th century). In addition, Belvoir has two museums: the Castle Museum ( exhibition of weapons and pieces of furniture ) and the Musée de la Radio et du Phonographe.
Population
With 95 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Belvoir is one of the smallest municipalities of the department of Doubs. After the population had decreased in the first half of the 20th century (1901 261 persons were still counted ), only small fluctuations were recorded since the mid- 1970s.
Economy and infrastructure
Belvoir was until well into the 20th century a predominantly by agriculture (crops, orchards and livestock ) embossed village. In addition, there are today some of the local small business enterprises. Many workers are also 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 that leads from Rahon after Provenchère. Further road links exist with Sancey -le-Long and Vernois- lès- Belvoir.