Challex

Challex is a commune in the French department of Ain, in the Rhône -Alpes.

Geography

Challex is located on 485 m above sea level. Level, about 14 kilometers west of the city of Geneva (air line). The wine village extends to the southwest of the Pays de Gex: a scenic location on the southern slopes of a ridge above the Talniederung the Rhône, east of the Jura, in the Geneva basin near the border with Switzerland.

The area of ​​8.67 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the Pays de Gex. The southern boundary runs along the Rhône, which flows here in some tortuous passage through a 300 to 500 m wide valley. Below Challex the Rhône is dammed by a hydroelectric power plant. The tertiary molasse basin of Geneva was formed by glacial Rhone glacier. Due to erosion, the Rhone has cut into the post-glacial deposits in, which is why the valley is accompanied by approximately 60 m high slopes. From the river, the municipality's area extends to the adjacent plateau ( around 430 m above sea level. M. ) and the ridge of Challex, on the 516 m above sea level. M. is reached the highest point of the municipality. The plateau of operation is broken by gullies of various short tributaries of the Rhône, including the Ruisseau des Charmilles, which forms the eastern boundary. In the west the boundary runs along the creek Groise.

To Challex addition to the actual site includes various hamlets and farmhouses, including:

• Gaillardin (400 m above sea level. M. ) on the terrace north of the Rhone below the village
• Mucelle (500 m above sea level. M. ) on the ridge of Challex
• Marougy (422 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau west of the Rhone Valley

Neighboring communities of Challex Puni are in the south, Péron in the west and the Swiss towns Dardagny in the north, the east and Avully Chancy in the far south.

History

Is first mentioned Challex in 1298 under the name Chaloys. Over time, the spelling on Chaloes ( 1308), Chalois ( 1332 ), Chaloex ( 1344), Chalay ( 1397 ) transformed to the present name Challex, which is on record in 1437. Later still appeared the names Challaix ( 1738) and Chalais ( in the 18th century). The place name probably dates back to the Gallo-Roman family names Calius and means as much as the estate Calius ( Caliacum ).

In the Middle Ages seat of the Challex Kastlanei corbière, which was the scene of disputes between the Counts of Geneva and the Dukes of Savoy in the 13th and 14th centuries. In the 14th century the village came under the suzerainty of the Savoy. Then Challex told the eventful history of the Pays de Gex, with which it finally reached in 1601 after the Treaty of Lyon in France.

Attractions

The parish church of Challex originally goes back to a Romanesque building. Its present form was the church in the comprehensive transformation in the 19th century; the chancel dates from the 15th century. From the former Château de Corbières still exist the ruins. In the village are farmhouses dating from the 17th to 19th centuries have been preserved.

The Church

The cemetery near the church

Population

With 1268 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Challex one of the smaller communities of the department of Ain. Since the mid- 1960s, a continuous increase in population was recorded. Outside the old town center, numerous new single-family homes were built.

Economy and infrastructure

Challex was until well into the 20th century a predominantly coined by farming village. Still today viticulture plays an important role as a source of income. There are also some plants of the local small business sector. Meanwhile, the border village has also changed into a residential community. Many working population commuters who work in the larger towns of the Pays de Gex or as a frontier in the agglomeration of Geneva.

The village is located off the major thoroughfares on a secondary road that leads from Puni to Saint -Jean -de- Gonville. ( Collonges - Saint- Genis- Pouilly ) So the four-lane highway D884 is easily accessible. Further road links exist with La Plaine and Dardagny in the Canton of Geneva.

The municipal area is the 1924 built Laufwasserkraftwerk Chancy - Puni.