Cirey

Cirey, also called Cirey- lès- Bellevaux, is a village in Haute -Saône in the Franche -Comté.

Geography

Cirey situated at an altitude of 228 m above sea level, 6 km southeast of Rioz and about 20 km northeast of the city of Besançon (air line). The village extends to the south of the département in the wide valley of Ognon south of the forest heights of the Bois de Bellevaux.

The area of ​​13.09 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the middle Ognon Valley. From east to west, the area is crossed by the Ognon that flows with large meanders in an approximately two -mile-wide alluvial plain. The valley is on average 225 m and is used for agriculture. Along the river there are several ponds that were created because of the high water table in former sand pits. South of the valley ranges of communal land to the edge of the forest area Bois de la Chaille.

To the north it is flanked by wooded hills Ognontal, which consist of an alternation of calcareous and sandy- marly layers of the upper Jurassic period. The main part of the territory occupied by the Bois de Bellevaux, in the 329 meters, the highest elevation of Cirey is achieved. It is separated on the west by the valley of Bellevaux from Châtelard (290 m). Further north, the municipality's area covers the plateau Marloz and up into the woods to the Grands Bois ( to 325 m).

At Cirey addition to the actual site include the following hamlet settlements:

• Bellevaux (235 m) in the narrow valley between the Châtelard and the Bois de Bellevaux
• Les Granges - Neuves (280 m ) in the upper part of the valley of Bellevaux
• Marloz (275 m ) in a clearing island between the Bois de Bellevaux and the Grands Bois

Neighboring communities of Cirey are Ruhans in the north, Beaumotte - Aubertans and Vandelans in the east, Rigney and Valleroy in the south and Chambornay -lès- Bellevaux and Rioz in the West.

History

The discovery of a burial site from the Merovingian time at Marloz points to an early settlement of the area. The history of Cirey is closely related to that of the monastery Bellevaux. This monastery was founded in 1119 as the first Cistercian monastery of the Franche-Comté and played an important role in the expansion of the Order to the east. It was not installed like other Cistercian monasteries on fallow land, but to long cultivated land in the catchment area of ancient settlements. The Cistercian economy coined henceforth the area; Place names as Neuves Granges Vieilles Granges and as well as the nickname " lès Bellevaux " Cirey and Chambornay testify today. Since 1135 the area Vallis Bella ( beautiful valley ) is called. Founder of the terrain on which the monastery was founded, were the lords of La Roche in the near Rigney.

In the Middle Ages Cirey belonged to the Free County of Burgundy and in the territory of the Bailliage d' amont. The local rule was up to the Lords of Cromary. A noble family which bore the name of the village is mentioned in the 12th century. She also belonged to the circle of the early founders of the monastery, which was lord of the place soon after its establishment and the church had among themselves. Until the French Revolution, the destiny of the community were inextricably linked with those of the monastery. Both suffered from armed conflicts around the overhead County since the late 13th century. During a prolonged period of peace among Spanish- Habsburg rule in the 16th century, the monastery taught in Cirey a blacksmith and later a mill. The Thirty Years' War brought the end of this flower: Cirey was practically depopulated, the monastery was waiting alone in 1650, the Prior of. Together with the Franche -Comté Cirey came with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 definitively to France. This was followed by a long period of peace and a gradual economic recovery. Characteristic of the townscape, construction activity was below the last abbot of Bellevaux in the 18th century. The French Revolution brought the dissolution of the monastery, and thus the independence of the community Cirey with him to the territory now belonged Bellevaux (as Hamlet lieu- dit- Bellevaux ). Other territorial changes occurred in 1807 with the incorporation of Les Granges - Neuves (1806: 198 inhabitants) and 1808 with the incorporation of Marloz (1806: 221 inhabitants). Today Cirey is a member of the 28 localities comprehensive community association Communauté de communes du Pays Riolais.

Attractions

The impressive architecture of Cirey village church was built in the later 18th century in classical style with the plan of a Greek cross. Its architectural opulence exceeds the rank of an ordinary village church, which was not even a separate parish, and is related to the simultaneous extensive construction work in Bellevaux monastery. After its cancellation, the community secured a number of pieces of equipment of the subsequently aborted abbey church for their church, the independent parish in 1803. For the rich interior since a sarcophagus of pink granite from the 12th century include with some relics of Saints Peter II Archbishop of Tarentaise, who died in 1174 in Bellevaux monastery, the choir stalls from the 17th century (also from the monastery church Bellevaux ) and furniture 18th century ( available by appointment; contact details at the church door ). Among the preserved historic civic buildings include the former mill ( mill building dated 1784, built in the house formerly the same doors as the 1786-1788 convent building of the monastery Bellevaux, the owner of the mill was ) and the former faience factory. From the road between Cirey and Neuves -Granges from the main buildings to the left (built 1786-1788 ), the entrance gate (dated 1764, in front with a majority of newly planted avenue of lime trees and giant plane trees of the 18th century behind it) and farm buildings ( dated 1762 ( since the 19th century " Château de Bellevaux " called ) to see with later head building and rebuilding of the 1970s), the former monastery Bellevaux, all buildings that were built under the last abbot Louis Albert de Lezay - Marnésia (now privately owned, not publicly available ). Law of the road are to be seen two 18th-century building, formerly a convent belonging to the homestead.

Population

With 349 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) Cirey one of the smaller towns in the Haute- Saône. After the population had decreased significantly in the first half of the 20th century (1886 388 persons were still counted ), a slight population growth was recorded since the mid-1970s again.

Economy and infrastructure

Cirey was until well into the 20th century a predominantly by agriculture (crops, orchards and livestock ) and forestry embossed village. At present, the monastery existed in Cirey forges and mills, in the 18th century even a faience ( 1763-1780 ). A brick of the monastery came in 1792, privately owned and was active until the early 20th century. Today there are various businesses of the local small business sector. Many workers are also commuters who engage in the larger towns in the vicinity of their work.

The village is situated away from the larger passage axes on a secondary road that leads from Voray -sur- l'Ognon after Loulans - Verchamp. Further road links exist with Rioz, Rigney and Moncey.

Personalities

• Pascal Coupot ( born 1960 ), sculptor, lives and works in Cirey. From his hand come number of public works and monuments in Besançon and the wider area. ( personal site with lots of pictures )