Collonges (Ain)
Collonges is a commune in the French department of Ain, in the Rhône -Alpes. It is the capital of the Canton of Collonges in the Arrondissement of Gex.
Geography
Collonges is located at 495 m above sea level. M., about 20 km west- southwest of the City of Geneva (air line). This former farm extends to the southwest of the Pays de Gex: a scenic elevated location at the foot of the Jura Mountains below the Grand Cret d' Eau, at the western edge of the lake basin at the eastern entrance of the Défilé de l' Ecluse.
The area of 16.25 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the Pays de Gex. The area is divided into two very different parts of the natural area. The eastern part is occupied by the fertile plain at Jurafuß. This plateau, a molasse basin, which was formed by glacial Rhone glacier is drained by the Annaz the Rhône. Against the law towards the plateau gradually rises. The southern boundary runs along here the Rhone, which is dammed up in front of the upper entrance to the Défilé de l' Ecluse to an elongated shallow lake with Schwemmlandinseln.
To the west, the municipality's area extends over the steep, densely forested slopes to the crest of the Jura. The border is formed by the ridge of the Grand Cret d' Eau, on the with 1621 meters above sea level. M. the highest elevation of Collonges is achieved. Above about 1400 m above sea level. M. are extensive mountain pastures. Towards the south, the crest falls steeply to Rhônedurchbruchstal ( Défilé de l' Ecluse ). That the High Jura belonging western municipality of Collonges is part of the Parc Naturel Régional du Haut -Jura and the nature reserve Haute Chaîne du Jura.
At Collonges next to the original site also includes various hamlets and farmhouses, including:
- Ecorans ( 525 m above sea level. M. ) north of the village on Jurafuß
- Pierre d' en Bas (480 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau north of the Rhone Valley
- Pierre d' en Haut ( 497 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau north of the Rhone Valley
Neighboring towns of Collonges are Farges in the north, Puni in the east, and Vulbens Chevrier in the south and Léaz, Lancrans and Confort in the West.
History
Is first mentioned Collonges in the 10th century. Later, the spellings Collunges ( 1441 ), Colonges ( 1460 ) and Collonge appeared ( in the 18th century). The place name comes from the Old French word collonge ( colony; land belonging to a settler ) back.
Since the 12th century Collonges formed a parish that was from Ainay monastery dependent. In the Middle Ages the area of Collonges was divided into different dominions. In the 14th century the village came under the suzerainty of the Counts of Savoy. Then Collonges 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 village church was built in the 19th century. From the former castle Ecorans (13th century ), there are only a few ruins. Are preserved parts of the Château Livron as well as a seat of power in Collonges. In the village there are several old farmhouses dating from the 18th and 19th centuries in the traditional of the Pays de Gex style. Another of the attractions include the nearby gorge Défilé de l' Ecluse with the fortifications.
The views of the Jura
The Church
Population
With 1979 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Collonges is one of the smaller communities of the department of Ain. Since the mid- 1960s, population growth was recorded, but which is much less than in the other towns of the Pays de Gex.
Economy and infrastructure
Collonges was until well into the 20th century a predominantly coined by farming village. Today, there are some establishments of local small businesses. Meanwhile, the 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 place is a good infrastructure. It lies on the main road D984 which leads from Collonges along the Jurafuß to Saint -Genis -Pouilly. The village was relieved of through traffic through the construction of a bypass road. More about regional road links exist with Bellegarde- sur -Valserine and Saint -Julien -en- Genevois. The nearest links to the A40 motorway is located at a distance of around 15 km.
Collonges had a station on the railway line Lyon -Genève. There the railway Collonges- Divonne- les- Bains branches, which now only serves the freight.