Cravanche

Cravanche ( formerly Cranwelsch German ) is a town in the French department of Territoire de Belfort in the Franche -Comté.

Geography

Cravanche is located on 389 m above sea level, about three kilometers northwest of the town of Belfort ( a straight line ). The village is located in the hills west of Belfort, in a valley on the edge of the basin of Belfort, between the rolling hills of Montagne du Salbert in the north and Haut-du -Mont in the south.

The area of 1.35 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the pelvic region of Belfort. The main part of the area occupied by the elongate hollow of Cravanche. This opens east to the valley of the Savoureuse. The trough is bordered by the hills of the Haut-du -Mont in the south and the Montagne du Salbert in the north. On the slope of Salbert is achieved with 463 m the highest elevation of Cravanche. Through the municipality runs in geological- tectonic respect the border between the Jura and Vosges. During the Haut-du -Mont consists of Jurassic limestone, the Montagne du Salbert is constructed of gray slate.

Neighboring communities of Cravanche are Belfort in the north, east and south, Valdoie the northeast and Essert in the southwest.

History

The territory of Cravanche was settled very early. The earliest evidence of human presence are many relics that were made in the caves of Cravanche, including skeletons and especially tools of flint. Also from Gallo-Roman traces of settlement sites have been preserved.

Is first mentioned in the 12th century Cravanche under the name Gravainches. From a later time, the terms and Cravainches Cravoinche come. The German name Cranwelsch, Grauersch and Crawaintsch have survived. First, standing in the sphere of influence of the Lords of Montbeliard, came Cravanche mid-14th century under the suzerainty of the Habsburg dynasty. It formed its own little rule. Together with the Sundgau came the village with the Peace of Westphalia in 1648 to the French crown. Since 1793 Cravanche belonged to the Department of Haut -Rhin, however, remained in 1871 as part of the Territoire de Belfort as opposed to the rest of Alsace in France.

From the end of the 19th century witnessed Cravanche rapid population growth after the industrial areas of Belfort had extended into the valley towards Valdoie. Since 1973 Cravanche part of the agglomeration Belfort (now community association Communauté d' AgglomÃ Belfortaine ).

Attractions

The monument aux morts, which was created in 1948, is a memorial to the casualties of the First and Second World War. From the 20th century, the chapel of Notre -Dame dates.

Population

With 1987 inhabitants (1 January 2011 ) is Cravanche the medium-sized municipalities in the department of Territoire de Belfort. In the early 1900's Cravanche showed very strong growth rates. In the first half of the 20th century, the population hovered around 1,100 people. A renewed strong increase in population took place from 1960 to the mid-1970s. Since then, the population remained at an approximately constant level. The settlement area of Cravanche has grown together seamlessly with that of Belfort.

Economy and infrastructure

Cravanche has long been a predominantly by agriculture (crops, orchards and livestock ) embossed village. Since the beginning of the 20th century, the village developed into a residential community on the outskirts of Belfort. In the valley on the border with Belfort may be a larger industrial and commercial area developed. Here are the factory buildings of Alstom ( manufacture of railway vehicles, in particular the TGV ). In the municipality of numerous plants of small and medium industries are located. Furthermore, there are many shops of retail for your everyday needs. Many workers are also commuters who do their work in the other municipalities of the agglomeration Belfort.

The village has good transport links. It is located on a secondary road that leads from Valdoie after Châlonvillars. The nearest links to the A36 motorway is located at a distance of about five kilometers. With the city of Belfort Cravanche is connected by a bus.

Municipality in the department of Territoire de Belfort
Place in Franche -Comté

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