Échallon
Échallon is a commune in the French department of Ain, in the Rhône -Alpes.
Geography
Échallon lies 750 m above sea level. M., about eight miles southeast of downtown Oyonnax (air line). This former farm extends in the Haut- Bugey, in the Jura, on a sloping toward the south ridge to the west of the Valley of Semine, at the edge of the high plateau of Échallon.
The area of 28.09 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the southern French Jura. The central part is occupied by the plateau of Échallon, which has a width of two kilometers and a length of five kilometers and is slightly inclined towards the south. Much of the plateau is used as pasture, in the north there are the forests Bois de la Montagne brulee and Forêt de Belleydoux. To the west, passes over a gently rising slope to the wooded ridge of the Forêt d' Échallon, on with 1082 meters above sea level. M. the highest elevation of Échallon is achieved. In the far west the municipality area extends into the valley of the Lac Genin with its surrounding marshland. The eastern boundary of the plateau forms the deep valley of the Semine (right tributary of the Valserine ). Also, the east side of the valley adjacent below Giron is part of the community.
The scattered settlement Échallon consists of various population centers, hamlets and farm groups, including:
- Prapont (520 m above sea level. M. ) on the Semine
- Le Sermet (540 m above sea level. M. ) in the Valley of Semine
- Caquet (720 m above sea level. M. ) on the ledge at the edge of the plateau of Échallon
- Miribel (750 m above sea level. M. ) on the ledge at the edge of the plateau of Échallon
- La Pallud (740 m above sea level. M. ) over a Seitentälchen the Semine
- Le Cret ( 825 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau of Échallon
- Sous la FluA (815 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau of Échallon
- La Côte Druet (700 m above sea level. M. ) on the western flank of the Semine
- Le Favillon ( 825 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau of Échallon
- Le Cretet (850 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau of Échallon
Neighboring communities of Échallon are Arbent and Belleydoux in the north, Giron in the east, Saint- Germain- de -Joux and Plagne in the south and Charix and Oyonnax in the West.
History
Échallon appears already in the 9th century for the first time in the documents. In the course of time, changed the spelling on Escalone ( 1158 ), Ash Alone ( 1299 ) and the present Eschalon Échallon. The place name derives from the old French word escalon (head, stepped stairs). In the 13th century the place was looted and devastated at the request of the Lords of Thoire -Villars. Since the Middle Ages Échallon was under the suzerainty of the Counts of Savoy. The Treaty of Lyon of the place came in 1601 to France.
Attractions
The village church was built in 1865 by Pierre Bossan in the style of neoclassicism. Among the natural attractions include Lac Genin and its surroundings, which are a popular tourist destination.
Population
With 770 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Échallon one of the small communities of the department of Ain. After the population had decreased in the first half of the 20th century (1886 1057 people were still counted ), a population increase was recorded since the early 1970s again. The growth strengthened. Lately thanks to the beautiful residential area
Economy and infrastructure
Échallon was until well into the 20th century a predominantly coined by agriculture, especially livestock and dairy farming, as well as by the forestry village. The water power of the Semine was used by various mills. In addition, there are today some of the local small business enterprises. Meanwhile, the village has developed into a residential community. Many workers are 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 Oyonnax to Saint -Germain -de- Joux. Further road links exist with Saint- Claude, Apremont and Plagne. The nearest links to the A40 motorway is located at a distance of around 15 kilometers.