Épenoy

Épenoy is a commune in the French department Doubs in the Franche -Comté.

Geography

Épenoy is located on 745 m above sea level, 3 km southeast of Valdahon and about 28 km southeast of the city of Besançon (air line). The village is located in the Jura, on a hill on the plateau of Valdahon, called the first plateau of the Jura Mountains, north of the first higher Jura chains.

The area of ​​13.25 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the French Jura. The main part of the area is occupied by only weakly in relief plateau Valdahon, which is an average of 720 meters. It is predominantly of arable and meadow land, partly also passed by forest. The plateau, characterized by different trough-like depressions ( Champ du Mont and Bois de Baremont ), has no above-ground rivers, because the rainwater seeps into the karst underground. To the east of the municipality of soil over the hill and the woods of Baremont extends into the basin of Avoudrey. In the north- east, the municipality area extends to the ridge of the Grand Bois et Viard, on the 822 meters, the highest elevation of Épenoy is achieved.

Neighboring communities of Épenoy are Valdahon, Chevigney- lès -Vercel, Adam -lès -Vercel and Vercel - Villedieu -le-Camp to the north, Avoudrey in the east, and Passonfontaine Rantechaux in the south and Étray in the West.

History

In the Middle Ages Épenoy belonged to the rule Cicon. A branch of the lords of Cicon, the d' Espenoy called himself, was in the 14th century to build a castle in the village, which existed until the 16th century. Together with the Franche -Comté Épenoy came with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 to France. Since 1998 Épenoy is a member of the 44- villages municipal association Communauté de communes du Pays de Pierre Fontaine - Vercel.

By January 1, 2009 there was a change in the membership of the district municipality. So far, belonging to the district Besançon, all municipalities in the canton came to the district Pontarlier.

Attractions

The church of Saint - Renobert got its present shape in the Tuscan style new construction in 1837 and in 1960 a comprehensive restoration subjected. It has modern glass window with abstract motifs. At the site of the former castle today is a manor house, are integrated from the 14th century in which the components. In the village are farmhouses are preserved in the characteristic style of the Franche -Comté from the 17th to 19th centuries.

Population

With 599 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) Épenoy one of the small communities of the department of Doubs. After the population had decreased in the first half of the 20th century (1886 519 persons were still counted ), a significant population increase has been recorded since the early 1990s again.

Economy and infrastructure

Épenoy was until well into the 20th century a predominantly by agriculture (crops, orchards and livestock ) embossed village. In addition, there are now several companies of local small enterprises, mainly craft and business of retail trade. Meanwhile, the village has also changed into a residential community. Many workers are commuters who engage in the larger towns in the vicinity of their work.

The village has good transport links. It is located near the main road D461 which leads from Besançon Morteau. Further road links exist with Valdahon, Étray, Nods, and Rantechaux Passonfontaine.