Fertans

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

Geography

Fertans is located on 539 m above sea level, about nine kilometers southwest of Ornans and 20 km south of the city of Besançon (air line). The village is located in the Jura, in a depression on the plateau of Amancey that stretches between the valleys of Loue and Lison, in the headwaters of the creek Mée.

The area of ​​8.19 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the French Jura. The main part of the area is occupied by the plateau of Amancey, the average is located at 550 m and consisted partly of meadow land, partly by forest. Towards the south of the plateau increases slightly, so that north of Amancey with 583 m the highest elevation of Fertans is achieved. The plateau runs north out into numerous sub- plateaus which are separated by deeply incised erosion valleys. In Fertans springs the Mée that eintieft rapidly and later flows into the Ruisseau de Noirvaux. The eastern boundary runs along the Ruisseau de Noirvaux (tributary of Loue ), whose valley is almost 200 meters deep into the plateau, and the western boundary is above the steep drop to the valley of the Ruisseau de Malan. All of these steep slopes erosion valleys will be crowned at the upper edge of striking Kalkfelswänden.

Neighboring communities of Fertans are Amondans and Cléron in the north, Flagey in the east, the south and Amancey Malan in the West.

History

Several findings indicate that the municipality of Fertans was already inhabited during the Iron Age. Is first mentioned in the 12th century Fertans. It made since that time a parish. In the Middle Ages Fertans was the center of a small rule, which was under the suzerainty of the Lords of Scey. Together with the Franche -Comté reached the village with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 to France. It was only in 1790 Fertans lost its primacy on the plateau of Amancey to Amancey. 1972 Fertans was merged with Amondans, Cléron Malan and the greater community Amancey, but received in 1980 his independence back. Since 1993 Fertans is a member of the comprehensive 19 villages municipal association Communauté de communes Amancey - Loue - Lison.

Attractions

The parish church of Fertans originally goes back to the 12th century, but has been over the centuries repeatedly restored and remodeled. So come the tower from the 14th century and the choir from the 18th century. The church has a rich interior, including groups of statues from the 16th century, grave plates, and a pulpit from the 18th century. The castle was built in the 13th century, in 1638 partially destroyed and then rebuilt in its present form with two towers. In the old town numerous farmhouses are obtained in the characteristic style of the Haut-Doubs from the 17th to 19th centuries.

Population

With 258 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) Fertans one of the small communities of the department of Doubs. After the population had decreased significantly in the first half of the 20th century (1891 305 persons were still counted ), a continuous population growth was recorded since the early 1990s again.

Economy and infrastructure

Fertans was until well into the 20th century a predominantly by agriculture (crops, orchards and livestock ) and forestry embossed village. In addition, there are now a number of companies of small and medium industries, including a sawmill and further operation of wood processing. 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 is located off the major thoroughfares of the secondary road D473 which leads from Besançon Levier. Another road connection with Amondans.