Foucherans (Doubs)

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

Geography

Foucherans, at 556 m above sea level, about 12 kilometers southeast of the city of Besançon (air line). The village is located in the Jura, on a hill at the western end of the plateau of Valdahon, north of the Valley of the Loue.

The area of ​​10.95 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the French Jura. The main part of the area is taken from the plateau of Foucherans, which is an average 530 m. It is predominantly of arable and meadow land, partly also passed by forest. The plateau has no above-ground rivers, because the rainwater seeps into the karst underground. To the north of the municipality of soil ranges in the forest area of Grosmont in which at 580m is the highest elevation of Foucherans is achieved. In the south the erosion valley Ravin du Puits Noir is a sharp demarcation, as it is incised about 130 m deep. It is drained by the Ruisseau de la Brême, runs along the southern boundary of the municipality of Loue. With a narrow strip, the municipality's area extends eastward into the trough Combe Madame.

Neighboring communities of Foucherans are Le Gratteris and Trépot in the north, Charbonnières- les- Sapins in the east, Bonnevaux- le- Prieuré, Ornans and Scey- Maisières in the south and Tarcenay in the West.

Attractions

The church of Saint -Jacques and Saint- Pierre was originally developed from a building of the 13th century. It was enlarged in the 19th century, the medieval bell tower was retained. From a former seat of power only a few remains are visible. In the village are farmhouses are preserved in the characteristic style of the Franche -Comté from the 17th to 19th centuries. In a farm from the 17th century is the Musée Rural. The hermitage of Saint- Maximin stands in an open field north of the village.

Population

With 447 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) Foucherans is one of the small communities of the department of Doubs. After the population had decreased significantly in the first half of the 20th century (1881 373 persons were still counted ), a significant population increase has been recorded since the early 1960s again.

Economy and infrastructure

Foucherans was until well into the 20th century a predominantly by agriculture (crops, orchards and livestock ) and forestry embossed village. In addition, there are today some of the local small business enterprises. Meanwhile, the village has also changed into a residential community. Many workers are commuters who do their work in the larger towns in the environment or in the agglomeration Besançon.

The village is located off the major thoroughfares on a secondary road that leads from Ornans by Trépot. Another road connection with Bonnevaux- le- Prieuré.