Fouvent-Saint-Andoche

Fouvent -Saint- Andoche is a commune in Haute -Saône in the Franche -Comté.

Geography

Fouvent -Saint- Andoche situated at an altitude of 245 m above sea level, 12 km east-northeast of Champlitte and about 53 km northwest of the city of Besançon (air line). The community stretches west of the département, in the undulating countryside north-west of Saônetals, at the southern foot of Mont Champot, in the field of Talniederung of Vannon.

The area of ​​34.70 km ² municipal area includes a portion in the region of the plateau north of the Saônetals. From northwest to southeast, the area is crossed by the Talniederung of Vannon, which provides for drainage Saône. However, the north-western part of the Vannon Valley shows no above-ground rivers because the river in several sources becomes apparent only below Argillières. The alluvial plain through which the Vannon meanders is, on average 220 ​​m and has a maximum width of one kilometer.

Flanked the valley on both sides of relatively steep slopes. This lead to the southwest on the plateau of Fouvent that reaches an average height of 250 m. On the plateau dominates agricultural use, but there are also some larger forest areas. To the west, the municipality's area extends to the Montaubert with the Bois de l'Hospice. With 368 m find the highest mountains of Fouvent -Saint- Andoche is achieved.

East of Vannon Valley the landscape is stronger in relief. Here rise the hills of Mont Champot (335 m ) and the vast Bois de Fouvent. The valley of Les Essarts east of this forest area belongs to the municipality. The northern boundary is the height of Farincourt (340 m). In geological terms, the area consists of an alternation of calcareous and sandy- marly sediments of Middle Jurassic time. Occur on the plateau in the south strata of the upper Jurassic to light, while the Vannon Valley is filled with alluvium.

The municipality consists of the following districts:

• Fouvent -le -Haut ( 243 m ) west of the hill on the edge of the plateau of the Vannon Valley
• Fouvent -le- Bas (220 m) in the valley of Vannon at the southern foot of Mont Champot
• Trécourt (214 m) in the valley of Vannon
• Saint- Andoche (234 m) in a slightly elevated location on the northeast side of the valley of the Vannon
• Les Essarts (270 m) in a valley between the hills of Bois de Fouvent and Bois Dessessart

Neighboring communities of Fouvent -Saint- Andoche are Gilley, Valleroy, Farincourt and Bourguignon- lès- Morey in the north, La Roche- Morey and Fran Court in the east, Roche- et- Raucourt, Dampierre- sur-Salon and Delain in the south and Larret, Pierrecourt and Argillières in the West.

History

The territory of Fouvent was settled very early. From the megalithic Pierre Percée testifies in the Bois de Fouvent. On the Mont Champot was a Gallo-Roman settlement site. From this time finds of coins and pottery fragments are known. Also a burial ground from the Merovingian period was discovered.

Is Fouvent than in 1019 Fonvenz, mentioned later as Fonvanne. The place name derives from Fons Vennae and means as much as a source of Vannon. In the Middle Ages Fouvent belonged to the Free County of Burgundy and in the territory of the Bailliage d' amont. Center of the settlements was the Château de Fouvent, a castle, which already existed in the 10th century. The rule Fouvent belonged to the powerful within Burgundy and handed over some 60 villages. She was in the hands of Vergy family since 1203. Around 1470 the castle was strengthened, but already in 1472 by troops of the French king Louis XI. taken. Also in 1569, during the raid by the troops of the Duke of Zweibrücken, the castle was partially destroyed. During the Thirty Years' War in 1636 the villages were severely affected. The castle was completely destroyed by French troops. In the village Trécourt were since the Middle Ages, a blast furnace and a smithy, which ceased its operation in the 19th century.

Until 1790 Fouvent belonged to Champagne. In 1800 Trécourt was incorporated into Fouvent -le-Haut. In 1973 came the merger of the previously independent municipality Fouvent -le-Haut (1968: 120 inhabitants), Fouvent -le- Bas (1968: 171 inhabitants) and Saint- Andoche (1968: 83 inhabitants ). Today Fouvent -Saint- Andoche is a member of the 42 localities comprehensive community association Communauté de communes des Quatre Rivières.

Attractions

The Church of Fouvent -le- Bas was built in 1851 in the classical style on the site of an earlier church. In Fouvent -le-Haut, the church Notre- Dame de l' Assomption, built in 1750 stands. It has a remarkable interior, especially the high altar richly sculpted, painted and partially gilded wood, which is a monument historique classified. Another church ( circa 1780 ) is located in Saint - Andoche with a grave stone from the 15th century.

Additional points of interest include various houses in the traditional style of the Haute -Saône, including a Gothic house in Fouvent -le-Haut, the statue of Sainte- Agathe in Fouvent -le- Bas, two stone bridges over the Vannon from the 17th and 18th century, the Château de la Colombière and a chapel in an open field at Trécourt.

Population

With 244 inhabitants (2007 ) Fouvent -Saint- Andoche is one of the small towns in the Haute- Saône. Throughout the 20th century, the population decreased continuously (1881 were on today's municipal area counted 852 persons ).

Economy and infrastructure

Fouvent -Saint- Andoche has long been a predominantly by agriculture (crops, orchards and livestock ) and forestry embossed village. The water power of the Vannon was used for the operation of mills, and in Trécourt was until 1860 a blast furnace. Today, there are some establishments of local small businesses, especially in the sectors of wood processing and construction. In recent decades the village has been transformed into a residential community. Many workers are therefore commuters who engage in the larger towns in the vicinity of their work.

The village is situated away from the larger passage axes near a secondary road that leads from Vaite after Pressigny. Further road links exist with Larret, Argillières, Farincourt, Pisseloup and Raucourt.