Gruffy

Gruffy is a commune in the French department of Haute- Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region.

Geography

Gruffy is located on 565 m above sea level. M., 14 km south-southwest of the town of Annecy (air line). This former farm extends on the edge of a high plateau at the western foot of the Semnoz, in Albanais, north of the exit of Chéran from the cluse de Bange, a gorge, where the river breaks through the western edge of the massif of the chain bauges.

The area of ​​14:44 km ² municipal area includes a section of the Alpine foothills in the south Albanais. The western boundary runs along the Chéran. This occurs below the Pont de l' Abîme out of a gorge in the molasse of the foothills of the Alps, in which he has cut its erosive power of a V-shaped valley. From the river, the municipality's area extends eastward to the high plateau of Gruffy. This is followed, in the east of the first covered with meadows, forest-covered in the upper part of the western flank of Semnoz. On the broad ridge to mountain pastures stretch. Here it is with 1666 m above sea. M. reached the highest elevation of Gruffy.

To Gruffy next to the village itself includes several hamlets settlements and farmsteads, including:

• Le Vernet ( 520 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau above the valley of Chéran
• Le Buisson (620 m above sea level. M. ) at the western foot of the Semnoz
• Les Choseaux (570 m above sea level. M. ) then at the western foot of the Semnoz, north of Gruffy
• Le Mollard (570 m above sea level. M. ) then at the western foot of the Semnoz, south of Gruffy

Neighboring communities of Gruffy are Mûres and Viuz la Chiésaz in the north, Leschaux in the east, and Allèves Cusy in the south and Héry -sur- Alby in the West.

History

The territory of Gruffy was settled very early. It remains from the Neolithic, Iron Age and the Roman period ( wall foundations of a farm and inscriptions ) were found. The medieval village name mentioned in documents dating back to the Gallo-Roman personal name Gruffius and means as much as of the estate Gruffius ( Gruffiacum ). In the 10th century the first church was built ( Saint- Pierre ). Until the 15th century Gruffy center was a Kastlanei.

Attractions

The three-nave parish church of Saint -Pierre -aux -Liens was built in 1872. From the former Château de Gruffy above the village center a square tower and parts of the enclosure are maintained. In an old farm, the Musée de la Nature is housed. It gives an insight into the life of the Savoy. At the entrance to the cluse de Bange is the suspension bridge Pont Abîme, which spans the canyon of Chéran in 98 m height.

Population

With 1455 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Gruffy one of the smaller towns in the Haute-Savoie region. During the 19th and 20th centuries, the population steadily increased due to high levels of emigration from (1861 were still in Gruffy counted 988 inhabitants). Since the mid- 1970s, however, a striking increase in population was recorded thanks to the beautiful residential area again.

Economy and infrastructure

Gruffy was until well into the 20th century a predominantly coined by farming village. In addition, there are now several companies of local small businesses. Meanwhile, the village has developed into a residential community. Many workers are commuters who engage in the larger towns in the area as well as in space Annecy and Chambéry their work.

The village is located off the major thoroughfares on a secondary road that leads from Balmont after Lescheraines in the massif of the Wallows. Another road connection with Alby- sur- Chéran. The nearest links to the A41 motorway is located at a distance of about 8 km.