La Châtelaine

La Châtelaine is a commune in the French department of Jura in the Franche -Comté.

Geography

La Chatelaine is located on 570 m above sea level. M., south east of Arbois and about 30 km northeast of the town of Lons -le- Saunier (air line). The farming village extends in the Jura, in a clearing in the northern part of the plateau Caledonia (first Jura plateau ), east of the Erosionstals Val de la Cuisance above the Reculée of Planches.

The area of ​​13.17 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the French Jura. Almost the entire area occupied by the plateau of the plateau Caledonia, the average at 560 m above sea level. M. is and is passed partly of arable and meadow land, partly by forest. The western border is usually at the top of the partly crossed by rock walls escarpment that surrounds the deep valley of the Cuisance. Particularly striking are the rock walls of the Reculée of Planches and the Cirque du Fer à Cheval, at the foot of the karst springs in the Cuisance are. In the west of the municipality floor extends into the Forêt d' Arbois. To the south and south-east, the municipality's area extends into the Forêt des Moidons and in the Bois de la Châtelaine. Here is 633 m above sea level. M. reached the highest peak of La Châtelaine. The plateau has no above-ground rivers, because the rainwater seeps into the karst underground.

Neighboring communities of La Châtelaine are Mesnay in the north, Ivory and Chilly- sur -Salins in the east, and Valempoulières Molain in the south and Arbois Les Planches -pres- Arbois in the West.

History

The municipality of La Châtelaine was already inhabited in prehistoric times. The medieval castle is first mentioned in the 11th century. It was restored in the 14th century and in 1480 by troops of King Louis XI. destroyed. Together with the Franche-Comté reached La Châtelaine with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 to France.

Attractions

The Village Church of La Châtelaine was built in the 17th century, and added the bell tower in the 19th century. It has a rich interior, including a statue of the Virgin of alabaster (16th century), relics and host vessels of silver (17th century). From the 19th century, the chapel of Notre -Dame dates. From the medieval castle ruins are preserved. A stately home dating from the 19th century is set in a large park. Among the natural attractions include the rock circus Fer à Cheval and the Reculée of Planches.

Population

With 127 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) La Châtelaine is one of the smallest towns in the Jura. After the population had decreased significantly in the first half of the 20th century (1896 209 persons were still counted ), was a total re- recorded a slight population growth since the mid- 1970s.

Economy and infrastructure

La Châtelaine was until well into the 20th century a predominantly coined by agriculture and forestry village. Even today, the inhabitants live on the merits of the activity in the first sector. Outside of the primary sector, there are few jobs in the village. 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, but is easily accessible from the main road D469 which leads from Arbois after Montrond. Another road connection with Ivory.