Lavoncourt

Lavoncourt is a commune in Haute -Saône in the Franche -Comté.

Geography

Lavoncourt situated at an altitude of 212 m above sea level, 11 km northeast of Dampierre- sur-Salon and about 28 km west of the town of Vesoul (air line). The village is located in the west of the department, in the northwest of the plateau landscape Saônetals, in the west of the Talniederung Gourgeonne across from Mont -Saint- Léger.

The area of ​​5.55 km ² municipal area includes a portion in the region of the plateau north of the Saônetals. The eastern boundary runs mostly along the Gourgeonne that flows with many windings through the Alluvialniederung and provides drainage to the Saône. The flood plain is on average 208 m and has a maximum width of one kilometer. From the river, the municipality's area extends westward to the adjacent plateau, which reaches an average height of 230 m. The plateau consists of an alternation of calcareous and sandy- marly sediments of the upper Jurassic period. The plateau is divided by various depressions that open up to the Valley of the Gourgeonne. In the Talniederung and on the plateau dominates agricultural use. To the west the area stretches into the vast Grove des Bois du Grand Parc, in the 254 meters, the highest elevation of Lavoncourt is achieved.

Neighboring communities of Lavoncourt are Renaucourt and Mont -Saint -Léger in the north, Theuley in the east, Tincey -et- Pontrebeau in the south and Brotte -lès- Ray and Volon in the West.

History

Various findings from the Gallo- Roman period, including statuettes, brick and ceramic fragments, point to an early settlement of the area. Lavoncourt is already first mentioned as Lovuncurtis in a chronicle of the monastery Beza in 1076. Later, the names Luvocurte and Levoncort published. The place name derives from the Germanic personal name Leubo and the old French word Cortem (Hof ) from. In the Middle Ages the village belonged to the Free County of Burgundy and in the territory of the Bailliage d' amont. The local government had held the Lords of Fouvent. The noble family of Lavoncourt acted as vassals of the lords of Fouvent and occupied from the 11th to the 16th centuries. Together with the Franche -Comté Lavoncourt came with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 definitively to France. After the French Revolution Lavoncourt was capital of the canton of the same name, which in 1801 integrated in the Canton of Dampierre- sur-Salon. In the 19th century the town was connected by the tram, the wrong of Gray by Jussey to the public transport network. The operation of the line, however, was set in 1936. Today Lavoncourt is a member of the 42 localities comprehensive community association Communauté de communes des Quatre Rivières.

Attractions

The Saint- Valentin in 1670 newly built, with two side chapels and Romanesque bell tower of the original church were incorporated into the construction. It has a rich interior, including the main altar, painted and gilded with a painting of St. Valentine (18th century, as a monument historique classified), statues from the 17th and 18th century paintings from the 18th century and grave slabs of the 16th century. Next to the church stands the Maison Lancelot, the oldest house in the village, which was built in the 15th century. From the castle of the lords of Fouvent from the 13th century on the banks of Gourgeonne some remains are still visible. The castle was destroyed during the Thirty Years' War. The present castle was built in the second half of the 18th century and has a round tower. From 1857, the Mairie dates ( Municipal House ). On the road to Renaucourt there is a large horse chestnut tree and a stone crossroads.

Population

With 308 inhabitants ( 2006) Lavoncourt one of the small towns in the Haute- Saône. During the 20th century, the population moved always in the range of 250 to 330 people.

Economy and infrastructure

Lavoncourt was until well into the 20th century a predominantly by agriculture (crops, orchards and livestock ) and forestry embossed village. The water power of the Gourgeonne was formerly used for the operation of a mill. Today, there are some establishments of local small businesses, especially in the sectors of wood processing and precision engineering. 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 has good transport links. It lies on the main road D70, which runs from Gray after Combeaufontaine. Further road links exist with Volon, Renaucourt, Mont -Saint -Léger and Tincey.