Le Biot

Le Biot is a commune in the French department of Haute- Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region. It is the capital of the Canton of Le Biot in the Arrondissement of Thonon- les- Bains.

Geography

Le Biot is located at 831 m above sea level. M., 17 km southeast of the town of Thonon -les- Bains ( straight line ). The former mining village stretches in the central Chablais, on the alluvial fan of the village stream on the eastern flank of the Dranse de Morzine, at the western foot of the Pointe de Cercle in the northern Savoy Alps.

The area of ​​13.18 km ² municipal area includes a section of the Vallée d' Aulps. The western border is the Dranse de Morzine, which here runs in a partially deep valley from south to north. From this river, the municipality's area extends eastward across the slope to the crest of the mountain range that separates the Vallée d' Aulps from the Vallée d' Abondance. Striking mountain peaks are Mont Ouzon ( with 1881 m above sea level. M. the highest elevation of Le Biot ), the Pointe du Mont (1617 m above sea level. M. ) and the Pointe de Cercle (1808 m above sea level. M. ). In between lies the pass crossing the Col du Corbier, which establishes a connection being used since time immemorial to the Vallée d' Abondance.

At Le Biot includes the hamlet settlements Gys ( 690 m above sea level. M. ) and La Touviere (740 m above sea level. M. ) in the valley of the Vallée d' Aulps, Le Corbier ( 1080 m above sea level. M. ) on the climb to the Col du Corbier as well as the winter sports village Drouzin -Le Mont ( 1237 m above sea level. M. ) on the summit of the Col du Corbier. Neighboring communities of Le Biot are La Baume to the north, Bonnevaux and Abondance in the east, Saint -Jean- d'Aulps in the south and Seytroux in the West.

History

The place name derives from the patois expression biola (birch) ago. Le Biot is the oldest village in the Vallée d' Aulps. A church was built in the 8th or 9th century. The community consisted of Biot earlier all villages in the Vallée d' Aulps north of the constriction of the Défilé the Tines. During the 18th and 19th century, these towns were, however, collected for independent communities.

Attractions

The village church was built from 1846 to 1850 in the neoclassical style. In the churchyard are the ruins of an old bell tower. Chapels are located in the hamlets Gys and Le Corbier.

Population

With 468 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Le Biot is one of the small towns in the Haute-Savoie region. After the population had declined significantly during the 20th century (1901 included Le Biot still 615 inhabitants), a population increase was recorded since the mid-1970s again. Outside the old town center created numerous houses.

Economy and infrastructure

Le Biot was until well into the 20th century a predominantly coined by farming village. By now, on the Col du Corbier a winter sports resort with various tourist facilities developed. Many working population commuters who engage in the larger towns in the area, especially in Thonon -les- Bains, their work.

The village is located off the major thoroughfares, but is from the main road that leads from Thonon -les- Bains to Morzine, relatively easily accessible. Another road connection over the Col du Corbier with Bonnevaux in the Vallée d' Abondance.