Matafelon-Granges
Matafelon -Granges is a commune in the French department of Ain, in the Rhône -Alpes.
Geography
Matafelon -Granges is located at 460 m above sea level. M., about eight kilometers west of the city Oyonnax (air line). The farming village extends north Bugey, in the Jura, at an inclined towards the east slope above the valley basin of Samognat, in which the Oignin impounded by the dam of Moux.
The area of 21.34 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the southern French Jura. The central part of the area is occupied by the ridge, which is in the west and north from the valley of the Ain, bordered to the east by that of Oignin. The border is always along the rivers. The ridge, an anticline in the Folded Jura, is divided into the height of the Bois de Ban ( 635 m above sea level. M. ), the dip of Matafelon and the ridge of Chougeat, on 786 m above sea level. M. the highest elevation of Matafelon -Granges is achieved.
In a narrow strip, the municipality's area extends to the southwest along the Ain, which is dammed here by a river power plant, until the loop of Bolozon. The area is rarely more than 1 km wide and in addition to the deep Talniederung ( Gorges de l' Ain) includes the adjacent steep slope, which is crossed by various rock bands.
The community Matafelon -Granges consists of different villages, hamlets and farm groups, namely:
- Matafelon (460 m above sea level. M. ) on the western slope of the valley of Samognat
- Meuillat (460 m above sea level. M. ) on the southeast slope of the Bois de Ban
- Charmines (420 m above sea level. M. ) on a ridge above the dam of Oignin
- Sorpiat (530 m above sea level. M. ) on the west slope of the Oignin
- Chougeat (560 m above sea level. M. ) in a cavity on the west slope of the Oignin
- Coiselet (300 m above sea level. M. ) at the mouth of Oignin in the Ain
- Le Port (290 m above sea level. M. ) on the Ainbrücke opposite Thoirette
- Courtouphle (300 m above sea level. M. ) in the Talniederung the Ain
- Granges (330 m above sea level. M. ) in the valley of the Ain
- Bonbois (305 m above sea level. M. ) on the eastern edge of the valley of the Ain
Neighboring communities of Matafelon -Granges are Thoirette and Coisia in the north, and Samognat Izernore in the east, Sonthonnax -la -Montagne and Bolozon in the south and Corveissiat in the West.
History
On a rocky hill above the valley of the Ain was in the 11th century, the fortress Thoire, the cradle of later powerful ruling family Thoire -Villars built. The village Matafelon were awarded in 1280 certain liberties. 1402 came Matafelon Granges and after the sale of the rule under Humbert VII of Thoire -Villars to the Counts of Savoy. The Treaty of Lyon both villages came in 1601 to France. On 1 January 1973, the two previously independent municipalities Matafelon and Granges were merged to today's double municipality.
Attractions
The village church of Matafelon was built in the Gothic style forms, but rebuilt in the 17th and 19th centuries. Also gothic style elements shows the church of Granges. From the medieval castle ruins Thoire are obtained. The Château de Coiselet was built around 1344, modified in the 16th and 19th centuries.
Population
With 652 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Matafelon -Granges is one of the small communities of the department of Ain. After the population had decreased in the first half of the 20th century (1891 566 persons were still counted ), a significant population increase has been recorded since the mid-1970s again.
Economy and infrastructure
Matafelon -Granges until the 20th century, a predominantly coined by agriculture, especially dairy farming and animal husbandry, and forestry village. In the first half of the 20th century can be at Ain and Oignin various operations down that were dependent on hydropower. Today there are only a few plants of the local small businesses, as well as hydroelectric power stations on Oignin and Ain. Meanwhile, the village has been transformed 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 on a secondary road that leads from Oyonnax after Thoirette. Further road links exist with Chancia and Nurieux. The nearest links to the motorway A404 ( Saint -Martin- du- Frêne - Oyonnax ) is located at a distance of about ten kilometers.