Membrey

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

Geography

Membrey situated at an altitude of 204 m above sea level, 19 km northeast of Gray and about 46 km north- northwest of the city of Besançon (air line). The village is located in the west of the department, a slightly elevated position on the eastern edge of the valley of the Vannon, opposite Vaite, north of Saônetals.

The area of ​​11.01 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the middle Saône Valley. The southern border is always along the Saône, with several meanders here flows to the southwest by about two kilometers wide Alluvialniederung. The flood plain is on average 198 m. The river is expanded into waterways and channels in the range of Membrey.

The central part of the area is occupied by which a kilometer wide flood plain of the Vannon. The valley of around 30 m high steep slopes is flanked on both sides, which lead to the adjacent plateau. They consist of an alternation of calcareous and sandy- marly sediments of the upper Jurassic period. Both in the valley and on the plateau, which lies on 235 meters, dominates agricultural use. To the northeast of the municipality floor extends into the wooded area Le Grand Poix, in the 251 m, the highest elevation of Membrey is achieved. The eastern boundary is the Valley of the Gourgeonne, which ends just above the Vannon in the Saône.

To Membrey the settlement La Côte (205 m) on the western edge of the valley is one of the Vannon. Neighboring communities of Membrey are Brotte -lès- Ray in the north, Tincey -et- Pontrebeau, Recologne and Vellexon - Queutrey -et- Vaudey in the east, and Seveux Savoyeux in the south and Vaite in the West.

History

The territory of Membrey was settled very early. Numerous traces of the Roman period have been found during excavations in the years 1838-1841. Southeast of the town was a Roman estate, which was likely composed of more than 60 rooms and was about 100 m long. Of the former mosaics testify only drawings today.

Is mentioned in a document Membrey in the Middle Ages under the name Membriacus. The origin of the name is unclear. The name could be due to mensionagium ( Romanization a Gallic word for house ) or to the Roman personal name Memorius. In the Middle Ages Membrey belonged to the Free County of Burgundy and in the territory of the Bailliage d' amont. The local government had held the Lords of Ray until the 17th century, then Membrey passed to the Marmier family. The village was looted and burned in 1569 by troops of the Duke of Zweibrücken. Also, during the Thirty Years' War, the town was affected. Together with the Franche -Comté Membrey came with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 definitively to France. Today Membrey is a member of the 42 localities comprehensive community association Communauté de communes des Quatre Rivières.

Attractions

The church of Notre -Dame was (mentioned in 1211 ) from 1831 to 1836 at the site of a medieval house of worship built in the style of neoclassicism. For notable appointments include an altar of white marble, a richly carved pulpit in oak wood, several side altars from the earlier church and several paintings from the 19th century. From the 19th century, the Fontaine- Lavoir, which once served as a laundry and watering cattle originated. Its roof is supported by numerous columns. Additional area attractions include the furnace house, the fünfbogige stone bridge over the Vannon of 1775, a Calvaire 1610 and the remains of Roman farm.

Population

With 219 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) Membrey one of the small towns in the Haute- Saône. After the population had declined significantly during the 20th century (1881 620 persons were still counted ), only since 1999, a slight population growth was recorded again.

Economy and infrastructure

Membrey has long been a predominantly by agriculture (crops, orchards and livestock ) embossed village. Today there are various operations of local small businesses, especially in the sectors of construction and precision engineering. The most important employer is a medical- educational institute. 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 leading from Gray after Combeaufontaine. Further road links exist with La Roche- Morey, Ray -sur -Saône and Seveux.