Meslières

Meslières is a commune in the French department Doubs in the Franche -Comté.

Geography

Meslières is located on 385 m, about 13 km southeast of the town of Montbéliard (air line). The village is located in the northern foothills of the Jura Mountains, in the valley of England, which is cut into the plateaus of the Jura, near the border with Switzerland.

The area of ​​2.99 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the northern French Jura. The central part of the area is occupied by the valley section of England, whose sole has a width of about 300 meters. The Gland drains the area north to the Doubs. Is flanked on both sides of the valley around 100 m high, steep wooded slopes, some of which are crossed by rock bands. The slopes are divided by various Taleinschnitte, but showing no above-ground rivers. The surrounding Tafeljura plateaus are formed by Sequan and Kimmeridgekalken. To the west of the municipality of soil ranges on the heights of Planchamps and Drammont ( to 505 m). In the east, the area includes the southern part of the plateau of Abbévillers, which is on average 560 m and is mainly consisted of arable and meadow land. With 577 m is reached the highest elevation of Meslières on the hillside of Sur le Seux.

To Meslières addition to the actual site also includes several hamlets and isolated farms, namely:

• Les Furneaux ( 544 m) east at the edge of the high plateau of Taleinschnitts of England
• Rombois ( 558 m) on the high plateau of Abbévillers

Neighboring communities of Meslières are Hérimoncourt in the north, Abbévillers in the east, Glay in the south and Roches- lès- Blamont in the West.

History

The first mention of Meslières place in the year 1180 under the name Mierlires. Over time, the spelling on Meglieres ( 1282), Mellieres transformed ( 14th century), Meiglières (15th century), Melieres (16th century), Meilleres ( 1542) and Moliere ( 1765 ) to the present name.

Since the Middle Ages Meslières belonged to the rule Blamont, which was under the suzerainty of the Counts of Montbéliard. In 1282, the rule Blamont went from Montbéliard in the possession of the Lords of Neuchâtel on. After the village was in 1506 again came under the suzerainty of the Count of Montbeliard, 1541 the Reformation was introduced. The commercial activity began in 1671 with the construction of a paper mill. 1683 was added in a blast furnace, which has already been closed again in 1698. As part of the rule Blamont, which formed one of the four gentlemen of the Principality of Montbéliard and was annexed in 1699 by France, Meslières 1748 came contractually finally to France. Today, the village belongs to the municipality of Communauté de communes Association des Balcons du Lomont.

Attractions

The village chapel was built in the 19th century.

Population

With 356 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Meslières one of the small communities of the department of Doubs. Already in 1901 reached Meslières with 648 inhabitants, the highest level. After a rapid decline in population was recorded. Since 1936, the population always moves in the range 340-440 people.

Economy and infrastructure

Already in the middle of the 19th century Meslières developed into a characteristically industrial community, the tool manufacturing and the production of tooth - gears, respectively, were of importance. Today, each a company of Decolletage and precision engineering in Meslières resident. There are also other establishments of local small businesses. Meanwhile, the village has also changed into a residential community. Many workers are therefore commuters who do their work in the agglomeration Montbéliard.

The village is located off the major thoroughfares on a secondary road, leading from Hérimoncourt after Blamont. The nearest links to the A36 motorway is located at a distance of about 13 km. Further road links exist with Abbévillers and Roches- lès- Blamont.