Montanges
Montanges is a commune in the French department of Ain, in the Rhône -Alpes.
Geography
Montanges is located on 602 m above sea level. M., about seven kilometers north of the town of Bellegarde -sur -Valserine (air line). The farming village extends in the French Jura on a slightly inclined to the south plateau above the confluence of Semine and Valserine, west of the ridge of the Grand Cret d' Eau.
The area of 13.70 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the high Jura. The area and is bordered by the rivers of Semine in the southwest and Valserine in the east. Both have dug through their erosion work around 100 m deep gorges in the area, accompanied by steep, covered by some with bands of rock slopes. Northward, the municipality's area extends over the plateau of Mont Angels in the strong field in relief of the French Jura. On the southern slope of the Cruchon is 1090 m above sea level. M. reached the highest elevation of Montanges. Even the Valley of Sandezanne (tributary of Valserine ) and the Combe du Collet, a high valley to the west of Cruchon belong to the community. The municipality is part of the Regional Natural Park of Haut -Jura ( frz: Parc Naturel Régional du Haut- Jura).
To Montanges addition to the actual village also includes various hamlets and farmhouses, including:
- Le Fay (640 m above sea level. M. ) in a tributary of the Semine
- Echazeau (780 m above sea level. M. ) in a tributary of the Semine
Neighboring communities of Montanges are Champfromier in the north, Chézery -Forens and Confort in the east, Châtillon -en- Michaille in the south and Saint- Germain- de -Joux in the West.
History
The village belonged to the dominion of Nantua, but was sacked in 1248 at the request of the Lords of Gex. In the 14th century Montanges came under the rule of Thoire -Villars.
Attractions
The village church of Montanges was built in Gothic style and enlarged in the 17th century. The medieval stately home has been remodeled several times in the 16th and 19th centuries and is flanked by two towers. From the 14th- century castle La Batie ruins remain.
East of Montanges is the Pont des Pierres, built in 1957, a concrete arch bridge that spans the gorge of Valserine at a height of about 60 m. It replaces a previous building, which was built in 1909 for an overland tram between Bellegarde and Chézery -Forens and was blown up in 1944 during the Second World War, the Resistance. With a natural stone ( frz pierres ) brick arch set the original building under the bridges of dimensions a special dar. In the gorge below the bridge is a nature reserve. There, up to 15 species of bats have been observed wintering in old tunnels.
Population
With 327 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Montanges one of the small communities of the department of Ain. After the population had decreased significantly in the first half of the 20th century, population growth was recorded since the early 1980s again.
Economy and infrastructure
Montanges was until well into the 20th century a predominantly coined by farming village. In addition, there are today some of the local small business enterprises. Meanwhile, the village has developed into a residential community. Many working population commuters who engage in the larger towns in the area and mainly in Bellegarde -sur -Valserine their work.
The village is located off the major thoroughfares of the secondary road D14, which leads Tacon (on the D1084 ) by the Valserine Valley to Chézery -Forens. Further road links exist with Giron and Confort. The nearest links to the A40 motorway is located at a distance of around 13 kilometers.