Montcusel

Montcusel is a commune in the French department of Jura in the Franche -Comté.

Geography

Montcusel is located at 610 m above sea level. M., 11 km north of the city Oyonnax (air line). The village is located in the Jura, in a small valley at the height between the valleys of Ain in the west and Bienne in the east, north-east of the lake Lac de Coiselet.

The area of ​​9.55 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the French Jura. The boundaries of the area to the west from the valley of the Ain, in the south and east by that of Bienne. However, the communal land comprises only the ridge of Montcusel, ranging anywhere down to the rivers. The heights are divided by depressions and hollows. They are predominantly forested ( Bois de Charveron ), while the settlements were established in clearings. With 809 m above sea level. M. is achieved on the hill north of the village is the highest elevation of Montcusel. Towards the south of the ridge coincides with a rock wall from the transverse valley of Bienne. The area of Montcusel is part of the Parc Naturel Régional du Haut- Jura.

To Montcusel addition to the actual village also includes various hamlets and isolated farms, including:

• Nezan (625 m above sea level. M. ) on a plateau east of the Ain Valley
• Grand- Serve ( 725 m above sea level. M. ) on a hill east of the village, high above the valley of Bienne

Neighboring communities of Montcusel are Lect and Martigna in the north, Jeurre in the east, Lavancia - Epercy in the south and Chancia in the West.

History

First mentioned is the place in the 12th century under the name Mont Cusala and Mons cuselli. Since the Middle Ages Montcusel belonged to the dominion of the Abbey of Saint -Claude. Together with the Franche -Comté reached the village with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 to France. To a field change occurred in 1822, when the previously independent localities Nezan and Grand -Serve were merged with Montcusel.

Attractions

The village church of Saint- Maurice was built in the 15th century on the site of a high medieval chapel and has since changed several times. The bell tower was built in the 19th century. In Grand -Serve is a traditional oven house.

Population

With 181 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Montcusel one of the small towns in the Jura. After the population had decreased significantly in the first half of the 20th century (1886 226 persons were still counted ), a significant population increase has been recorded since the beginning of the 1980s again.

Economy and infrastructure

Montcusel was until well into the 20th century a predominantly coined by the agriculture and forestry through the village. In addition, there are today some of the local small business enterprises, including a factory that produces molds, and wood turning. 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 Chancia after Martigna.