Morbier

Morbier is a commune in the French department of Jura in the Franche -Comté. On 1 January 2007 merged with Tancua Morbier.

Geography

Morbier is located 825 meters above sea level. M., 2 km north of Morez and about 21 km northeast of the town of Saint -Claude. The village is located in the Haut-Jura, a scenic location on a terrace north of Taleinschnitts of Bienne, some 130 m above the valley of Morez, the climb to the Col de la Savine.

The area of ​​41.58 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the French Jura. The landscape around Morbier is characterized by parallel ridges and valleys, which are oriented in the southwest-northeast, according to the strike of the Jura Mountains in the area. In structural geological terms, they represent a series of anticlines and synclines, which consist predominantly of rock strata of the upper Jurassic period.

The southern boundary is formed on long stretches of the river of Bienne, which is sunk here in an erosion valley deep in the Jura ridges. From here, the municipality's area extends northward through the terrace of Morbier in the forest area of ​​the Forêt de la Joux Devant (up to 1100 m above sea level. M. ) and into the wide longitudinal recess of the Combe de Morbier (on average, at 950 meters above sea level. M. ). This trough, mainly pasture land, is in the north- west and north by the vast forest area of ​​the Forêt du Mont Noir ( to 1169 m above sea level. M. ) and in the south east from the crest of the Roche des Trois Commères ( 1084 m above sea level. M. ) and Les Chaumelles ( flanked 1152 m above sea level. M. ). This main part of the municipal area has no surface drainage, as the rain water seeps into the porous limestone substrate. In various places there are typical karst features such as sinkholes, karst formations.

With a narrow corner of the communal land extends to the southeast in the Valley of the Evalude which opens at Bas -de- Morez in the Bienne. Also, the left side of the valley with the grounds terrace of Les Crêtets one of Morbier. The terrace is dominated by a rock edge that is part of the anticline Risoux. At the edge of the Risoux belonging plateau of the Cret de la Grande Reche is 1,180 m above sea level. M. reached the highest elevation of Morbier. The area of Morbier is part of the Parc Naturel Régional du Haut- Jura.

To Morbier addition to the actual village includes several different settlements, hamlets, groups of farms and individual farms, including:

• Les Buclets -d'Amont (910 m above sea level. M. ) at the level north of the valley of Bienne
• La Combe- Froide (905 m above sea level. M. ) in the Combe of Morbier
• Les Marais (930 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau north of Morbier
• La Combe de Morbier (990 m above sea level. M. ) at the edge of the Forêt du Mont Noir
• Les Frasses (847 m above sea level. M. ) on the southern flank of the Evalude

Neighboring communities of Morbier are Lac -des- Rouges- Truites and Chapelle -des- Bois in the North, Bellefontaine in the east, and La Mouille Morez in the south and Lézat, Grande- Rivière and Saint- Laurent -en- Grandvaux in the West.

History

The place name Morbier evolved from the original Mort Bief, which actually means dead creek and pointing to a former dry creek. In the 14th century Morbier received certain liberties. Together with the Franche -Comté reached the village with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 to France. In the late 17th century, the watch industry was introduced in Morbier, which became the most important industry in the 19th century. In addition, established thanks to the proximity to Morez various companies in the eyewear industry. With the opening of the railway line from Champagnole after Morez in 1900 Morbier was connected to the French railroad network.

To a field change occurred on 1 January 2007, when the previously independent community Tancua was incorporated into Morbier.

Attractions

The present parish church of Morbier was built in the 19th century. In Combe- Froide there is a chapel, which was built around 1600.

Population

With 2268 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Morbier is one of the medium-sized towns in the Jura. Thanks to the economic recovery was one of Morbier in 1840 already around 2,100 inhabitants. After a slow decline was recorded. After 1911, a decrease of almost 40 % was recorded due to the two world wars and the Great Depression until 1946. Since 1950, followed by a renewed growth spurt, so that today approximately equal number of inhabitants again be counted as during its peak in the 19th century.

Economy and infrastructure

Morbier has evolved from the former farming community in the 19th century into an industrial site. Other important industries today include the watch industry, the manufacture of spectacles and spectacle frames and wood processing. The traditional cheese production ( Morbier ) plays an important role. Thanks to the large surrounding area dairy farming and livestock have also a certain value. Meanwhile, Morbier has changed thanks to its beautiful location and into a residential community. Many workers commute to Morez to work.

As a resort in a popular tourist area in the High Jura Morbier is now benefiting also from tourism, especially on winter tourism if it can be operated on the Jura plateaus skiing. The slopes above the village are accessible by two lifts for alpine skiing.

The village has good transport links. It lies on the main road N5, which runs from Geneva via the Col de la Faucille after Champagnole and Dole. Further road links exist with Tancua and Chapelle -des- Bois. Morbier has a station on the railway line, which serves the route of Morez after Champagnole.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Hervé Balland, former French cross country skier