Oricourt

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

Geography

Oricourt situated at an altitude of 344 m above sea level, 6 km north- west of Villers Exel and about 18 km east-southeast of the town of Vesoul (air line). The village is located in the central part of the department, at an elevation west of the Mont, east of the valley of Lauzin.

The area of ​​3.65 km ² municipal area comprises a section in the rolling countryside between the basin of Vesoul in the west and the valley of the Ognon in the east. The central part of the area occupied by the amount of Oricourt. It is in the west and south by the valley of the Lauzin, bounded on the north by the small valley of the Ruisseau du Pré de la Croix. To the east, the land rises to the broad, predominantly forested summit of Mont, on the 393 m, the highest elevation of Oricourt is achieved. North of the Ruisseau du Pré de la Croix is the Bois lady. The municipal area extends to the southern slopes of Mont Gédry. In geological- tectonic terms, the terrain consists mainly of a resistant layer of chalk of the middle Jurassic period.

Neighboring communities of Oricourt are Justin Mont -et- Velotte and Arpenans in the north, the east, and Aillevans Oppenans the south and west.

History

Oricourt is first mentioned in the 12th century. In the Middle Ages the village belonged to the Free County of Burgundy and in the territory of the Bailliage d' amont. It was the center of rule and developed into a small castle settlement. Together with the Franche -Comté reached the village with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 definitively to France. In 1807 Oricourt was incorporated into Aillevans. Already in 1819, however, it received its municipal autonomy back. Today Oricourt is a member of the 30 localities comprehensive community association Communauté de communes du Pays de Villers Exel.

Attractions

The medieval castle Oricourt originally dates from the 12th century. It is one of the best preserved testimonies of medieval military architecture in the Franche -Comté. The castle is surrounded by a double fortification wall, which includes two 25 -meter-high square towers. Against the plateau of Oricourt out she is protected by a 10 meter-deep ditch. The residential buildings are from the 15th and 18th centuries. A little off is the pigeon-house was built as a round tower. The entire system is restored since 1969 and is classified as a monument historique since 1984.

The center of Oricourt is characterized by different farmhouses dating from the 16th to the 18th century, showing the traditional style of the Haute -Saône. Three large fountains dating from the 19th century.

Population

With 36 inhabitants ( 1 January 2011) Oricourt one of the smallest municipalities in the department of Haute- Saône. After the population had decreased significantly in the first half of the 20th century (1881 140 people were still counted ), only small fluctuations were recorded since the mid- 1970s.

Economy and infrastructure

Oricourt is still a predominantly by agriculture (crops, orchards and livestock ) embossed village. As a tourist attraction, the castle Oricourt generates important revenues. Some employed persons are also commuters who do their work in the larger towns in the area and in the agglomeration Vesoul.

The village is situated away from the larger passage axes. Accessible is Oricourt of Aillevans and Oppenans.