Ornex

Ornex is a commune in the French department of Ain, in the Rhône -Alpes.

Geography

Ornex is located on 476 m above sea level. M., about nine kilometers north-northwest of the city of Geneva (air line). This former farm extends in the Pays de Gex, on a wide, sculpted by glacial Rhone glacier ridge, in the Geneva basin, near the foot of Jura, near the border with Switzerland.

The area of ​​5.64 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the Pays de Gex. The only very weakly in relief area forms a broad ridge, which passes to the north in the level at Jurafuß. By Gobe the southern part of the municipality is drained to the nearby Lake Geneva. To the north, the municipality's area extends into the vast forest area of Grand Bois and in the plain at the Jurafuß. The northern boundary runs along the Lion. With 481 m above sea level. M. is reached on the plateau at the highest elevation of Maconnex Ornex.

To Ornex addition to the actual village also includes various hamlets and new housing developments, including:

• Maconnex (480 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau south of the Lion
• Villard- Tacon (470 m above sea level. M. ) in the valley of the Lion

Neighboring communities of Ornex are Ferney-Voltaire in the south, Ferney -Moens and Segny in the West, Versonnex in the north and the Swiss municipality of Collex-Bossy in the east.

History

The first mention of Ornex was in 1153 under the name Ornacho; 1286 the name Ornay is preserved. Probably the place name goes back to the Gallo-Roman personal name Aurinius or Orinius and thus means the estate Aurinius ( Auriniacum ).

While the village church in the 13th century belonged to the goods of the monastery Payerne, Ornex was owned by a local aristocratic family and arrived in the 14th century as a fief to the Lords of Gex. Along with this rule came the village in the 14th century under the suzerainty of the Counts of Savoy. Then Ornex told the eventful history of the Pays de Gex, with which it finally reached in 1601 after the Treaty of Lyon in France.

Attractions

The parish church of Saint -Brice from Ornex was originally built in the Gothic style but later remodeled several times. The choir dates from the 13th century, the chapel from the 15th century, and the present tower was completed in 1818. The former medieval seat of power was altered in the 17th century.

Population

With 3779 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Ornex belongs to the medium-sized municipalities in the department of Ain. Since the mid- 1960s, a striking population growth was recorded. Particularly strong growth was registered during the 1980s. Outside the old town center, numerous new single-family homes were built. Today, the settlement area is almost completely conjoined with that of Ferney -Moens and Ferney- Voltaire.

Economy and infrastructure

Ornex was until well into the 20th century a predominantly coined by farming village. Today there are various companies of small and medium enterprises. Meanwhile, the village has been transformed into a residential community. Many working population commuters who work in the larger towns of the Pays de Gex or as a frontier in the agglomeration of Geneva.

The place is a good infrastructure. It lies on the main road N5, which runs from Geneva via Ferney -Voltaire to Gex. Another road connection with Ferney -Moens. The nearest links to the Swiss highway A1 is located at a distance of about 4 km. Even the airport Genève- Cointrin is easily accessible. From 1900 to 1932, the tram Gex- Ferney- Voltaire frequented by the community. She had two stops in the municipality: Ornex and Maconnex.