Pratz, Jura
Pratz is a commune in the French department of Jura in the Franche -Comté.
Geography
Pratz is at 683 m above sea level. M., about eight kilometers west of the town of Saint- Claude ( a straight line ). The village is located in the Jura, a scenic location at the height north of the valley of Bienne, some 300 m above the valley floor.
The area of 9.85 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the French Jura. The central part is occupied by the height of Pratz ( average altitude of 700 m. M. ), which is divided by a number of hills and valleys. This amount falls steeply towards the south to the valley of Bienne, trapping the community area in the range of Molinges reaches almost to the valley floor down. To the north, the area extends to the ridge of the Croix de Pratz (815 m above sea level. M. ) and up to the Jura plateaus at the edge of the Forêt d' Annuelle. Here is 948 m above sea level. M. reached the highest elevation of Pratz. The area of Pratz is part of the Parc Naturel Régional du Haut- Jura.
To Pratz addition to the actual site includes various hamlets and isolated farms, including:
- Saint- Romain- de -Roche (620 m above sea level. M. ) on the height above the steep drop to the valley of Bienne
- Champied (710 m above sea level. M. ) at the level at the foot of the Croix de Pratz
- Petit- Châtel (680 m above sea level. M. ) in a valley at the western foot of the Croix de Pratz
Neighboring communities of Pratz are Lavans -lès -Saint -Claude in the east, Molinges and Vaux -lès -Saint -Claude in the south and Jeurre and Villard - d'Héria in the West.
History
The place name derives from the Latin Pratz word pratum ( meadow). Middle of the 5th century founded Iola, sister of St. Romanus, the monastery of Saint- Romain -de- Roche. In the Middle Ages Pratz made a rule that was dependent on 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 municipalities of Saint- Romain- de -Roche and Petit- Châtel were incorporated to Pratz.
Attractions
Originally dating from the 13th century and re- built in the 16th century chapel of Saint- Romain- de -Roche is above a rock wall at the edge of the amount of Pratz and offers a beautiful view into the valley of Bienne. From the former priory, only a few remains are visible. Ruins of the keep of the medieval castle of Pratz are obtained.
Population
With 571 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Pratz is one of the small towns in the Jura. After the population had decreased in the first half of the 20th century (1906 328 persons were still counted ), a significant population increase has been recorded since the mid- 1960s again.
Economy and infrastructure
Pratz was until well into the 20th century a predominantly coined by agriculture, especially livestock and dairy farming, as well as by the forestry village. In addition, there are now a number of companies of small and medium industries, among others, a company in the plastics industry. In Pratz ( locality Champied ) is a limestone quarry, which is now closed. He originally served the Marbrerie of Molinges as a raw material source for the manufacture of exclusive objects ( fireplaces and interior ). This material is a rich yellow limestone with thin reddish veins. In this quarry very early ( 2nd half of 19th century) ingots were obtained with the Helikoidalsäge.
Many workers are also commuters who engage in the larger towns in the vicinity of their work.
The village has good transport links. It lies on the main road D470 which leads from Lons -le- Saunier to Saint -Claude. Another road connection with Saint- Lupicin. On a Verebnungsfläche above Lavans -lès -Saint -Claude Saint -Claude, the airfield was - Pratz furnished.
Chancia | Charchilla | Châtel- de -Joux | Coyron | Crenans | Les Crozets | Étival | Jeurre | Lect | Maisod | Martigna | Meussia | Moirans -en- Montagne | Montcusel | Pratz | Villard - d'Héria
- Commune in the department of Jura
- Place in Franche -Comté