Rantechaux

Rantechaux is a commune in the French department Doubs in the Franche -Comté.

Geography

Rantechaux is located on 752 m, 5 km southeast of Valdahon and about 30 km southeast of the city of Besançon (air line). The village is located in the Jura, on a slightly inclined to the north hillside at the southern edge of the plateau of Valdahon, called the first plateau of the Jura, at the foot of the first high Jura chains.

The area of ​​5.71 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the French Jura. The northern part of the area is occupied by only weakly in relief plateau Valdahon, which is on average 740 m. It is mainly composed of arable and meadow land. The plateau, characterized by different trough-like depressions ( Champ du Mont and Pré Rond ) has no above-ground rivers, because the rainwater seeps into the karst underground. To the southeast, the municipality's area extends into the wooded area ( Bois du Roi ) on the northern slopes of the heights of Cicon. Here the highest elevation of Rantechaux is achieved with 863 m.

Neighboring communities of Rantechaux are Épenoy in the north, Passonfontaine in the east, the south and Vanclans Étray in the West.

History

Even during the Burgundian in the 6th century was located on the present territory of Rantechaux a village of Warasker. In the Middle Ages Rantechaux belonged to the dominions Cicon and Château Vieux. Together with the Franche -Comté reached the village with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 to France.

By January 1, 2009 there was a change in the membership of the district municipality. So far, belonging to the district Besançon, all municipalities in the canton came to the district Pontarlier.

Attractions

The village church of Rantechaux was built in 1863 in the Gothic Revival style on the site of a medieval chapel. In the village are farmhouses are preserved in the characteristic style of the Franche -Comté from the 18th and 19th centuries.

Population

With 186 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Rantechaux one of the small communities of the department of Doubs. After the population had decreased in the first half of the 20th century (1886 178 persons were still counted ), a continuous population growth was recorded since the mid-1970s again.

Economy and infrastructure

Rantechaux was until well into the 20th century a predominantly by agriculture (crops, orchards and livestock ) and forestry embossed village. In addition, there are today some of the local small business enterprises. Meanwhile, the village has also changed into a residential community. Many workers are commuters who engage in the larger towns in the vicinity of their work.

The village is located off the major thoroughfares, but is easily accessible from the main roads N57 and D461. Road links exist with Valdahon, Nods and Passonfontaine.