Saint-Claude (Jura)

Saint -Claude is a city and a municipality in the French department of Jura in the Franche -Comté. It is the capital of the arrondissement of Saint- Claude and the canton of Saint- Claude.

Saint -Claude made ​​his monastery, founded in the 5th century the religious center of the high Jura. Today, the economic life of the city is dominated by the manufacture of smoking pipes, the diamond cutting and the plastics industry.

Geography

Saint- Claude is located at 431 m above sea level. M., about 30 km northwest of the city of Geneva and 105 km north-east of Lyon ( straight line ). The city extends in the Jura, cut deep into a valley on a rocky ridge above the confluence of Tacon and Bienne, surrounded by Mont Chabot in the south, Mont Bayard in the east and the ridge of the Forêt d' Avignon in the West.

The area of ​​70.19 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the French Jura. The area has strong relief differences. In geological terms Saint- Claude is located in the Jura folds, in the midst of a series of synclines and anticlines, which are oriented in the southwest-northeast direction according to the strike of the Jurassic in this area. These parallel terrain structures are different places disturbed by faults. The upcoming Kalkgesteinsschichten on the plateaus come from the upper Jurassic and partly from the Cretaceous period. In the valleys and sedimentary strata of middle and lower Jurassic period are open. The river system, in turn, follows not only the existing structures, but also shows characteristic Klusen ( cross valleys ).

The most important river is the Bienne, which crosses the municipality in a deep valley. She reached forth the valley of Saint -Claude from the north and bends beneath the city from west to flow again through a gorge. In the valley of Saint -Claude received from East inflow through the Tacon. Both rivers are deepened in the city around 20 to 30 meters to the valley floor, which is why the main part of Saint -Claude, respectively, on a limestone plateau headland lies.

While only a small area on the western flank of the Bienne belongs to Saint -Claude, the community area extends far to the north of the forest ridges of the Bois de Lésigna (780 m above sea level. M. ), Bois de Cuttura ( 874 m above sea level. M. ) and Bois de la Joux (940 m above sea level. M. ) to the broad moorland plateau of Les Prés- Valfin. To the south and southwest of the municipality extends to the bottom of the valley of Bienne adjacent heights of Mont Chabot (905 m above sea level. M. ), Cret de Surmontant ( 1055 m above sea level. M. ) and Truffet ( 685 m above sea level. M. ) and ranges from the left flank of the Bienne.

In the east, Saint -Claude is dominated by the heights of Mont Bayard ( 947 m above sea level. M. ) and the Pain de Sucre ( 755 m above sea level. M. ). In between is the erosion of the boiler Gorges Abîme which is bordered on its upper edge by a horseshoe- shaped rock circus. Further to the northeast, the plateau of Cinquétral and the large forest area of Le FRENOIS Forêt close to the edge of the Hautes- Combes. Also the erosion valley Combe de Tressus which is drained by the Grosdar for Tacon, one of Saint -Claude. On its northern flank, to the Rochers de Tressus is with 1222 meters above sea level. M. reached the highest point of Saint -Claude. The area of Saint -Claude is part of the Parc Naturel Régional du Haut- Jura.

Community structure

At Saint -Claude next to the city proper include numerous villages, hamlets and farm groups, including:

• Saint- Hubert (420 m above sea level. M. ) south of the Tacon
• Rochefort (415 m above sea level. M. ) in the valley of Tacon
• La Croix- du- bar (410 m above sea level. M. ) at the Bienne at the northern foot of the Cret de Surmontant
• Etables (400 m above sea level. M. ) in the valley of Bienne at the northern foot of the Cret de Surmontant
• Chevry ( 525 m above sea level. M. ) in a valley at the western foot of the Cret de Surmontant
• Ranchette ( 655 m above sea level. M. ) on a ridge high above the valley of Bienne
• Chaumont (711 m above sea level. M. ) on a headland on the southern slopes of Mont Bayard high above the valley of the Tacon
• La Main Morte ( 936 m above sea level. M. ) on Grosdar at the entrance to the Combe de Tressus, below the lookout point Cret Pourri
• Cret Giraud (1020 m above sea level. M. ) in the Combe de Tressus
• Les Cernoises ( 1058 m above sea level. M. ) in the Combe de Tressus
• Skin - Cret ( 1119 m above sea level. M. ) at the level at the eastern end of the Combe de Tressus
• Vaucluse ( 634 m above sea level. M. ) in the erosion of the boiler Gorges Abîme
• Cinquétral ( 862 m above sea level. M. ) on the plateau east of the valley of Bienne
• Combe Noire ( 577 m above sea level. M. ) on a terrace on the eastern flank of the Bienne
• Valfin -lès -Saint- Claude ( 679 m above sea level. M. ) on the western side of the valley high above the Bienne
• Sur la Côte (870 m above sea level. M. ) at the edge of the Bois de la Joux
• Les Prés -de- Valfin (858 m above sea level. M. ) at the edge of a marsh area

Neighboring municipalities of Saint -Claude are Leschères, La Rixouse and Longchaumois in the north, Lamoura and Septmoncel in the east, Villard -Saint -Sauveur, Coiserette and Larrivoire in the south and Chassal, Lavans -lès -Saint- Claude, Ponthoux, Avignon -lès -Saint Claude and Cuttura in the West.

History

The roots of Saint -Claude rich in the time shortly after the year 400 after Christ returns. At this time, founded originating from the region Holy Romanus and Lupicinus on the promontory above the confluence of Tacon and Bienne at the site of a Gallo- Roman settlement, one of the first monasteries of the West. First, the place Condadisco was called, derived from the Celtic word Condate (confluence ).

Under Oyend, the fourth abbot, the abbey and the adjacent resulting settlement developed the religious center of the high Jura and became the seat of a principality. In honor of this abbot, the town was renamed in the year 510 in Saint- Oyend -de- Joux. In the following period, the abbey continued to strengthen its influence in the region. The monks cleared in the valleys and on the plateaus of the Jura many different areas, they made reclaimed and thus laid the foundation for numerous surrounding villages. The high plateau of the Hautes- Combes, however, were inhabited only during the summer months due to the harsh climate, to the late Middle Ages. From Saint- Claude numerous monastic foundations were made ​​in the Jura and neighboring Swiss plateau.

Saint- Oyend -de -Joux developed over the centuries has become an important place of pilgrimage. This function was further strengthened when the end of the 11th century, the relics of the twelfth abbot Claude ( 700 died ) were rediscovered in very good condition. For this reason, the town was renamed in the early 12th century in Saint -Claude. The monks were now living under the rules of the Benedictine order.

First Freedoms became Saint -Claude in the 13th century before it was in 1310 with the city charter. In the following years established itself in the city, which was now no longer fully dependent on the abbey, the production of small products (wood, pipes, etc.) for the pilgrims.

Together with the Franche-Comté reached Saint -Claude with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 to France. At the end of the late Middle Ages began the gradual decline of the abbey. 1742 Saint -Claude was raised to the episcopal see. The Diocese of Saint -Claude still exists today, but the bishop's seat was moved to Lons -le- Saunier. The French Revolution and a major fire in 1799 prevented the rapid economic development of the city. Meanwhile, along the rivers of Bienne and Tacon different factories had settled, which were dependent on hydropower, including paper mills, cotton mills and wire drawing. The area of Saint -Claude in 1811 grew by the incorporation of the villages Etables and Vaucluse.

During the 19th century, Saint -Claude walked to an industrial city. Among the traditional industries, the manufacture of pipes from briar and tobacco tins, the violin, and especially from 1880, the gemstone came ( for the manufacture of jewelery and accessories for the watch industry ). Together with the also introduced at the end of the 19th century plastics processing industries shaped this economic life until well into the 20th century and were responsible for the rapid growth of Saint -Claude in this time.

On August 19, 1890 at 19:40 CEST clock Saint -Claude was hit by a strong tornado. The storm caused severe damage. 5 people were killed.

Due to the world economic crisis of 1929 and the Second World War, this upturn was stopped abruptly. After 1945, held at the recession as Saint -Claude in the valley of Bienne had little expansion possibilities and lay off the main roads. This changed, however, with the opening of the industrial zone plan d' Acier in 1970. Various production businesses were relocated from the city and located in the new industrial zone, which opened up new possibilities in urban planning.

At a magnification of the area of Saint -Claude came in 1974, when the five surrounding small communities Chaumont, Chevry, Cinquétral, Ranchette and Valfin -lès -Saint -Claude were incorporated with a total of around 450 inhabitants. Was founded in 1993 with the Communauté de communes de Val de Bienne, a community association, the first Saint- Claude, Chassal and Molinges included. Since 2003 Choux, Coiserette, Coyrière, Larrivoire, Viry and Vulvoz belong.

Attractions

The Cathedral of Saint- Pierre de Saint -Claude at the edge of the old town at the foot of Mont Bayard was built in several stages from the 14th to the early 18th century. It is attached, has more than three feet thick outer walls and a front tower ( the second one was not completed) and shows the style of the Gothic, Classicism and the Baroque. The cathedral houses a rich interior: an altarpiece from the 16th century in the style of the Italian Renaissance, ornately carved choir ( 1447-1450 ), an organ in the Louis XVI style, stained glass from the 15th century and the chapel of Saint -Claude with the relics of St. Claude.

At the site of a former Carmelite monastery, which was destroyed in the great fire in 1799, since 1869 is an expiation chapel. From 1923 the Sacré Cœur comes.

The elongated Old Town, which stretches from the mouth of Tacon in the Bienne about half a mile north on the narrow headland and on the plateau at the foot of Mont Bayard, is a late medieval feel with closely built town houses, mostly dating from around 1800 come. From the former town fortification few remnants remain. The Maison du Peuple was inaugurated in 1910. About the Bienne performs a built 1861 arch bridge.

Of the museums, the Musée de la Pipe et of the diamond must be mentioned ( exhibition about the craft of making pipes and the gemstone ) and another museum horn pipes.

The surrounding, now eingemeindeten to Saint -Claude villages have attractions. These include the built in the 17th century church of Cinquétral, the Church of Valfin (19th century), the Chapel of Vaucluse (1685 ) with a classical facade, the chapel of Chaumont with a wooden tower and the Château de Chevry ( 16th century ) with its castle chapel.

Population

With 10,690 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) Saint -Claude is one of the largest towns in the Jura. Strong growth rates exhibited Saint -Claude at the time of its industrialization during the second half of the 19th century. Already in 1895 the limit was exceeded by 10,000 inhabitants. The flourishing industry led to further growth, so that was in the late 1920s, just before the global economic crisis with about 14,000 inhabitants the previous high. After a population decline of almost 25 % was recorded. A renewed growth spurt followed in the period from about 1955 to 1975 in connection with the re- emerging industry. Since the mid- 1970s, a slightly decreasing trend in total recorded.

The settlement area of Saint -Claude comprises the basin in the area of ​​the mouth of the Tacon in the Bienne, runs high, especially on the western flank of the Bienne and also reaches into the valley of the Tacon.

Economy

Saint -Claude is now an important industrial city in the Haut-Jura. The traditional industries of tobacco pipes manufacturing and diamond cutting continue to shape the economic activity of the city. Also of importance are the plastic industry, metal processing and machinery manufacturing, precision mechanics and the packaging industry. Larger commercial and industrial zones are located near the train station to the west of Bienne and down the valley in a valley widening at Etables. Here lies the industrial zone plan d' Acier, which was established in 1970 and now fills the valley floor on both sides of Bienne. Saint -Claude is thus part of the industrial region of La Vallée Plastics, extending from Nantua about Oyonnax to Saint- Claude and also includes Morez.

Culture and Tourism

The city has a rich cultural life. Among the important cultural events include the Festival of Classical Music of the Haut- Jura, and since the Middle Ages every year performed traditional Fête de Soufflacouls. There are also in Saint -Claude cinemas, a theater, and games libraries.

As the center of the Regional Natural Park of Haut -Jura Saint -Claude is also benefiting from tourism and is the location of many hotels. The city is the starting point both for summer and for winter recreation in the High Jura. These range from hiking, biking and fishing on the sport of skiing to skydiving, canyoning and caving.

Traffic

The city is easily accessible via. It lies on the main road through the valley of Bienne and over the Col de la Faucille leads from Lons -le- Saunier in the Geneva area. Other regional road links exist with Oyonnax, Morez and Saint- Germain -de- Joux. The nearest links to the motorway A404 ( Saint -Martin- du- Frêne - Oyonnax ) is located at a distance of around 30 km.

Saint -Claude has a station on the railway line, which serves the route from Bourg -en- Bresse via Oyonnax after Morez. On a high plateau above Lavans -lès -Saint -Claude about 10 km west of the town is the airport Saint- Claude- Pratz.

Management

Since the 2008 local elections ( term of office until 2015) ruled in Saint -Claude, a left-wing coalition PCF / PS under the leadership of the Communist Francis Lahaut.

Partnerships

Saint -Claude has since September 1979, a partnership with the German town Rottenburg am Neckar in Baden- Württemberg.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Suzanne Belperron (1900-1983), jewelery designer
• Mevlut Erdinç (* 1987), football player