Saint-Nicolas-la-Chapelle (Savoie)
Saint- Nicolas- la -Chapelle is a commune with 412 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Savoie in the Rhone -Alpes.
Geography
Saint- Nicolas- la -Chapelle is located in the valley of the Arly, about 52 km southeast of the city of Geneva and 52 km north-east of the associated Chambery Prefecture (both in a straight line ). The village is situated at about 940 m on a rocky saddle on the Arly. West of the town begins the Massif des Aravis, on which the municipal area extending to the Chaîne des Aravis. About 100 meters below the summit of the 2483 m high mountain L' Etale runs the municipal boundary and forms the highest point. To the south west of the Arly drains the valley and can be reached within 12 km from the capital of the canton Ugine and 20 kilometers from the city of Albertville.
The neighboring municipalities are (from north clockwise) Giettaz, Flumet, Notre -Dame-de -Bellecombe, Crest -Voland, Ugine and Manigod. The latter is located in the neighboring department of Haute- Savoie. The municipality also includes several hamlets and settlements:
- Le Marteret ( 881 m)
- Flumet d' Aval ( about 950 m)
- Le Seuthenay ( about 950 m)
- Chaucisse ( 1300 m) in a tributary of the Arrondine
- Nanchard (ca 1215 m ) on the western slope of the valley Arrondine
Population
With 412 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Saint- Nicolas- la -Chapelle is one of the small communities of Savoy. During the last two centuries there have been several waves of emigration, the result of war and depopulation still reinforced the decline in population.
History
The name of the village goes back to a chapel, which was dedicated to St. Nicholas of Myra. Until the 19th century the upper valley of the Arly was only accessible via passes from the north, while below of Saint -Nicolas a steep ravine blocked the access. This unusual geographic position meant that the area of Saint -Nicolas belonged in the Middle Ages to the possessions of the resident in the valley of the Arve Lords of Faucigny. The parish initially was that of Flumet and became independent in the early 14th century.
The now developed to the Church House of Prayer 1766 proved to be so dilapidated that in 1775 a new building was begun. For the small, remote community meant both the financing through donations as well as the transportation of construction materials achieving a particular challenge. The new building along with interior decoration was completed in 1790, just at the beginning of the French Revolution. During the occupation Savoiens by the French troops and the consequent de-Christianization of the inhabitants of Saint -Nicolas hidden success with the cult objects of the new church and offered priests persecuted protection. In order not to be like the surrounding villages target of looting and destruction, they also buried the church bells on private land and saved the altar screen in that a bunch of old wood was burnt in their place.
The hamlet Chaucisse first was under the parish of St. Nicolas, then built but in 1818 his own church St- François- de-Sales, which in 1828 recognized as an independent parish. Both churches were 2009/2010 extensively restored.
The inclusion Savoiens in France in 1860 ordered Saint- Nicolas- la -Chapelle, together with the surrounding communities to the more southerly of the two newly created departments to. Two years later, with the
Construction of a road begun by the impassable gorge of the Arly to remove the insulation of the upper Arly Valley and to realize the connection to the Savoie département transport links also. The complex road construction was completed in 1886. It allowed new industries such as the demolition of slate in Saint -Nicolas in the early 20th century.
Culture and sights
The parish church of St. Nicholas from the 18th century has a ground plan in the form of a Latin cross, ie with einschiffigem nave and a transept. Similar to the church of Saint Théodule in Flumet the main altar is covered by a canopy. The bell tower with lantern tower has a carillon, whose bells were re-cast in the period from 1819 to 1863 either from the about the revolution rescued Altglocken or brand new donated. The parish church and their inventory was included in the List of Monuments historiques 1989.
Economy and infrastructure
Agriculture in Saint- Nicolas- la -Chapelle represents about a quarter of all businesses a comparatively high proportion and manages the mountain pastures and wooded slopes above the village. As a key product of the agriculture regional cheeses are produced, including Reblochon and Beaufort, whose protected designations of origin overlap in the area of Saint- Nicolas- la -Chapelle. In the municipality there are no ski slopes or lifts, the location is but from the east of the situated Arly ski area Espace Diamant with marketed. There are two hotels in the town and the proportion of second homes is 60% similar to those in the neighboring communities.
Traffic
The upper Arly Valley is still off the local access routes and railway lines. Through the valley below the village and the D1212 (originally National Road 212) with the Isère valley and Albertville connects to the south the Arve Valley Megève in the north runs. 1 km from the main road leads uphill to the village long D113.
The next possible motorway, the A430 (exit Albertville, 23 km) and the A40 (exits n ° 20 to 22, about 26 km away). The SNCF train station of Albertville is suitable to reach Saint- Nicolas- la -Chapelle by a bus service. As airports in the region come Geneva ( 78 km), Chambery (95 km ) and Lyon-St -Exupéry (160 km) in question.
Education
In Saint- Nicolas- la -Chapelle is a state école élémentaire.