Saint-Valbert

Saint- Valbert is a commune in Haute -Saône in the Franche -Comté.

Geography

Saint- Valbert situated at an altitude of 390 m above sea level, 4 km north of Luxeuil -les- Bains and about 32 km northeast of the town of Vesoul (air line). The village is located in the northern part of the department, at the level between the rivers of Breuchin in the south and Roge in the north, in the western foothills of the Vosges.

The area of ​​3.90 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the heights on the western edge of the Vosges. The northern boundary marks the Roge, the first westward flows through a deep valley cut and also occurs in La Gabiotte into a pool. It provides for the drainage to the Lanterne. From the creek, the municipality's area extends southward through a steep wooded slope to the height of Saint- Valbert. The slope is divided by several gullies. The western boundary is the forest area of ​​Luxeuil -les- Bains. With 418 m east of the village reached on the top of Bois d' amont the highest elevation of Saint- Valbert. In geological- tectonic terms, these heights are composed of crystalline bedrock and from Permian strata. At the lower side of the valley and sandstone of the Lower Triassic is revealed.

At Saint- Valbert the settlement La Gabiotte (290 m) is in the Talniederung the Roge. Neighboring municipalities of Saint- Valbert are Fougerolles in the north, Froideconche in the east, Luxeuil -les- Bains in the south and Fontaine- lès- Luxeuil in the West.

History

Saint- Valbert is named after the monk of the monastery of Luxeuil Altenvalbert who lived here in the 7th century as a hermit in a cave. In the Middle Ages Saint- Valbert belonged to the Free County of Burgundy and in the territory of the Bailliage d' amont. The local government had held the abbots of the monastery of Luxeuil. The Hermitage of the monk Altenvalbert was in the 16th century at a place of pilgrimage. 1570 here Oratory was built and created a garden. Together with the Franche -Comté reached Saint- Valbert with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678 definitively to France. The villagers were awarded until 1782 liberties. Today Saint- Valbert is a member of the comprehensive 13 villages municipal association Communauté de communes du Pays de Luxeuil.

Attractions

The village church of Saint- Valbert was rebuilt in the 19th century. It has a richly appointed interior, including a statue of the Madonna of the 14th century and various other statues from the 16th and 18th centuries. Next to the church is a Lavoir (19th century) stands on an octagonal floor plan, the roof is supported by numerous pillars. It was once used as a wash house and livestock watering. The village is characterized by various houses from the 18th and 19th century, showing the traditional style of the region. The hermitage of Saint- Valbert is classified as a monument historique. From the 18th century the chapel, which houses a bas- relief ( 16th century ) with the Holy Altenvalbert comes. Also in the 16th century Calvaire was built. The grounds also include a small museum about the local history of religion and religious art. The hermitage is a zoo.

Population

With 216 inhabitants (2007 ) Saint- Valbert is one of the small towns in the Haute- Saône. After the population had decreased significantly in the first half of the 20th century (1881, 360 persons counted ), a slight population growth was recorded since the mid-1970s again.

Economy and infrastructure

Saint- Valbert was until well into the 20th century a predominantly by agriculture (crops, orchards and livestock ) and forestry embossed village. Today, there are some establishments of local small businesses. In recent decades the village has been transformed into a residential community. Many workers are therefore commuters who engage in the larger towns in the vicinity of their work.

The village has good transport links. It is located near the main road N57, which runs from Vesoul via Luxeuil -les- Bains to Remiremont and is expanded in the area of Saint- Valbert to four-lane expressway. Further road links exist with Luxeuil -les- Bains and Fougerolles.