Thoiry (Ain)

Thoiry is a commune in the French department of Ain, in the Rhône -Alpes.

Geography

Thoiry is located at 496 m above sea level, about 14 km west- northwest of the city of Geneva (air line). This former farm extends in the Pays de Gex: a scenic elevated location at the foot of the Jura Mountains below the Cret de la Neige, at the source of the Allemogne, at the northwestern edge of the lake basin near the border with Switzerland.

The area of ​​28.93 km ² municipal area includes a portion of the Pays de Gex. The area is divided into two very different parts of the natural area. The south-eastern part is occupied by the fertile plain at Jurafuß, where the eastern boundary runs along the Allondon. This flows with multiple turns in a slightly sunken in the deposits of glacial Rhone glacier valley. From right he takes on the Allemogne that springs with a karst spring at Jurafuß in Thoiry. From the river the municipality spell reaches west on the plateau of the Pays de Gex, which rises gently against the law to go. The southern boundary forms the valley section of the Ruisseau de Fénières.

To the west, the municipality's area extends over the steep, densely forested slopes down to the broad crest of the Jura. Through various gullies of the slope is divided, but the actual rivers originate only at Jurafuß. The municipal area of Thoiry lie with the Cret de la Neige (1720 m ) and the Reculet ( 1717 m), the two highest peaks of the Jura Mountains. Above 1,500 m there is an extensive mountain pastures, but they are interspersed by typical karst features such as sinkholes and rugged karst formations. That the High Jura belonging western municipality of Thoiry is part of the Parc Naturel Régional du Haut -Jura and the nature reserve Haute Chaîne du Jura.

At Thoiry next to the original site also includes several villages, hamlets and new housing estates, namely:

• Allemogne (502 m) at the foot of the Cret de la Neige at the source of the Allemogne
• Baizenas ( 488 m) at the Jurafuß
• Fénières (504 m) at the foot of Reculet

Neighboring communities of Thoiry are Saint -Jean -de- Gonville the south, Chézery -Forens in the west, and Sergy Lélex in the north, Saint- Genis- Pouilly in the East and the Swiss towns Satigny and Dardagny in the southeast.

History

The territory of Thoiry was settled very early. It finds were discovered from the Neolithic period, as well as numerous objects (tools, ceramics, brick), which suggest a Roman settlement. At this time, a quarry was exploited.

Is first mentioned in Thoiry in 1301 under the name Thoyrie. Over time, the spelling on Thoyriacum ( 1337), Thoyrier ( 1397 ), Thoyriez ( 1528), Toiry (1670 ) and Toirier transformed (18th century) to the present name. The name goes back to the Gallo-Roman family names Torius and means something like estate of Torius ( Toriacum ).

Since the Middle Ages Thoiry formed its own little rule. In the 14th century the village came under the suzerainty of the Counts of Savoy. Then Thoiry told the eventful history of the Pays de Gex, with which it finally reached in 1601 after the Treaty of Lyon in France. The village was always at the Thoroughfare of Bellegarde along the Jurafuß to Geneva, to this trade route was further postponed to 1750 out into the plain.

Attractions

The parish church of Saint- Maurice was built around 1830 in the style of neoclassicism. It stands on the site of probably goes back to the 9th century church. In Allemogne there is a chapel and a former seat of power.

Population

With 5461 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011) Thoiry is one of the medium-sized municipalities in the department of Ain. Since the mid- 1960s, a striking population growth was recorded. Particularly strong growth was registered during the 1980s and 1990s. During this period, the population of Thoiry has doubled. Outside the old town center, numerous new single-family homes were built.

Partnership

Since 2002, a partnership with the German community Pfronten.

Economy and infrastructure

Thoiry was until well into the 20th century a predominantly coined by farming village. Today, there are some operations of small and medium enterprises. Since the 1970s the village has located southeast developed a commercial and industrial area in the vicinity of the main road. Meanwhile, the village has also changed into a residential community. Many working population commuters who work across the border in Geneva agglomeration.

The village is located off the major thoroughfares of a link road that leads from Saint -Jean -de- Gonville along the Jurafuß after Crozet. The main road D984 which is now expanded to a four-lane expressway, Thoiry travels around the southeast. Further road links exist with Sergy and Saint- Genis- Pouilly. The nearest links to the Swiss highway A1 is located at a distance of around 10 km. The former railway line that ran from Bellegarde- sur -Valserine to Divonne -les- Bains and also served Thoiry, was shut down. In its place today is a bus line.