Bellevaux
| Bellevaux | ||
|---|---|---|
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| region | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | |
| Department | Haute-Savoie | |
| Arrondissement | Thonon-les-Bains | |
| Canton | Thonon-les-Bains | |
| Community association | Skin chablais | |
| Coordinates | 46 ° 15 ' N , 6 ° 32' E | |
| height | 806-2,140 m | |
| surface | 48.97 km 2 | |
| Residents | 1,294 (January 1, 2017) | |
| Population density | 26 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| Post Code | 74470 | |
| INSEE code | 74032 | |
| Website | www.bellevaux.fr | |
 The hamlet of La Chèvrerie |
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Bellevaux is a French commune in the department of Haute-Savoie in the region of Auvergne Rhône-Alpes .
geography
Bellevaux is located at 903 m , approx. 15 km south-southeast of the town of Thonon-les-Bains . The mountain village extends in the central Chablais , in the Vallée du Brevon, on the lower eastern slope of the Narmont, in the northern Savoy Alps .
The area of the 48.97 km² municipal area includes the central and southern section of the Vallée du Brevon. The Brevon , a left tributary of the Dranse , crosses the area from south to north in a valley in which valley widths regularly alternate with narrow passages. In the southern section is the Lac de Vallon, which was only dammed in 1943 by the debris from a large landslide.
West of the Brevon, the municipal area extends over the forest height of the Narmont ( 1363 m ) into the headwaters of the Follaz in the area of the Col de Terramont and to the alpine meadows of the Montagne d'Hirmentaz ( 1607 m ). To the east of the Brevon, the area extends to the ridge that separates the Vallée du Brevon from the Vallée d'Aulps. The border runs over the heights of Pointe d'Ireuse ( 1891 m ), Pointe de la Gay ( 1802 m ) and Grande Pointe ( 1800 m ). The southern end of the valley make some striking limestone peaks of the Chablais Alps, from west to east, the Haute-Pointe ( 1958 m ), the Pointe de Chavasse ( 2010 m ), the Pointe de Chalune ( 2,114 m ) and the Roc d'Enfer , on whose west ridge, at 2140 m, is the highest point in Bellevaux. A narrow corner of the municipal floor extends further south to the Col de la Ramaz.
Community structure
In addition to the actual village center, Bellevaux includes various hamlet settlements, namely:
- Chez Maurice ( 829 m ) in the Brevontal at the foot of the Narmont
- Le Borgel ( 860 m ) in the Brevontal at the foot of the Narmont
- La Cour ( 870 m ) to the north adjoining the village
- La Côte ( 1150 m ) on a saddle south of the Narmont
- Les Pontets ( 1126 m ) on a promontory southwest of the Narmont
- Terramont ( 1040 m ) on the Follaz on the ascent to Col de Terramont
- Les Mouilles ( 1127 m ) at the height east of the Montagne d'Hirmentaz
- Hirmentaz ( 1200 m ) on the northern slope of the Montagne d'Hirmentaz
- Jambaz de çà ( 1020 m ) on the western slope of the Brevon valley
- Jambaz de là ( 1030 m ) on the Col de Jambaz
- Le Frêne ( 1000 m ) on a terrace east of the Brevon
- L'Ermont ( 1013 m ) east of the Brevon
- L'Epuyer ( 955 m ) on the Brevon
- La Clusaz ( 980 m ) on the Brevon
- La Chèvrerie ( 1110 m ) behind in the Vallée du Brevon
Neighboring municipalities of Bellevaux are Lullin and Vailly in the north, La Baume , Seytroux and Saint-Jean-d'Aulps in the east, La Côte-d'Arbroz and Mieussy in the south and Onnion , Mégevette , Habère-Lullin and Habère-Poche in the west.
history
Bellevaux was built next to a Benedictine priory that was founded here in 1136. Another priory was founded in 1138 at Vallon (near La Chèvrerie).
Attractions
The Church of Notre Dame de l'Assomption was built around 1830 and has a copper onion helmet and rich furnishings (carved furniture ). The Saint-Bruno chapel from the 17th century commemorates the Charterhouse in Vallon, which was destroyed by the Bernese in 1536. There are numerous chapels in the vicinity of Bellevaux, including the Chapelle de Nifflon from the 19th century on Alp Nifflon d'en Haut.
The Musée de la Faune and the Musée de l'Histoire et des Traditions are located in Bellevaux.
population
| Population development | |
|---|---|
| year | Residents |
| 1962 | 1,039 |
| 1968 | 948 |
| 1975 | 1,028 |
| 1982 | 1,083 |
| 1990 | 1,113 |
| 1999 | 1,158 |
With 1294 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017), Bellevaux is one of the smaller communities in the Haute-Savoie department. After the population had decreased markedly in the course of the first half of the 20th century (in 1901 Bellevaux still had 1,627 inhabitants), since the 1960s only minor fluctuations in the number of inhabitants have been recorded. Only in the last few years has a rising trend been seen again.
Economy and Infrastructure
Until well into the 20th century, Bellevaux was a village dominated by agriculture and forestry . Today there are various local small businesses. Many workers are commuters who go to work in the larger towns in the area, especially in Thonon-les-Bains. In the vicinity of Hirmentaz and at La Chèvrerie to the rear in the Vallée du Brevon, two winter sports areas have emerged in recent decades.
The village is located off the main thoroughfares, but is relatively easy to reach from Thonon-les-Bains on the D26, which leads to Saint-Jeoire . Other road connections exist with Lullin and Habère-Poche.
