Clermont (Haute-Savoie)

Clermont
region	Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes
Department	Haute-Savoie
Arrondissement	Saint-Julien-en-Genevois
Canton	Saint-Julien-en-Genevois
Community association	Usses and Rhône
Coordinates	45 ° 58 ' N , 5 ° 54' E Coordinates: 45 ° 58 ' N , 5 ° 54' E
height	500-699 m
surface	6.98 km 2
Residents	409 (January 1, 2017)
Population density	59 inhabitants / km 2
Post Code	74270
INSEE code	74078
	; View of the village of Clermont

Clermont , including Clermont-en-Genevois is a French commune in the department of Haute-Savoie in the region of Auvergne Rhône-Alpes .

geography

Clermont is located at 640 m , near Seyssel , about 20 kilometers west-northwest of the city of Annecy (as the crow flies). The village extends in a scenic location on a hill between the two valleys of the rivers Les Usses in the north and Fier in the south, northeast of the Montagne des Princes, in the Genevois .

The area of the 6.98 km² municipality covers a section of the western Genevois. The area is occupied by the undulating relief of the hills around Clermont. To the northeast, the municipal area extends into the wooded area of the Bois des Bolioz . The northern parts of municipalities are the Ruisseau de Croasse and Ruisseau de Findreuze drained to the Usses while Morge the water to the south leads to Fier. At 699 m , the highest point in the municipality is reached in the Clermont hill country.

In addition to the actual town center, Clermont also includes various hamlet settlements and farms (all located on the heights around Clermont), including:

La Croix Rouge ( 628 m )
Botesse ( 631 m )
Essert ( 650 m )

Neighboring municipalities of Clermont are Desingy and Chilly in the north, Menthonnex-sous-Clermont in the east, Crempigny-Bonneguête in the south and Droisy in the west.

history

Clermont was mentioned in the Middle Ages under the Latinized names Claromontium and Claromontum and is thus derived from the words clarus (bright, clear) and mons (mountain). From the 12th century, Clermont formed a rule that was subordinate to the Counts of Geneva . The old castle temporarily served the counts as a summer residence. In the 15th century, Clermont came under the rule of Savoy and from then on shared its fate.

Attractions

Painting of the ceiling of the Church of Clermont

The village church of Saint Étienne of Clermont in its current form dates from the 19th century. Its equipment is protected as a monument historique .

The most important attraction is the Château de Clermont, which was built between 1575 and 1578 in the style of the Italian Renaissance . It has a remarkable inner courtyard with arcades and a beautiful portal and is also classified as a monument historique. The castle museum shows changing exhibitions; in the palace chapel there is a collection of religious art. There are also ruins of the old castle from the 12th century.

Population development

year	Residents
1962	240
1968	234
1975	211
1982	223
1990	244
1999	331
2006	383

With 409 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017), Clermont is one of the small communities in the Haute-Savoie department. In the course of the 19th and 20th centuries, the number of inhabitants decreased continuously due to strong emigration (in 1861 there were still 477 inhabitants in Clermont). Since the beginning of the 1980s, however, thanks to the beautiful residential area, the population has increased again.

Economy and Infrastructure

Clermont is still a predominantly agricultural village today . There are also some local small businesses. Many workers are commuters who work in the larger towns in the area and in the Annecy area.

The village is located off the main thoroughfares, a little above the D910 department road, which leads from Frangy to Rumilly . Further road connections exist with Seyssel , Desingy, Chilly and Menthonnex-sous-Clermont. The closest connection to the A40 motorway is around 15 km away.