Lélex
| Lélex | ||
|---|---|---|
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| region | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | |
| Department | Ain | |
| Arrondissement | Gex | |
| Canton | Thoiry | |
| Community association | Pays de Gex | |
| Coordinates | 46 ° 18 ′ N , 5 ° 57 ′ E | |
| height | 720-1,703 m | |
| surface | 17.63 km 2 | |
| Residents | 227 (January 1, 2017) | |
| Population density | 13 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| Post Code | 01410 | |
| INSEE code | 01210 | |
| Website | www.lelex.fr | |
_-_Mairie.JPG) Mairie Lélex |
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Lélex is a French commune in the Ain department in the region of Auvergne Rhône-Alpes .
geography
Lélex is located at 898 m , about 20 kilometers northwest of the city of Geneva (as the crow flies). The village extends in the French Jura in the long valley Combe de Mijoux , which is drained by the Valserine , at the northern foot of the Crêt de la Neige . Together with the neighboring municipality of Mijoux, it forms the Monts Jura winter sports area.
The area of the 17.63 km² large municipal area includes a section of the Upper Jurassic. The area is traversed from northeast to southwest by the Valserine (right tributary of the Rhone ). The upper valley section forms a wide trough valley with a slight longitudinal gradient and a flat, formerly muddy valley floor. During the ice ages the valley of the Valserine was glaciated. After the glacier retreated, a lake built up on a moraine bar , which silted up over time and subsequently formed a moor area. The lower section of the valley, on the other hand, is deeply cut, accompanied by rocky slopes and has a significantly higher longitudinal gradient.
The Valserine valley is flanked on both sides by densely wooded, relatively steep slopes. In the west, the municipal area extends to the Jura ridge of Lajoux (up to 1300 m ). To the east, the municipal ban extends to the highest peaks of the Jura, the Crêt de la Neige ( 1720 m ) and the Grand Crêt ( 1702 m ), as well as the slope of the Reculet . These ridges are forested almost to the top, which is why Lélex only has small high pastures. The municipality is part of the Upper Jura Regional Nature Park (French: Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura ).
In addition to the actual village, Lélex also includes various hamlets and farms, including:
- Sous les Loges ( 880 m ) in the Combe de Mijoux on the southern outskirts of Lélex
Neighboring towns of Lélex are Les Molunes (municipality of Septmoncel les Molunes ) and Mijoux in the north, Crozet , Sergy and Thoiry in the east, Chézery-Forens in the south and Bellecombe in the west.
history
The place name of Lélex is derived from le ley , a patois expression for lac (lake). The Lélex area was inhabited since the early 14th century. At the end of the 14th century, Lélex came to the Dukes of Savoy. From 1536 to 1564 the valley was under Bernese sovereignty, then returned to Savoy and finally to France in 1601 with the Treaty of Lyon.
Attractions
The current church of Lélex was rebuilt in the neo-Gothic style in 1846 because the earlier church was damaged by a landslide. In 1997 a comprehensive restoration was carried out.
population
| Population development | |
|---|---|
| year | Residents |
| 1962 | 156 |
| 1968 | 184 |
| 1975 | 183 |
| 1982 | 203 |
| 1990 | 232 |
| 1999 | 221 |
| 2006 | 225 |
| 2016 | 225 |
With 227 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) Lélex is one of the small communities in the Ain department. After the population had decreased significantly in the first half of the 20th century, population growth has been recorded again since the early 1960s.
Economy and Infrastructure
Until well into the 20th century, Lélex was a village dominated by agriculture and forestry. Today there are some local small businesses, including wood processing. In the meantime the village has turned into an important winter sports resort in the Jura. In the area of Col de Crozet, the slopes are accessed by two cable cars and several ski lifts. The ski area can also be reached from Crozet by cable car. The place is also the starting point for extensive Jura hikes in summer.
The village is located off the major thoroughfares on the D991 department road, which leads from Bellegarde-sur-Valserine to Mijoux.
