Les Clefs
| Les Clefs | ||
|---|---|---|
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| region | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | |
| Department | Haute-Savoie | |
| Arrondissement | Annecy | |
| Canton | Faverges | |
| Community association | Vallées de Thônes | |
| Coordinates | 45 ° 52 ′ N , 6 ° 20 ′ E | |
| height | 670-2,338 m | |
| surface | 18.47 km 2 | |
| Residents | 659 (January 1, 2017) | |
| Population density | 36 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| Post Code | 74230 | |
| INSEE code | 74079 | |
Les Clefs is a French commune in the department of Haute-Savoie in the region of Auvergne Rhône-Alpes .
geography
Les Clefs is located at 710 m above sea level, south of Thônes , about 16 kilometers east-southeast of the city of Annecy (as the crow flies). The mountain village extends in the Bornes Alps at the eastern foot of the Tournette , on a narrow ledge above the confluence of the Ruisseau de Chamfroid in the Fier .
The area of the municipal area of 18.47 km² includes a section of the Bornes Alps. The main part of the area is occupied by the Vallée de Manigod (traversed by the Fier) and the Vallée du Chamfroid . The Vallée du Chamfroid extends in a south-north direction and has a relatively wide, flat valley floor in the upper area. The valley slopes are divided by several erosion channels. In the northeast, the municipal area extends to the height of the Bois du Mont , in the southeast to the mountain pastures of the Montagne de Sulens ( 1839 m ). To the west, the Vallée du Chamfroid is flanked by the Tournette massif , which includes the main peak La Tournette (at 2351 m, the highest elevation in Les Clefs) and the secondary peaks L'Aiguille ( 1847 m ) and Rocher de Belchamp ( 1857 m ).
In addition to the actual town center, Les Clefs also includes various hamlet settlements and farms, including:
- Montisbrand ( 830 m ) on a terrace on the western slope of the valley above Les Clefs
- Belchamp ( 750 m ) in the Vallée du Chamfroid
- Le Cropt ( 778 m ) in a valley widening of the Vallée du Chamfroid
Neighboring municipalities of Les Clefs are Thônes in the north, Manigod in the east, Serraval in the south and Talloires-Montmin in the west.
history
Les Clefs formed its own little rule in the 12th century.
Attractions
The village church in Sardinian style dates from the 19th century. There are chapels in various hamlets; Particularly noteworthy is the Chapel of Le Cropt, which was built in the 17th century.
population
| Population development | |
|---|---|
| year | Residents |
| 1962 | 343 |
| 1968 | 354 |
| 1975 | 304 |
| 1982 | 348 |
| 1990 | 367 |
| 1999 | 472 |
| 2006 | 560 |
With 659 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) Les Clefs 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 636 inhabitants in Les Clefs). Since the mid-1980s, however, a significant increase in population has been recorded.
Economy and Infrastructure
Until well into the 20th century, Les Clefs was a village dominated by agriculture and alpine farming. Today there are various small business enterprises. Many workers are commuters who work in the larger towns in the area. In recent decades, Les Clefs has benefited from tourism, with the municipality mainly specializing in summer leisure activities.
The village is located away from the larger thoroughfares. The main access is from Thônes through the valley of the Fier, the road continues southwards over the Col du Marais to Faverges . Another road connection is with Manigod.
