Mercey-le-Grand
| Mercey-le-Grand | ||
|---|---|---|
|
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| region | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | |
| Department | Doubs | |
| Arrondissement | Besançon | |
| Canton | Saint Vit | |
| Community association | Val Marnaysia | |
| Coordinates | 47 ° 13 ' N , 5 ° 44' E | |
| height | 229-302 m | |
| surface | 6.56 km 2 | |
| Residents | 542 (January 1, 2017) | |
| Population density | 83 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| Post Code | 25410 | |
| INSEE code | 25374 | |
Mercey-le-Grand is a French commune with a population of 542 (as at 1st January 2017) in the Doubs department in the region of Bourgogne Franche-Comté .
geography
Mercey-le-Grand is located at 294 m , about 22 kilometers west of the city of Besançon (as the crow flies). The village extends northwest of Saint-Vit on a plateau in the gently undulating landscape between the rivers of Doubs in the south and Ognon (in the north).
The area of the 6.56 km² large municipality covers a section north of the Doubstal. The landscape, partly with arable land and meadow, partly with forest, shows only minor differences in relief. The watershed between Doubs and Ognon runs across the plateau. At 302 m, the highest point of Mercey-le-Grand is reached on the hill east of the village. To the south are the wooded areas of Bois Saucy and Bois des Groseillers . To the east, the community area extends into the headwaters of the Ruisseau du Breuil (left tributary of the Ognon).
Mercey-le-Grand includes Cottier ( 260 m ) in the headwaters of the Ruisseau du Breuil and some individual farms. Neighboring municipalities of Mercey-le-Grand are Étrabonne and Lantenne-Vertière in the north, Ferrières-les-Bois and Berthelange in the east, Évans and Le Petit-Mercey in the south and Romain in the west.
history
Various finds indicate that the municipality of Mercey-le-Grand was already settled in Gallo-Roman times. The town was first mentioned in a document in 967 under the name Marciaco . Mercey has been the center of a parish since the 10th century. On the one hand it belonged to the cathedral chapter of Besançon, on the other hand the lordship of Étrabonne also owned goods in the municipality. Together with Franche-Comté , the village finally came to France with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678. Until the end of the 19th century, the community was called Le Grand-Mercey. The area changed in 1973 when the previously independent municipality of Cottier was merged with Mercey-le-Grand.
Attractions
The Saint-Martin church dates back to the 12th century and has been restored and redesigned several times over the years (the last time in the 18th century). The bell tower dates from the 13th century. The choir opens to two side chapels (17th century). The church has valuable furnishings .
population
| Population development | |
|---|---|
| year | Residents |
| 1962 | 176 |
| 1968 | 161 |
| 1975 | 213 |
| 1982 | 338 |
| 1990 | 366 |
| 1999 | 408 |
| 2016 | 538 |
With 542 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) Mercey-le-Grand is one of the small communities in the Doubs department. After the population had decreased significantly in the first half of the 20th century (252 people were counted in 1886), the population has continued to grow since the early 1970s. Since then, the population has roughly doubled.
Economy and Infrastructure
Until well into the 20th century, Mercey-le-Grand was a village dominated by agriculture (arable farming, fruit growing and cattle breeding) and forestry. In addition, there are now some local small businesses. In the meantime, the village has also turned into a residential community. Many workers are commuters who work in the Besançon agglomeration.
The village is located away from the major thoroughfares on a department road that leads from Saint-Vit to Taxenne . The closest connection to the A36 motorway is around eight kilometers away. Other road connections exist with Gendrey, Étrabonne, Lantenne-Vertière and Le Petit-Mercey.
