Mercey-sur-Saône
| Mercey-sur-Saône | ||
|---|---|---|
|
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| region | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | |
| Department | Haute-Saône | |
| Arrondissement | Vesoul | |
| Canton | Scey-sur-Saône-et-Saint-Albin | |
| Community association | Quatre Rivières | |
| Coordinates | 47 ° 32 ' N , 5 ° 44' E | |
| height | 192-253 m | |
| surface | 7.69 km 2 | |
| Residents | 133 (January 1, 2017) | |
| Population density | 17 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| Post Code | 70130 | |
| INSEE code | 70342 | |
Mercey-sur-Saône is a municipality in the French department of Haute-Saône in the region Bourgogne Franche-Comté .
geography
Mercey-sur-Saône is located at an altitude of 202 m above sea level, 14 kilometers northeast of Gray and about 40 kilometers northwest of the city of Besançon (as the crow flies). The village extends to the west of the department, on the southern edge of the Saône valley , on both sides of the Ruisseau de la Fourouse stream .
The area of the 7.69 km² municipal area covers a section of the central Saône valley. In the west, north and east the border always runs along the Saône, which here draws a large arch and flows through an alluvial lowland approximately two kilometers wide . The valley floodplain averages 195 m. The river has been developed into a waterway, with the Savoyeux river loop being cut off by a side canal. From the course of the river, the community area extends southwards over the valley and a slowly rising slope to the adjacent plateau. This consists of an alternating layer of calcareous and sandy-marly sediments from the Upper Jurassic and of tertiary deposits. Agricultural use predominates on the plateau, which lies at 230 m. With a narrow strip of the community soil extends further south into the extensive forest of the Forêt de Belle Vaivre . At 253 m, the highest point in Mercey-sur-Saône is reached in this forest.
Neighboring municipalities of Mercey-sur-Saône are Savoyeux in the north, Motey-sur-Saône in the east, Seveux and Beaujeu-Saint-Vallier-Pierrejux-et-Quitteur in the south and Autet in the west.
history
The municipality of Mercey-sur-Saône was populated very early. Three tumuli from the Hallstatt period were discovered and excavated in the Le Vernois forest to the southwest of the village . The place name goes back to the Latin personal name Marcius or Mercius . In the Middle Ages Mercey belonged to the Free County of Burgundy and in it to the area of the Bailliage d'Amont . The village formed the center of a small lordship that came to the Lords of Savoyeux in 1313 and later experienced numerous changes of ownership. Together with Franche-Comté , Mercey finally came to France with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678. Today Mercey-sur-Saône is a member of the community association Communauté de communes des Quatre Rivières, which comprises 42 localities .
Attractions
The single-nave church of Saint-Jérôme, built in the 18th century, stands out for its large choir, which was added during the 19th century. It is a branch church of the parish of St. Bernard Fresne - Vellexon in the Archdiocese of Besançon .
The castle (La Tour de Mercey) dates from around 1775. At the eastern entrance to the village is the 18th century lavoir , the roof of which is supported by columns.
population
| Population development | |
|---|---|
| year | Residents |
| 1962 | 119 |
| 1968 | 119 |
| 1975 | 111 |
| 1982 | 92 |
| 1990 | 110 |
| 1999 | 104 |
With 133 inhabitants (January 1, 2017), Mercey-sur-Saône is one of the smallest municipalities in the Haute-Saône department. After the population had decreased significantly in the first half of the 20th century (383 people were still counted in 1881), a slight population growth has been recorded again since the beginning of the 1980s.
Economy and Infrastructure
Until well into the 20th century, Mercey-sur-Saône was predominantly a village characterized by agriculture (arable farming, fruit growing and cattle breeding). Today there are some local small businesses. In the last few decades the village has transformed into a residential community. Many workers are therefore commuters who work in the larger towns in the area.
The village is located off the major thoroughfares on a department road that leads from Beaujeu to Savoyeux. Another road connection is with Motey-sur-Saône. On the northern side of the Saône (municipality of Savoyeux) is the station on the railway line from Vesoul to Gray.
