Pratz
| Pratz | ||
|---|---|---|
|
||
| local community | Lavans-lès-Saint-Claude | |
| region | Bourgogne-Franche-Comté | |
| Department | law | |
| Arrondissement | Saint-Claude | |
| Coordinates | 46 ° 23 ' N , 5 ° 46' E | |
| Post Code | 39170 | |
| Former INSEE code | 39440 | |
| Incorporation | 1st January 2019 | |
| status | Commune déléguée | |
Pratz is a village and a former French community with 539 inhabitants (as of January 1 2017) in the department of Jura in the region Bourgogne Franche-Comté .
With effect from January 1, 2019, the former municipalities of Lavans-lès-Saint-Claude and Pratz were merged to form the Commune nouvelle Lavans-lès-Saint-Claude of the same name and have the status of a Commune déléguée in the new municipality . The administrative headquarters are in Lavans-lès-Saint-Claude.
geography
Pratz is located at 683 m , about eight kilometers west of the city of Saint-Claude (as the crow flies). The village extends in the Jura , in a panoramic position at the height north of the Bienne valley , around 300 m above the valley floor.
The area covers a section of the French Jura. The central part is taken up by the height of Pratz (an average of 700 m ), which is subdivided by several hills and valleys. This height drops steeply towards the south to the valley of the Bienne, with the municipal area in the area of Molinges almost reaching down to the valley floor. To the north, the area extends to the ridge of the Croix de Pratz ( 815 m ) and up to the Jura plateau on the edge of the Forêt d'Annuelle . Here, at 948 m, Pratz's highest elevation is reached. The area is part of the Upper Jura Regional Nature Park (French: Parc naturel régional du Haut-Jura ).
In addition to the actual village, Pratz also includes various hamlets and individual farms, including:
- Saint-Romain-de-Roche ( 620 m ) at the height above the steep drop to the valley of the Bienne
- Champied ( 710 m ) at the height at the foot of the Croix de Pratz
- Petit-Châtel ( 680 m ) in a valley basin at the western foot of the Croix de Pratz
Neighboring towns of Pratz are Lavans-lès-Saint-Claude in the east, Chassal-Molinges and Vaux-lès-Saint-Claude in the south and Jeurre and Villards-d'Héria in the west.
history
The place name Pratz is derived from the Latin word pratum (meadow). In the middle of the 5th century, Iola, sister of St. Romanus , founded the Saint-Romain-de-Roche monastery. In the Middle Ages, Pratz formed a rule that was dependent on Saint-Claude. Together with Franche-Comté , the village came to France with the Peace of Nijmegen in 1678. A change of area occurred in 1822 when the previously independent communities of Saint-Romain-de-Roche and Petit-Châtel were incorporated into Pratz. In 2019 Pratz came to the municipality of Lavans-lès-Saint-Claude.
Attractions
The Saint-Romain-de-Roche chapel, originally from the 13th century and rebuilt in the 16th century, stands above a rock face on the edge of the heights of Pratz and offers a beautiful view of the Bienne valley. Only a few remains of the former priory are visible. The ruins of the keep of the medieval castle of Pratz have been preserved.
population
| Population development | |
|---|---|
| year | Residents |
| 1962 | 191 |
| 1968 | 211 |
| 1975 | 238 |
| 1982 | 354 |
| 1990 | 415 |
| 1999 | 453 |
| 2004 | 554 |
After the population had decreased in the first half of the 20th century (in 1906 there were still 328 people), a significant increase in population has been recorded again since the mid-1960s.
Economy and Infrastructure
Until well into the 20th century, Pratz was primarily a village characterized by agriculture , especially cattle breeding and dairy farming, as well as forestry. In addition, there are now some small and medium-sized businesses, including a company in the plastics industry. At Pratz (Champied locality) there is a limestone quarry that is now closed. It originally served the Marbrerie of Molinges as a source of raw materials for the manufacture of exclusive objects ( fireplaces and interior fittings). This material is a strong yellow limestone with thin reddish veins. In this quarry, rough blocks were extracted with the helicoid saw very early (2nd half of the 19th century) .
Many workers are also commuters who work in the larger towns in the area.
The village is well developed in terms of traffic. It is on the main D470 road from Lons-le-Saunier to Saint-Claude. Another road connection is with Saint-Lupicin . The Saint-Claude - Pratz airfield was set up on a leveled area above Lavans-lès-Saint-Claude.
