Sciez
| Sciez | ||
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| region | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | |
| Department | Haute-Savoie | |
| Arrondissement | Thonon-les-Bains | |
| Canton | Sciez (main town) | |
| Community association | Thonon agglomeration | |
| Coordinates | 46 ° 20 ′ N , 6 ° 22 ′ E | |
| height | 372-725 m | |
| surface | 20.47 km 2 | |
| Residents | 6,033 (January 1, 2017) | |
| Population density | 295 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| Post Code | 74140 | |
| INSEE code | 74263 | |
| Website | www.sciez-sur-leman.com | |
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Sciez (also sciez on Lake Geneva) is a French commune in the department of Haute-Savoie in the region of Auvergne Rhône-Alpes .
geography
Sciez is located at 406 m , nine kilometers west-southwest of the city of Thonon-les-Bains (as the crow flies). The village is slightly elevated in the Bas-Chablais plain above the south bank of Lake Geneva , west of the Foron River.
The area of the 20.47 km² municipal area includes a section on the south bank of Lake Geneva, the lakeshore line is approximately 3.5 km. The community area extends from the flat lake shore (Golfe de Coudrée) southwards over the Bas-Chablais plain to the forest heights of Mont de Boisy, where Sciez's highest point is reached at 730 m . In the south-east the area extends into the extensive forests of Forêt de Planbois on a plateau rising slightly towards the south. The plain at Sciez is crossed by several rivers that arise on the slopes of the surrounding heights and flow into Lake Geneva. The western border forms the Vion , at Sciez the valley of the Foron reaches the plain and in the east the border runs along the Ruisseau du Redon .
Community structure
In addition to the actual village center, Sciez includes various other villages and hamlet settlements:
- Excugefattaz ( 381 m ), on the plain east of the Vion
- Filly ( 396 m ), on the plain west of Sciez
- Prailles ( 428 m ) at the north foot of Mont de Boisy
- Marignan ( 412 m ) at the north foot of Mont de Boisy
- Coudrée ( 375 m ) on the lake shore
- Port de Sciez ( 375 m ) on the lake shore
- Bonnatrait ( 401 m ) on the plateau east of the Foron
- Songy ( 400 m )
- Jussy ( 417 m ) on the plateau west of the Ruisseau du Redon
- Chavanne ( 430 m ) on the plateau east of the Foron
- Excuvilly ( 412 m ) on the plateau east of the Foron
- Choisy ( 453 m ) on the northern edge of the Forêt de Planbois
- Chavannex ( 497 m ) on the eastern slope of Mont de Boisy above the Foron valley
Neighboring municipalities of Sciez are Margencel in the east, Perrignier , Lully , Bons-en-Chablais and Ballaison in the south and Massongy and Excenevex in the west.
history
The area around Sciez was inhabited very early. The oldest traces come from a coastal settlement from the Neolithic . There was also a settlement here during Roman times .
Around the year 520, the area came to the Saint-Maurice monastery in Valais in Switzerland as a gift from the Burgundian king Sigismund . Sciez is first mentioned in 1026 in a document from Filly Monastery, which existed from the early 11th century to the 16th century. The origin of the place name is not clearly established. While some sources see the Celtic word they , sy (border) as the origin , other name researchers attribute Sciez to the Gallo-Roman personal name Sigius .
Sciez has belonged to the county and duchy of Savoy since the Middle Ages . From 1536 to 1567 it was under the rule of Bern. From 1798 to 1814 it belonged to France as part of the Département du Léman, then again to Savoy (Kingdom of Sardinia-Piedmont), before finally becoming part of France in 1860.
Attractions
Among the sights of Sciez are the neo-Gothic village church, the Notre Dame de Chavannex chapel (founded in the 13th century by monks of the Filly monastery, which was later destroyed) and the Château de Coudrée. The latter was also built in the 13th century and has several round towers and a mighty square keep. In the center of Sciez, remains of the medieval wall belt have been preserved.
population
| Population development | |
|---|---|
| year | Residents |
| 1962 | 1,341 |
| 1968 | 1,617 |
| 1975 | 2,229 |
| 1982 | 2,621 |
| 1990 | 3,371 |
| 1999 | 4,268 |
| 2004 | 4,782 |
| 2017 | 6,033 |
With 6,033 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) Sciez is one of the medium-sized communes in the Haute-Savoie department. In the last few decades there has been a continuous strong growth in the number of inhabitants. Outside the old village center, larger single-family houses were built. There are also numerous second homes near the lake.
Economy and Infrastructure
Until well into the 20th century, Sciez was predominantly an agricultural village. Sciez is located in the Savoie wine-growing region . White wines made from the Altesse grape variety (locally called Roussette ) may be marketed under the protected designation of origin Roussette de Savoie . The AOC Vin de Savoie applies to white wines of other grape varieties and red wines .
Today there are various local small businesses as well as construction and trading companies. Many workers are commuters who work in Thonon-les-Bains or in the agglomeration of Geneva.
In the bay of Coudrée there is an extensive sandy beach, which is a popular day trip destination during the summer months. Sciez owns a pleasure boat harbor and is connected to the neighboring Seanstößer communities by passenger shipping on Lake Geneva. The village is on the N5 main road from Geneva to Thonon-les-Bains. There are other road links with Bons-en-Chablais, Excenevex and Perrignier.
Web links
- Official website of the municipality of Sciez (French)
- Office du Tourisme of Sciez (French)