Serraval
| Serraval | ||
|---|---|---|
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| region | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes | |
| Department | Haute-Savoie | |
| Arrondissement | Annecy | |
| Canton | Faverges | |
| Community association | Vallées de Thônes | |
| Coordinates | 45 ° 48 ′ N , 6 ° 20 ′ E | |
| height | 626-2,200 m | |
| surface | 19.73 km 2 | |
| Residents | 700 (January 1, 2017) | |
| Population density | 35 inhabitants / km 2 | |
| Post Code | 74230 | |
| INSEE code | 74265 | |
Serraval is a French commune in the department of Haute-Savoie in the region of Auvergne Rhône-Alpes .
geography
Serraval is located at 759 m , northeast of Faverges , about 20 kilometers southeast of the city of Annecy (as the crow flies). The mountain village extends in the southern Bornes Alps at the eastern foot of the Tournette , in a short side valley of the Chaise on the ascent to the Col du Marais pass .
The area of the 19.73 km² municipal area comprises a section of the Bornes Alps. Most of the area is occupied by the Serraval valley, which drains south to the Chaise . To the north this valley opens up to the wide saddle of the Col du Marais ( 837 m ). This pass crossing is flanked in the east by the heights of the Montagne de Sulens ( 1839 m ) and in the west by the massif of the Tournette, on the slope of which, at 2200 m, the highest peak of Serraval is reached. In the far south, the parish extends to the incised valley of the Chaise.
In addition to the actual town center, Serraval also includes various hamlet settlements and farms, including:
- Le Villard ( 789 m ) on a terrace in the Chaise valley
- La Sauffaz ( 750 m ) on the western slope of the valley opposite Serraval
- La Combe ( 900 m ) on the slope above Serraval
- Le Mont ( 1080 m ) on the southern slope of the Montagne de Sulens
- La Bottière ( 820 m ) on the ascent to the Col du Marais
- Montaubert ( 920 m ) at the foot of the Tournette
- Le Marais ( 850 m ) on the pass of the same name
- Les Pruniers ( 920 m ) above the Col du Marais
- La Perrière ( 830 m ) north of the Col du Marais
The neighboring municipalities of Serraval are:
- Les Clefs in the north,
- Manigod and Le Bouchet-Mont-Charvin in the east,
- Val-de-Chaise with Marlens in the south,
- Saint-Ferréol in the south,
- Talloires-Montmin to the west.
history
Serraval is first mentioned in a document in the early 15th century. The place name means something like closed, narrowing valley . In 1877, Le Bouchet was separated from Serraval and raised to an independent municipality.
Attractions
The parish church of Saint-Maurice was built in neo -Gothic style from tuff stone in the 19th century . In Villard, La Bottière and Les Pruniers there are chapels from the 19th century.
population
| Population development | |
|---|---|
| year | Residents |
| 1962 | 292 |
| 1968 | 274 |
| 1975 | 278 |
| 1982 | 313 |
| 1990 | 430 |
| 1999 | 489 |
With 700 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2017) Serraval 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 1,433 inhabitants in Serraval). Since the mid-1970s, however, a significant increase in population has been recorded.
Economy and Infrastructure
Until well into the 20th century, Serraval was predominantly a village characterized 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. The mountain village also benefits from modest summer tourism.
The village is located off the major thoroughfares on the D12 departmental road, which leads from Faverges over the Col du Marais to Thônes .
