Autrans(French pronunciation:[otʁɑ̃]) is a formercommunein theIsèredepartmentin theRhône-Alpesregion of south-easternFrance.On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune ofAutrans-Méaudre-en-Vercors.[2]
Autrans | |
|---|---|
Part ofAutrans-Méaudre-en-Vercors | |
 | |
 Coat of arms | |
Location of Autrans  | |
  Autrans  Autrans | |
| Coordinates:45°10′34″N5°32′31″E/ 45.176°N 5.542°E | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes |
| Department | Isère |
| Arrondissement | Grenoble |
| Canton | Fontaine-Vercors |
| Commune | Autrans-Méaudre-en-Vercors |
Area 1 | 44 km2(17 sq mi) |
| Population (2019)[1] | 1,564 |
| • Density | 36/km2(92/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00(CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00(CEST) |
| Postal code | 38880 |
| Elevation | 1,005–1,711 m (3,297–5,614 ft) |
| 1French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2(0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
At the1968 Winter OlympicsinGrenoble,it hosted thebiathlon,cross-country skiing,Nordic combined,and theski jumpingnormal hill events.[3]
The commune has been awardedone flowerby theNational Council of Towns and Villages in Bloomin theCompetition of cities and villages in Bloom.[4]
Geography
editAutrans is located on theVercors Plateauin theVercors Regional Natural Parksome 10 km west ofGrenobleand 11 km east ofVinay.Access to the commune is solely by the D106C which branches north from the D106 and passes in a loop through the village then back south toMéaudre.A local road goes north from the village along to the valley to the ski fields in the north of the commune. There is farmland in the valley but the slopes of the surrounding mountains are rugged and heavily forested.[5]
TheMeaudretrises in the north of the commune and flows south down the valley through the village and continues south to join theBourneat Les Jarrands.
Bus line 5120 connectsLans-en-VercorsandVillard-de-Lansstops in Autrans village andMéaudre(the square).[6]There is a shuttle bus in winter from the village to the ski fields.
Climate
edit| Climate data for Autrans (1981–2010 averages, 1956–2022 extremes): elevation 1069m | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Month | Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | Year |
| Record high °C (°F) | 17.1 (62.8) |
19.0 (66.2) |
21.0 (69.8) |
24.9 (76.8) |
29.9 (85.8) |
31.3 (88.3) |
34.2 (93.6) |
34.0 (93.2) |
30.6 (87.1) |
25.2 (77.4) |
22.5 (72.5) |
17.0 (62.6) |
34.2 (93.6) |
| Mean daily maximum °C (°F) | 2.8 (37.0) |
3.8 (38.8) |
6.7 (44.1) |
9.7 (49.5) |
14.7 (58.5) |
18.4 (65.1) |
21.7 (71.1) |
21.5 (70.7) |
17.5 (63.5) |
13.8 (56.8) |
7.2 (45.0) |
3.5 (38.3) |
11.8 (53.2) |
| Daily mean °C (°F) | −1.5 (29.3) |
−0.9 (30.4) |
1.9 (35.4) |
4.9 (40.8) |
9.5 (49.1) |
12.9 (55.2) |
15.7 (60.3) |
15.4 (59.7) |
12.0 (53.6) |
8.6 (47.5) |
2.9 (37.2) |
−0.4 (31.3) |
6.8 (44.2) |
| Mean daily minimum °C (°F) | −5.8 (21.6) |
−5.7 (21.7) |
−2.9 (26.8) |
0.0 (32.0) |
4.3 (39.7) |
7.4 (45.3) |
9.7 (49.5) |
9.4 (48.9) |
6.4 (43.5) |
3.5 (38.3) |
−1.4 (29.5) |
−4.4 (24.1) |
1.7 (35.1) |
| Record low °C (°F) | −25.5 (−13.9) |
−26.0 (−14.8) |
−24.0 (−11.2) |
−15.0 (5.0) |
−8.0 (17.6) |
−4.0 (24.8) |
−0.3 (31.5) |
−4.2 (24.4) |
−5.0 (23.0) |
−12.0 (10.4) |
−18.0 (−0.4) |
−22.0 (−7.6) |
−26.0 (−14.8) |
| Averageprecipitationmm (inches) | 119.0 (4.69) |
100.4 (3.95) |
110.4 (4.35) |
125.6 (4.94) |
142.9 (5.63) |
116.1 (4.57) |
112.3 (4.42) |
116.4 (4.58) |
137.4 (5.41) |
130.8 (5.15) |
130.7 (5.15) |
120.6 (4.75) |
1,462.6 (57.59) |
| Source: Meteociel[7] | |||||||||||||
Hiking trails
editThere are two main hiking trails crossing the commune: municipality is crossed by
- theGR 9;
- theGR footpath:Tour of the Four Mountains.
Places and hamlets
edit- L'Achard
- Les Ronins
- Les Prud'hommes
- Villeneuve
- Eybertière
- Le Bourg du-dessus
- Les Eperouses
- Le Bourg du dessous
- Le Bouchet
- Le Truc
- Andrevière
- Les Gonnets
- Les Tranchants
- Les Vernes
- Les Gaillards
- Le Mollaret
- Le Tonkin
- Les Franques
- Payenat
- Écharlière
Neighbouring communes and villages
editToponymy
editThe nameAutransis derived from the name of a village calledLans(the oldest village on the plateau) and originated fromoultre-Lansmeaning "beyond the village of Lans" which, over the course of time, was transformed into Autrans.
History
edit
- The 1968 Olympics in Grenoble (which were the first to be aired on TV) included cross-country skiing, biathlon, ski-jumping (90m ski-jump) and combined Nordic skiing (jumping and cross-country). For many French people the TV images of Nordic skiing at Autrans were a revelation. This would mark the beginning of the development of skiing in France and throughout Europe;
- The Grenoble Olympic Winter Games 1968 ski-jumps were part of a long local tradition of ski jumping (first ski competition in 1911). Today jumps of 90 m, 56 m, and 20 m are equipped to be used in winter and in summer for many national and international competitions. There is a viewing platform at the top of the 90 m ramp.
Heraldry
edit |
Blazon: Party per bend sinister, at 1 barry of 10 Azure and Argent debruised by a lion of Gules armed, langued, and crowned in of Or; at 2 Azure a crystal of snow Argent.
|
Administration
edit
List of Successive Mayors[9]
| From | To | Name | Party | Position |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1977 | 1983 | Gilbert Michel | ||
| 1983 | 2008 | Jean Faure | UMP | Senator (1983-2011) |
| 2008 | 2014 | Gabriel Tatin | DVG | 1st VP of Parc |
| 2014 | 2016 | Thierry Gamot | UMP |
Public services
edit
The commune has the following services:
- ATourist office;
- A Fire Station;
- An Isere General Council road maintenance depot
Twinning
editAutrans hastwinningassociations with:[10]
Lillehammer(Norway) since 1994.
Demography
editThe inhabitants of the commune are known asAutranaisorAutranaisesin French.[11]
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| Source: EHESS[12]and INSEE[13] | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Economy
editWinter Sports
edit
- Alpine ski area: a large field ofSure,a small field ofClaret,night skiing, beginner park.
- Nordic ski area, cross country skiing, snowshoeing - the French capital of Nordic skiing.
- The economy is mainly based on tourism.
Tourism in the early 21st century focused primarily on the healthy climate and the station hosted many children who had health problems - especially respiratory.
Agriculture
editIn the early 1900s there were nearly 130 farms. Today there are 17 farms including 13 dairy farms in Autrans. Milk production is transformed into theBleu du Vercors-SassenageAOC in Col Vert, Brique, Saint Marcellin. Autrans also has cattle farms for meat and farm produce and a pigeon farm to serve the best restaurants. Every year on the 1st weekend in May the operation "Take the key to the fields" can visit the farms on theVercors Plateauand discover their products.
There are also Forestry activities.
Culture and Heritage
edit
Architectural Heritage
edit- ARomanesquechurchis located on a hill in the centre of the village. Only the bell tower is from theMiddle Ages(12th to 13th centuries), its stone spire dates back to the 17th and 18th centuries, the choir and the nave of the building are from 1875.
Archaeological Heritage
editAutrans has three sites: aMotte-and-bailey castleand two fortified houses at Malatan and La Tour hamlets. Of these three sites nothing remains except mounds and that can be seen today in the landscape.[14]
- TheMotte du Chateauis located approximately 1 km to the east of Autrans Church on aMoraine.A wattle and daub building existed on the mound in the 11th century.
- Malatanis located approximately 300 m south-east of the Motte du Chateau and is an old fortified house probably dating from the 14th century.
- TheToweris located approximately 200 m to the north of the hamlet of Andrevières and excavations have identified the remains of a round tower probably dating from the 12th century.
Underground heritage
edit- TheTure Caveis located near the hamlet of Naves. It is used today for an introduction to caving or the simple discovery of an underground world because it has fairly easy access.[15]
Local life
editSports
editTheGève Domainis located 1,300 m above sea level and has an international reputation. Located to the north of the Massif du Vercors, the snow conditions are exceptional. This area is accessible by car and there are free shuttles to all valid ski pass holders for the Autrans ski resort.[16]
Sporting events
edit- TheFoulée blanche(White Stride) event has been held every year since 1979 in January. It is across-country skiingrace attracting nearly 5,000 participants.[17]
Cultural Events
edit
- TheAutrans Internet Meetingis an annual event dedicated to the understanding of the future of the Internet. The event started in 1997 and is held every year in January.
Education
editThe town has a public kindergarten and a public primary school.[18]
Notable people linked to the commune
edit- Léonce-Émile Durand-Savoyat,former mayor of Autrans, MP and Senator for Isère.
- Many natives of Autrans have been members of different French national ski teams and have won many national titles.
See also
editReferences
edit- ^Téléchargement du fichier d'ensemble des populations légales en 2019,INSEE
- ^Arrêté préfectoral20 November 2015
- ^1968 Winter Olympics official report.pp. 85-95.(in English and French)
- ^Autrans in the Competition for Towns and Villages in BloomArchivedDecember 10, 2014, at theWayback Machine(in French)
- ^Google Maps
- ^Timetable for route 5120Archived2015-02-18 at theWayback Machine,on the Trans-Isere website(in French)
- ^"Normales et records pour Autrans (38)".Meteociel.Retrieved8 September2023.
- ^Géoportail,IGN(in French)
- ^List of Mayors of France(in French)
- ^National Commission for Decentralised cooperation(in French)
- ^Le nom des habitants du 38 - Isère,habitants.fr
- ^Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui:Commune data sheet Autrans,EHESS(in French).
- ^Populations légales 2012,INSEE
- ^Isère heritage website for Autrans(in French)
- ^PNV website on the Ture CaveArchived2014-07-14 at theWayback Machine(in French)
- ^OT of Autrans skiing websiteArchivedJune 13, 2014, at theWayback Machine
- ^TheFoulée blanchewebsiteArchivedJuly 14, 2014, at theWayback Machine(in French)
- ^Official Academy of Grenoble websiteArchived2010-05-10 at theWayback Machine(in French).
External links
edit
- Autrans official website(in French)
- Festitrail of Autrans(in French)
- Autranon the 1750 Cassini Map