Albanais
Encyclopedia
The Albanais is a small Savoy
ard region situated between Lake Annecy
and Lac du Bourget
, at the entrance to the Parc naturel régional du Massif des Bauges. Located in the French departments of Savoie
and Haute-Savoie
, its principal city is Rumilly
. The name Albanais comes from the Latin
Albinnum, which is derived from the names of the tribes Albii (or Albani) whose presence is attested to in the toponymy of places such as Albens
, Alby, and Albigny.
. Its terrain
is a rolling peneplain
, broadside at a pad of calcareous
mountains to the east (the Semnoz
, Mont Bange, Mont Revard
) and to the west (Princes Mountains, Gros Foug, Clergeon, Cessens and La Biolle Mountains), which are attached respectively to the prealps and the Jura Mountains
.
The region is bordered to the south by Lac du Bourget and extends to the north in the former Savoy province of Genevois
. The median altitude
varies from 300 to 600 m (984.3 to 1,968.5 ft) within the plain. Its easterly border at its most abrupt reaches more than 1700 metres (5,577.4 ft) at Semnoz, the final peak of the Bauges Mountains
. The western border rises gently to slightly less than 1000 metres (3,280.8 ft), which overhangs the Chautagne valley almost at 700 metres (2,296.6 ft) (the left bank of the Rhone
, north of Lac du Bourget). In clear weather, the Chartreuse Mountains
above Chambéry
are visible to the south; the Mandallaz
and Salève
are visible to the north, beyond which Gex
and Geneva
are visible. Various slopes of lesser elevation, the Bornes Massif
(La Tournette
, Dents de Lanfon
, Parmelan), the Aravis Range
, Faucigny
, and the Voirons up to Mont Blanc
outside of Rumilly (located behind Bornes) are visible to the northeast.
The principal rivers are the Fier
, which travels through the Bornes whose source is at Lake Annecy, and the Chéran
, sourced from the Bauges
. The Fier leaves the Albanais to the west via a water gap
at Val-de-Fier
, at an opening between the Princes Mountains and Gros Foug, from there she enters the Rhone downstream from Seyssel
. The outlet of Chéran in the Albanais at Allèves
, Semnoz and Mont Bange. The Sierroz, a short intermittent mountain stream, also runs into Lac du Bourget. These turbulent rivers carved out of the Albanais sandstone
narrow gorges 10 to 30 m (32.8 to 98.4 ft) deep.
were discovered in the commune of Gruffy
.
In early Roman
times, a citadel
was built in Rumilly.
Under the reign of Charlemange, the Sapaudia (in actuality Savoy
) was divided into seven districts, one of which was Rumilly and the pagus albanensis, corresponding to an area slightly larger than the current day Albanais.
In January of 867 Lothaire de Lorraine, a king of the Roman Empire
, legally donated land to his wife, the queen Thiedberge, which included the Albanais communes of Ariacum (Héry-sur-Alby
), Belmontem (Balmont), and Virilgum (a Vergloz hamlet). In November of 879, the land donation of king Boso of Provence
to the abbey
of Tournus
involved the Albanais communes of curtem Caldatis (a hamlet of Chaux
), curtem que Verilico (a hamlet of Vergloz), curtem Tudesio (Thusy
), and villam Ariaco indominicatam (Héry-sur-Alby). These holdings were donated along with serf
s of both sex and the churches which they depended on.
The Albanais from then on joined the history of Savoy: in 1630 as well as from 1690 to 1697, the Savoyard States were invaded by the troops of Louis XIV of France
and in 1792, the lands of Savoy were freed for the first time from the House of Savoy
and was occupied by French Revolutionary forces
up until 1814. After briefly being part of the Kingdom of Sardinia
, a referendum
ratifying the Treaty of Turin
validated the annexation of Savoy to France in 1860, after which Savoy was split into the two departments of Savoie
and Haute-Savoie
.
in the following three cantons
:
One could also include in the Albanais part of the Canton of Seynod
(the communes Chavanod
, Montagny-les-Lanches
, Quintal
, Cran-Gevrier
, Seynod
, the former villages Chaux-Balmont and Vieugy), as well as parts of the Canton of Grésy-sur-Aix
(the communes Grésy-sur-Aix
, Saint-Offenge-Dessus
, Saint-Offenge-Dessous
, Montcel
), respectively included in the urban agglomerations of Annecy and Aix-les-Bains
.
that differently affects all communes. New residents and the younger generations generally work in the urban and peri-urban zones of Rumilly, Aix-les-Bains, Annecy, or further out in Chambéry
and Geneva
.
Regardless, agriculture retains importance, especially the breeding of dairy cows. The making of butter
and tomme from milk was done via communal labor until recently. These factories have largely closed in the last two decades of the twentieth century. Two modern tomme manufacturers were built near Gruffy and Sales, but the milk production of the region largely exceeds their capacity. The Albanais has longtime been a home to two important industrial milk producers: Lait Mont-Blanc in Rumilly, which produced condensed milk
) until it was purchased by Nestlé
annd began producing cereal
s; and the cheesemaker Picon in Saint-Félix, which produced crème de gruyère and was purchased by Bel
in 1968, finally closing in 2001. An important cheese production center still exists in Vallières
.
The Albanais played an important part in the tobacco culture in France for nearly a century. Multiples rare tobacco dryers
remained in production until they were abandoned in 1960, and thus a former tobacco manufacturer in Rumilly whose building was in part sacrificed for a real estate
program. Tobacco crops ceded their place in the countryside to maize
destined for fodder
.
There were previously granaries
, whose mills were still functioning up until the 1950s. Either demolished or transformed into housing; they can still be seen in their location at the bottoms of valleys.
Wheat
was unable to be milled from the small machines run on hydroelectric power. There were also sawmill
s, oil mills, and small power stations (in fact, Alby was one of the first communes in France to have electricity).
Timber
, mostly spruce
and beech, is harvested slightly throughout the region, particularly in the dominial forests of the bordering mountainous regions. Several villages also have sawmills and workshops that are used to construct woodworking joints
.
The cultivation of hazel nuts has essential disappeared, with the exception of on the slopes of Clergeon, as well as vineyard
s. Some vestiges of oil mills
are remembered through the toponymy
of place names. Orchard
s (apple
s, pear
s, cherries
, prune
s, etc.) have largely disappeared with the exception of the basin of Rumilly, where pears are cultivated on a relatively large scale.
Alby-sur-Chéran
for a longtime specialized in shoemaking
. A small museum retraces the history of the former factory on the Place du Trophée.
In Rumilly there is an important industrial zone (Tefal
, Nestlé, and formely Lait Mont-Blanc and Salomon which closed in 2008), as well as in Alby-sur-Chéran (Galderma
). Two new intercommunal economic activity zones (ZAEs, zone d'activités économiques) are under construction, one in the sector of Martenez and another in Surchères. These industrial and commercial zones extend into the communes of Seynod, Chavanod, and Cran-Gevrier, which border Annecy and Grésy-sur-Aix, near Aix-les-Bains.
In the last few years, numerous logistical services
were installed and developed in the region, that have either benefited or suffered from the presence of the autoroute
. However, these service industries generally pay less and require less skilled trades than the industries that have historically operated in Rumilly and the surrounding areas.
La Poste
has recently implanted its new industrial mail sorter
for the departments of Savoie and Haute-Savoie, in the industrial zone of Balvay in Rumilly at an investment cost of €31 million. The sorting center has seven machines each capable of sorting 35,000 letters per hour. As a result, the regional post office
s no longer sort their mail and are able to restructure their larger buildings for other purposes. Part of the main post office in Annecy was transformed into residential housing in 2008-2009.
, built in the 1970s, crosses the Albanais with exits at Albens/Aix-Nord (14), Alby-Rumilly (15), and Annecy-Sud (16). A new exit is under construction at Chaux
, between the existing exits 15 and 16.
The other routes de grande circulation in the region are the D1201 between Aix-les-Bains and Annecy, which was a route nationale (N201) until its declassification in 2008. Other routes départementales include the D910 between Rumilly and Albens, the D16 (also called the route des Creuses) connecting Annecy to Rumilly, the D14, which follows the narrow passage of the Fier to reach the Chautagne, and the D911, which passes through the Chéran valley to enter the Bauges.
The territory is also well served by the Aix-les-Bains-Annecy railway. The Gare de Rumilly is the principal station of the territory and is served by TGV
trains. Two secondary train stations are also in operation, the Gare de Grésy-sur-Aix and Gare d'Albens. Train stations at Lovagny
, Hauteville-sur-Fier
and Bloye
were closed in the 1990s with the abandonment of the bus.
Two motor coach
companies connect Aix-les-Bains and Annecy via Alby-sur-Chéran and Saint-Félix.
The closest airport
s, other than the diminutive Annecy - Haute-Savoie - Mont Blanc Airport
and the Chambéry Airport
, which specializes in low-cost international and business flights, are the international airport
s Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport and Geneva International Airport.
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
ard region situated between Lake Annecy
Lake Annecy
Lake Annecy is a perialpine lake in Haute-Savoie in France .It is the second largest lake in France, after the Lac du Bourget, if the French part of Lake Geneva is excluded. It is known as "Europe's cleanest lake" because of strict environmental regulations introduced in the 1960s...
and Lac du Bourget
Lac du Bourget
The lac du Bourget is a lake in the Savoie department of France. It is the largest and the deepest lake located entirely within France. The most important town on its shore is Aix-les-Bains. Chambéry, the capital of Savoie, lies about 10 km south of the lake. The lake is named after the town Le...
, at the entrance to the Parc naturel régional du Massif des Bauges. Located in the French departments of Savoie
Savoie
Savoie is a French department located in the Rhône-Alpes region in the French Alps.Together with the Haute-Savoie, Savoie is one of the two departments of the historic region of Savoy that was annexed by France on June 14, 1860, following the signature of the Treaty of Turin on March 24, 1860...
and Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie is a French department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It borders both Switzerland and Italy. The capital is Annecy. To the north is Lake Geneva and Switzerland; to the south and southeast are the Mont Blanc and Aravis mountain ranges and the French entrance to the Mont...
, its principal city is Rumilly
Rumilly, Haute-Savoie
Rumilly is a commune of over 12000 inhabitants in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:The Chéran forms part of the commune's eastern border, crosses the village, flows north-northwestward through the northern part of the commune, then flows into...
. The name Albanais comes from the Latin
Latin
Latin is an Italic language originally spoken in Latium and Ancient Rome. It, along with most European languages, is a descendant of the ancient Proto-Indo-European language. Although it is considered a dead language, a number of scholars and members of the Christian clergy speak it fluently, and...
Albinnum, which is derived from the names of the tribes Albii (or Albani) whose presence is attested to in the toponymy of places such as Albens
Albens
Albens is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France....
, Alby, and Albigny.
Geography
The region extends from 30 kilometres (18.6 mi) north to south and from 10 to 20 km (6.2 to 12.4 mi) east to west, widening above AnnecyAnnecy
Annecy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It lies on the northern tip of Lake Annecy , 35 kilometres south of Geneva.-Administration:...
. Its terrain
Terrain
Terrain, or land relief, is the vertical and horizontal dimension of land surface. When relief is described underwater, the term bathymetry is used...
is a rolling peneplain
Peneplain
A peneplain is a low-relief plain representing the final stage of fluvial erosion during times of extended tectonic stability. The existence of peneplains, and peneplanation as a geomorphological process, is not without controversy, due to a lack of contemporary examples and uncertainty in...
, broadside at a pad of calcareous
Calcareous
Calcareous is an adjective meaning mostly or partly composed of calcium carbonate, in other words, containing lime or being chalky. The term is used in a wide variety of scientific disciplines.-In zoology:...
mountains to the east (the Semnoz
Semnoz
Semnoz is a mountain of Haute-Savoie, France. It lies in the Bauges range. It has an altitude of 1699 metres above sea level....
, Mont Bange, Mont Revard
Mont Revard
The Mont Revard is a mountain in the Bauges Massif near Aix-les-Bains in Savoie, France....
) and to the west (Princes Mountains, Gros Foug, Clergeon, Cessens and La Biolle Mountains), which are attached respectively to the prealps and the Jura Mountains
Jura mountains
The Jura Mountains are a small mountain range located north of the Alps, separating the Rhine and Rhone rivers and forming part of the watershed of each...
.
The region is bordered to the south by Lac du Bourget and extends to the north in the former Savoy province of Genevois
Genevois (province)
The Genevois is a former province of the Duchy of Savoy. Its capital is Annecy and other centres include Faverges, Thônes, and La Clusaz. It was bordered by the provinces of Carouge to the north-west, Faucigny to the north-east, and Savoy proper to the south-east and south-west.Although the...
. The median altitude
Altitude
Altitude or height is defined based on the context in which it is used . As a general definition, altitude is a distance measurement, usually in the vertical or "up" direction, between a reference datum and a point or object. The reference datum also often varies according to the context...
varies from 300 to 600 m (984.3 to 1,968.5 ft) within the plain. Its easterly border at its most abrupt reaches more than 1700 metres (5,577.4 ft) at Semnoz, the final peak of the Bauges Mountains
Bauges
The Bauges Mountains is a mountain range in eastern France, stretching from the city of Annecy to the city of Chambéry, which is part of the French Prealps.- Major peaks :The Bauges have 14 summits above :...
. The western border rises gently to slightly less than 1000 metres (3,280.8 ft), which overhangs the Chautagne valley almost at 700 metres (2,296.6 ft) (the left bank of the Rhone
Rhône
Rhone can refer to:* Rhone, one of the major rivers of Europe, running through Switzerland and France* Rhône Glacier, the source of the Rhone River and one of the primary contributors to Lake Geneva in the far eastern end of the canton of Valais in Switzerland...
, north of Lac du Bourget). In clear weather, the Chartreuse Mountains
Chartreuse Mountains
The Chartreuse Mountains is a mountain range in eastern France, stretching to the north from the city of Grenoble to the Lac du Bourget. It is the southernmost range in the Jura Mountains and belongs to the French Prealps....
above Chambéry
Chambéry
Chambéry is a city in the department of Savoie, located in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It is the capital of the department and has been the historical capital of the Savoy region since the 13th century, when Amadeus V of Savoy made the city his seat of power.-Geography:Chambéry...
are visible to the south; the Mandallaz
Mandallaz mountain
Geographically, the Mandallaz mountain is a small pre-Alpine massif long by 3–4 km wide, between and high , north-west of Annecy in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. The Mandallaz has a mirror break, which provoked an earthquakes in 1996....
and Salève
Salève
Le Salève is a mountain of the French Prealps, rising to 1,400 metres and towering over the city of Geneva in Switzerland. Despite its proximity to Geneva, the Salève is located in France, in the Chablais area of the Haute-Savoie department....
are visible to the north, beyond which Gex
Gex, Ain
Gex is a commune in the Ain department in eastern France.It lies from the Swiss border and from Geneva. It is a sous-préfecture of Ain.-History:...
and Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
are visible. Various slopes of lesser elevation, the Bornes Massif
Bornes Massif
The Bornes Massif is a mountainous massif in the north French Prealps in the département of Haute-Savoie. It has 20 peaks higher than 2000 m and is a popular destination for winter sports...
(La Tournette
La Tournette
The Tournette is a mountain in the Bornes Massif in Haute-Savoie, France....
, Dents de Lanfon
Dents de Lanfon
The Dents de Lanfon are a small chain of mountains in eastern France rising to 1824 m. Situated beneath Talloires on the east bank of Lac d'Annecy in Haute-Savoie, they are framed by mount Veyrier in the north, and by La Tournette in the south.The impressive slopes of the Dents de Lanfon...
, Parmelan), the Aravis Range
Aravis Range
The Aravis is a mountain range in Savoie and Haute-Savoie, eastern France. It is part of the French Prealps, a lower chain of mountain ranges west of the main chain of the Alps. Its highest summit is the Pointe Percée, at 2752m. The orientation of the Aravis is north-south, and it stretches from...
, Faucigny
Faucigny
Faucigny is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.Historically, Faucigny was a region in Savoy which included the area of the modern département of Haute Savoie and the municipalities of Chamonix, Argentière, and Les Houches.-Geography:In the...
, and the Voirons up to Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc
Mont Blanc or Monte Bianco , meaning "White Mountain", is the highest mountain in the Alps, Western Europe and the European Union. It rises above sea level and is ranked 11th in the world in topographic prominence...
outside of Rumilly (located behind Bornes) are visible to the northeast.
The principal rivers are the Fier
Fier (river)
The Fier is a long river in the Haute-Savoie and Savoie départements, southeastern France. Its source is at Manigod, in the Aravis Range. It flows generally west...
, which travels through the Bornes whose source is at Lake Annecy, and the Chéran
Chéran
The Chéran is a long river in the Savoie and Haute-Savoie départements, eastern France. Its source is at Verrens-Arvey, in the massif des Bauges. It flows generally northwest...
, sourced from the Bauges
Bauges
The Bauges Mountains is a mountain range in eastern France, stretching from the city of Annecy to the city of Chambéry, which is part of the French Prealps.- Major peaks :The Bauges have 14 summits above :...
. The Fier leaves the Albanais to the west via a water gap
Water gap
A water gap is an opening or notch which flowing water has carved through a mountain range. Water gaps often offer a practical route for road and rail transport to cross mountain ridges.- Geology :...
at Val-de-Fier
Val-de-Fier
Val-de-Fier is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. Its nearest town is Rumilly.-History:Val-de-Fier was formed in 1973 from two different villages : Sion and Saint-André.-Population:...
, at an opening between the Princes Mountains and Gros Foug, from there she enters the Rhone downstream from Seyssel
Seyssel, Haute-Savoie
Seyssel is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:The Fier forms most of the commune's southern border, then flows into the Rhone, which forms the commune's western border.-References:*...
. The outlet of Chéran in the Albanais at Allèves
Allèves
Allèves is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:The village is located above the right bank of the Chéran, which forms the commune's southern border.-References:*...
, Semnoz and Mont Bange. The Sierroz, a short intermittent mountain stream, also runs into Lac du Bourget. These turbulent rivers carved out of the Albanais sandstone
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock composed mainly of sand-sized minerals or rock grains.Most sandstone is composed of quartz and/or feldspar because these are the most common minerals in the Earth's crust. Like sand, sandstone may be any colour, but the most common colours are tan, brown, yellow,...
narrow gorges 10 to 30 m (32.8 to 98.4 ft) deep.
History
The remains of human presence dating to the neolithicNeolithic
The Neolithic Age, Era, or Period, or New Stone Age, was a period in the development of human technology, beginning about 9500 BC in some parts of the Middle East, and later in other parts of the world. It is traditionally considered as the last part of the Stone Age...
were discovered in the commune of Gruffy
Gruffy
Gruffy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
.
In early Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
times, a citadel
Citadel
A citadel is a fortress for protecting a town, sometimes incorporating a castle. The term derives from the same Latin root as the word "city", civis, meaning citizen....
was built in Rumilly.
Under the reign of Charlemange, the Sapaudia (in actuality Savoy
Savoy
Savoy is a region of France. It comprises roughly the territory of the Western Alps situated between Lake Geneva in the north and Monaco and the Mediterranean coast in the south....
) was divided into seven districts, one of which was Rumilly and the pagus albanensis, corresponding to an area slightly larger than the current day Albanais.
In January of 867 Lothaire de Lorraine, a king of the Roman Empire
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
, legally donated land to his wife, the queen Thiedberge, which included the Albanais communes of Ariacum (Héry-sur-Alby
Héry-sur-Alby
Héry-sur-Alby is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
), Belmontem (Balmont), and Virilgum (a Vergloz hamlet). In November of 879, the land donation of king Boso of Provence
Boso of Provence
Boso was a Frankish nobleman from the Bosonid-family, who was related to the Carolingian dynasty, who rose to become King of Provence ....
to the abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
of Tournus
Tournus
Tournus is a commune in the Saône-et-Loire department in the region of Bourgogne in eastern France.-Geography:Tournus is located on the right bank of the Saône, 20 km. northeast of Mâcon on the Paris-Lyon railway.-Sights:...
involved the Albanais communes of curtem Caldatis (a hamlet of Chaux
Chaux
Chaux may refer to the following places in France:*Chaux, Côte-d'Or, a commune in the department of Côte-d'Or*Chaux, Territoire de Belfort, commune in the department of Territoire de Belfort*The Forest of Chaux...
), curtem que Verilico (a hamlet of Vergloz), curtem Tudesio (Thusy
Thusy
Thusy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
), and villam Ariaco indominicatam (Héry-sur-Alby). These holdings were donated along with serf
SERF
A spin exchange relaxation-free magnetometer is a type of magnetometer developed at Princeton University in the early 2000s. SERF magnetometers measure magnetic fields by using lasers to detect the interaction between alkali metal atoms in a vapor and the magnetic field.The name for the technique...
s of both sex and the churches which they depended on.
The Albanais from then on joined the history of Savoy: in 1630 as well as from 1690 to 1697, the Savoyard States were invaded by the troops of Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
and in 1792, the lands of Savoy were freed for the first time from the House of Savoy
House of Savoy
The House of Savoy was formed in the early 11th century in the historical Savoy region. Through gradual expansion, it grew from ruling a small county in that region to eventually rule the Kingdom of Italy from 1861 until the end of World War II, king of Croatia and King of Armenia...
and was occupied by French Revolutionary forces
French Revolutionary Army
The French Revolutionary Army is the term used to refer to the military of France during the period between the fall of the ancien regime under Louis XVI in 1792 and the formation of the First French Empire under Napoleon Bonaparte in 1804. These armies were characterised by their revolutionary...
up until 1814. After briefly being part of the Kingdom of Sardinia
Kingdom of Sardinia
The Kingdom of Sardinia consisted of the island of Sardinia first as a part of the Crown of Aragon and subsequently the Spanish Empire , and second as a part of the composite state of the House of Savoy . Its capital was originally Cagliari, in the south of the island, and later Turin, on the...
, a referendum
Referendum
A referendum is a direct vote in which an entire electorate is asked to either accept or reject a particular proposal. This may result in the adoption of a new constitution, a constitutional amendment, a law, the recall of an elected official or simply a specific government policy. It is a form of...
ratifying the Treaty of Turin
Treaty of Turin
The Treaty of Turin concluded on March 24, 1860 is the instrument by which the Duchy of Savoy and the County of Nice were annexed to France.-Background:...
validated the annexation of Savoy to France in 1860, after which Savoy was split into the two departments of Savoie
Savoie
Savoie is a French department located in the Rhône-Alpes region in the French Alps.Together with the Haute-Savoie, Savoie is one of the two departments of the historic region of Savoy that was annexed by France on June 14, 1860, following the signature of the Treaty of Turin on March 24, 1860...
and Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie
Haute-Savoie is a French department in the Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France. It borders both Switzerland and Italy. The capital is Annecy. To the north is Lake Geneva and Switzerland; to the south and southeast are the Mont Blanc and Aravis mountain ranges and the French entrance to the Mont...
.
Administration
The Albanais historically covered an area slightly larger than its current day limits. There are currently 37 communesCommunes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the following three cantons
Cantons of France
The cantons of France are territorial subdivisions of the French Republic's 342 arrondissements and 101 departments.Apart from their role as organizational units in certain aspects of the administration of public services and justice, the chief purpose of the cantons today is to serve as...
:
- Canton of RumillyRumilly, Haute-SavoieRumilly is a commune of over 12000 inhabitants in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:The Chéran forms part of the commune's eastern border, crosses the village, flows north-northwestward through the northern part of the commune, then flows into...
(Haute-Savoie) – 22,789 inhabitants (1999), 170.81 square kilometre:- Communes of BloyeBloyeBloye is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, BoussyBoussy, Haute-SavoieBoussy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, Crempigny-BonneguêteCrempigny-BonneguêteCrempigny-Bonneguête is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, ÉtercyÉtercyÉtercy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, Hauteville-sur-FierHauteville-sur-FierHauteville-sur-Fier is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, LornayLornayLornay is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, Marcellaz-AlbanaisMarcellaz-AlbanaisMarcellaz-Albanais is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, Marigny-Saint-MarcelMarigny-Saint-MarcelMarigny-Saint-Marcel is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, MassingyMassingy, Haute-SavoieMassingy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, MoyeMoyeMoye is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, RumillyRumilly, Haute-SavoieRumilly is a commune of over 12000 inhabitants in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:The Chéran forms part of the commune's eastern border, crosses the village, flows north-northwestward through the northern part of the commune, then flows into...
(capital), SalesSales, Haute-SavoieSales is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:The Chéran forms the commune's south-western, then flows into the Fier, which forms the commune's north-western border.-References:*...
, Saint-EusèbeSaint-Eusèbe, Haute-SavoieSaint-Eusèbe is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, ThusyThusyThusy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, Val-de-FierVal-de-FierVal-de-Fier is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. Its nearest town is Rumilly.-History:Val-de-Fier was formed in 1973 from two different villages : Sion and Saint-André.-Population:...
, VallièresVallières, Haute-SavoieVallières is a commune of 1 384 inhabitants in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, VaulxVaulxVaulx may refer to the following communes in France:*Vaulx, Pas-de-Calais*Vaulx, Haute-Savoie*Vaulx-en-Velin, in the Rhône département*Vaulx-Milieu, in the Isère département*Vaulx-Vraucourt, in the Pas-de-Calais département...
, VersonnexVersonnex, Haute-SavoieVersonnex is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
- Communes of Bloye
- Canton of Alby-sur-ChéranAlby-sur-ChéranAlby-sur-Chéran is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:The Chéran flows northwestward through the north-eastern part of the commune and crosses the village.-References:*...
(Haute-Savoie) – 9,957 inhabitants (1999), 96.98 square kilometre:- Communes of Alby-sur-ChéranAlby-sur-ChéranAlby-sur-Chéran is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:The Chéran flows northwestward through the north-eastern part of the commune and crosses the village.-References:*...
(capital), AllèvesAllèvesAllèves is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:The village is located above the right bank of the Chéran, which forms the commune's southern border.-References:*...
, Chainaz-les-FrassesChainaz-les-FrassesChainaz-les-Frasses is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, ChapeiryChapeiryChapeiry is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, CusyCusyCusy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, GruffyGruffyGruffy is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, Héry-sur-AlbyHéry-sur-AlbyHéry-sur-Alby is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, MûresMûresMûres is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, Saint-FélixSaint-Félix, Haute-SavoieSaint-Félix is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, Saint-SylvestreSaint-Sylvestre, Haute-SavoieSaint-Sylvestre, Haute-Savoie is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, Viuz-la-ChiésazViuz-la-ChiésazViuz-la-Chiésaz is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
- Communes of Alby-sur-Chéran
- Canton of AlbensAlbensAlbens is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France....
(Savoie) – 6,512 inhabitants (1999), 69.5 square kilometre:- Communes of AlbensAlbensAlbens is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France....
(capital), La BiolleLa BiolleLa Biolle is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-External links:*...
, CessensCessensCessens is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France....
, ÉpersyÉpersyÉpersy is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, MognardMognardMognard is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France....
, Saint-Germain-la-ChambotteSaint-Germain-la-ChambotteSaint-Germain-la-Chambotte is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, Saint-GirodSaint-GirodSaint-Girod is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, Saint-OursSaint-Ours, SavoieSaint-Ours is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
- Communes of Albens
One could also include in the Albanais part of the Canton of Seynod
Seynod
Seynod is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The inhabitants of Seynod are called Seynodiens.-Administration:The town of Seynod is the seat of a canton which includes twelve communes.-Geography:...
(the communes Chavanod
Chavanod
Chavanod is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-External links:*...
, Montagny-les-Lanches
Montagny-les-Lanches
Montagny-les-Lanches is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, Quintal
Quintal
Quintal may refer to:* Quintal , a unit of mass* Quartal and quintal harmony in music* Quintal, Haute-Savoie, a commune of the Haute-Savoie département in France* Stéphane Quintal, NHL ice hockey player...
, Cran-Gevrier
Cran-Gevrier
Cran-Gevrier is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:Cran-Gevrier is in the east of Annecy. Part of the city is on a hill . The hamlet of Cran was on the level of the Thiou river...
, Seynod
Seynod
Seynod is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.The inhabitants of Seynod are called Seynodiens.-Administration:The town of Seynod is the seat of a canton which includes twelve communes.-Geography:...
, the former villages Chaux-Balmont and Vieugy), as well as parts of the Canton of Grésy-sur-Aix
Grésy-sur-Aix
Grésy-sur-Aix is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It is 4 kilometres away from Aix-les-Bains.-External links:*...
(the communes Grésy-sur-Aix
Grésy-sur-Aix
Grésy-sur-Aix is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France. It is 4 kilometres away from Aix-les-Bains.-External links:*...
, Saint-Offenge-Dessus
Saint-Offenge-Dessus
Saint-Offenge-Dessus is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, Saint-Offenge-Dessous
Saint-Offenge-Dessous
Saint-Offenge-Dessous is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-External links:*...
, Montcel
Montcel
Montcel is the name of the following communes in France:* Montcel, Puy-de-Dôme, in the Puy-de-Dôme department* Montcel, Savoie, in the Savoie department...
), respectively included in the urban agglomerations of Annecy and Aix-les-Bains
Aix-les-Bains
Aix-les-Bains is a commune in the Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.It is situated on the shore of Lac du Bourget, by rail north of Chambéry.-Geography:...
.
Economy
The Albanais is majorly rural but the agricultural economy benefits from a diffuse urbanizationUrbanization
Urbanization, urbanisation or urban drift is the physical growth of urban areas as a result of global change. The United Nations projected that half of the world's population would live in urban areas at the end of 2008....
that differently affects all communes. New residents and the younger generations generally work in the urban and peri-urban zones of Rumilly, Aix-les-Bains, Annecy, or further out in Chambéry
Chambéry
Chambéry is a city in the department of Savoie, located in the Rhône-Alpes region in southeastern France.It is the capital of the department and has been the historical capital of the Savoy region since the 13th century, when Amadeus V of Savoy made the city his seat of power.-Geography:Chambéry...
and Geneva
Geneva
Geneva In the national languages of Switzerland the city is known as Genf , Ginevra and Genevra is the second-most-populous city in Switzerland and is the most populous city of Romandie, the French-speaking part of Switzerland...
.
Regardless, agriculture retains importance, especially the breeding of dairy cows. The making of butter
Butter
Butter is a dairy product made by churning fresh or fermented cream or milk. It is generally used as a spread and a condiment, as well as in cooking applications, such as baking, sauce making, and pan frying...
and tomme from milk was done via communal labor until recently. These factories have largely closed in the last two decades of the twentieth century. Two modern tomme manufacturers were built near Gruffy and Sales, but the milk production of the region largely exceeds their capacity. The Albanais has longtime been a home to two important industrial milk producers: Lait Mont-Blanc in Rumilly, which produced condensed milk
Condensed milk
Condensed milk, also known as sweetened condensed milk, is cow's milk from which water has been removed and to which sugar has been added, yielding a very thick, sweet product which when canned can last for years without refrigeration if unopened. The two terms, condensed milk and sweetened...
) until it was purchased by Nestlé
Nestlé
Nestlé S.A. is the world's largest food and nutrition company. Founded and headquartered in Vevey, Switzerland, Nestlé originated in a 1905 merger of the Anglo-Swiss Milk Company, established in 1867 by brothers George Page and Charles Page, and Farine Lactée Henri Nestlé, founded in 1866 by Henri...
annd began producing cereal
Cereal
Cereals are grasses cultivated for the edible components of their grain , composed of the endosperm, germ, and bran...
s; and the cheesemaker Picon in Saint-Félix, which produced crème de gruyère and was purchased by Bel
Bel
Bel can mean:* bel , a unit of ratio used in acoustics, electronics, etc. A derived unit of 1 decibel = 0.1 B is often used.* Bel , a Semitic deity * Belenus aka Bel; a Celtic deity...
in 1968, finally closing in 2001. An important cheese production center still exists in Vallières
Vallières
Vallières may refer to the following places:*Vallières, Aube, a commune in the Aube department, France*Vallières, Haute-Savoie, a commune in the Haute-Savoie department, France*Vallières, Nord-Est, a commune in the Nord-Est department, Haiti...
.
The Albanais played an important part in the tobacco culture in France for nearly a century. Multiples rare tobacco dryers
Curing of tobacco
After tobacco has been harvested, it is necessary to cure it before consumption.- History :Uncured tobacco was often eaten, used in enemas, or drunk as extracted juice. Tobacco contains naturally occurring nicotine which is highly lethal. One drop of pure nicotine can be fatal if consumed.Curing...
remained in production until they were abandoned in 1960, and thus a former tobacco manufacturer in Rumilly whose building was in part sacrificed for a real estate
Real estate
In general use, esp. North American, 'real estate' is taken to mean "Property consisting of land and the buildings on it, along with its natural resources such as crops, minerals, or water; immovable property of this nature; an interest vested in this; an item of real property; buildings or...
program. Tobacco crops ceded their place in the countryside to maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
destined for fodder
Fodder
Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin...
.
There were previously granaries
Granary
A granary is a storehouse for threshed grain or animal feed. In ancient or primitive granaries, pottery is the most common use of storage in these buildings. Granaries are often built above the ground to keep the stored food away from mice and other animals.-Early origins:From ancient times grain...
, whose mills were still functioning up until the 1950s. Either demolished or transformed into housing; they can still be seen in their location at the bottoms of valleys.
Wheat
Wheat
Wheat is a cereal grain, originally from the Levant region of the Near East, but now cultivated worldwide. In 2007 world production of wheat was 607 million tons, making it the third most-produced cereal after maize and rice...
was unable to be milled from the small machines run on hydroelectric power. There were also sawmill
Sawmill
A sawmill is a facility where logs are cut into boards.-Sawmill process:A sawmill's basic operation is much like those of hundreds of years ago; a log enters on one end and dimensional lumber exits on the other end....
s, oil mills, and small power stations (in fact, Alby was one of the first communes in France to have electricity).
Timber
Timber
Timber may refer to:* Timber, a term common in the United Kingdom and Australia for wood materials * Timber, Oregon, an unincorporated community in the U.S...
, mostly spruce
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
and beech, is harvested slightly throughout the region, particularly in the dominial forests of the bordering mountainous regions. Several villages also have sawmills and workshops that are used to construct woodworking joints
Woodworking joints
Joinery is a part of woodworking that involves joining together pieces of wood, to create furniture, structures, toys, and other items. Some wood joints employ fasteners, bindings, or adhesives, while others use only wood elements. The characteristics of wooden joints - strength, flexibility,...
.
The cultivation of hazel nuts has essential disappeared, with the exception of on the slopes of Clergeon, as well as vineyard
Vineyard
A vineyard is a plantation of grape-bearing vines, grown mainly for winemaking, but also raisins, table grapes and non-alcoholic grape juice...
s. Some vestiges of oil mills
Olive oil extraction
Olive oil extraction is the process of extracting the oil present in the olive drupes for food use. The oil is produced in the mesocarp cells, and stored in a particular type of vacuole called a lipo vacuole, i.e., every cell contains a tiny olive oil droplet...
are remembered through the toponymy
Toponymy
Toponymy is the scientific study of place names , their origins, meanings, use and typology. The word "toponymy" is derived from the Greek words tópos and ónoma . Toponymy is itself a branch of onomastics, the study of names of all kinds...
of place names. Orchard
Orchard
An orchard is an intentional planting of trees or shrubs that is maintained for food production. Orchards comprise fruit or nut-producing trees which are grown for commercial production. Orchards are also sometimes a feature of large gardens, where they serve an aesthetic as well as a productive...
s (apple
Apple
The apple is the pomaceous fruit of the apple tree, species Malus domestica in the rose family . It is one of the most widely cultivated tree fruits, and the most widely known of the many members of genus Malus that are used by humans. Apple grow on small, deciduous trees that blossom in the spring...
s, pear
Pear
The pear is any of several tree species of genus Pyrus and also the name of the pomaceous fruit of these trees. Several species of pear are valued by humans for their edible fruit, but the fruit of other species is small, hard, and astringent....
s, cherries
Cherry
The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....
, prune
Prune
A prune is any of various plum cultivars, mostly Prunus domestica or European Plum, sold as fresh or dried fruit. The dried fruit is also referred to as a dried plum...
s, etc.) have largely disappeared with the exception of the basin of Rumilly, where pears are cultivated on a relatively large scale.
Alby-sur-Chéran
Alby-sur-Chéran
Alby-sur-Chéran is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-Geography:The Chéran flows northwestward through the north-eastern part of the commune and crosses the village.-References:*...
for a longtime specialized in shoemaking
Shoemaking
Shoemaking is the process of making footwear. Originally, shoes were made one at a time by hand. Traditional handicraft shoemaking has now been largely superseded in volume of shoes produced by industrial mass production of footwear, but not necessarily in quality, attention to detail, or...
. A small museum retraces the history of the former factory on the Place du Trophée.
In Rumilly there is an important industrial zone (Tefal
Tefal
Tefal is a French cookware and small appliance manufacturer owned by Groupe SEB. Its name is a portmanteau of the words TEFlon and ALuminium.Tefal is known for creating the non-stick cookware category....
, Nestlé, and formely Lait Mont-Blanc and Salomon which closed in 2008), as well as in Alby-sur-Chéran (Galderma
Galderma
Galderma is a global leading pharmaceutical company specializing in the research, development and marketing of innovative medical solutions in dermatology...
). Two new intercommunal economic activity zones (ZAEs, zone d'activités économiques) are under construction, one in the sector of Martenez and another in Surchères. These industrial and commercial zones extend into the communes of Seynod, Chavanod, and Cran-Gevrier, which border Annecy and Grésy-sur-Aix, near Aix-les-Bains.
In the last few years, numerous logistical services
Logistics
Logistics is the management of the flow of goods between the point of origin and the point of destination in order to meet the requirements of customers or corporations. Logistics involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, and packaging, and...
were installed and developed in the region, that have either benefited or suffered from the presence of the autoroute
Autoroutes of France
The Autoroute system in France consists largely of toll roads, except around large cities and in parts of the north. It is a network of worth of motorways. Autoroute destinations are shown in blue, while destinations reached through a combination of autoroutes are shown with an added autoroute logo...
. However, these service industries generally pay less and require less skilled trades than the industries that have historically operated in Rumilly and the surrounding areas.
La Poste
La Poste (France)
La Poste is the mail service of France, which also operates postal services in the French Overseas Departments of Réunion, Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana, and the territorial collectivities of Saint Pierre and Miquelon and Mayotte...
has recently implanted its new industrial mail sorter
Mail sorter
First used by postal services to expedite and automate mail processing, mail sorting systems are now also used by corporations and other mailers to presort mail prior to delivery in order to earn discounts on postage. In the United States, for example, presort discounts can reduce the cost of...
for the departments of Savoie and Haute-Savoie, in the industrial zone of Balvay in Rumilly at an investment cost of €31 million. The sorting center has seven machines each capable of sorting 35,000 letters per hour. As a result, the regional post office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
s no longer sort their mail and are able to restructure their larger buildings for other purposes. Part of the main post office in Annecy was transformed into residential housing in 2008-2009.
Transportation
The A41 autorouteA41 autoroute
The A41 autoroute is a motorway in the French Alps. Also known as the L'Alpine. It opened in 1981. The road connects Grenoble and the A40...
, built in the 1970s, crosses the Albanais with exits at Albens/Aix-Nord (14), Alby-Rumilly (15), and Annecy-Sud (16). A new exit is under construction at Chaux
Chaux
Chaux may refer to the following places in France:*Chaux, Côte-d'Or, a commune in the department of Côte-d'Or*Chaux, Territoire de Belfort, commune in the department of Territoire de Belfort*The Forest of Chaux...
, between the existing exits 15 and 16.
The other routes de grande circulation in the region are the D1201 between Aix-les-Bains and Annecy, which was a route nationale (N201) until its declassification in 2008. Other routes départementales include the D910 between Rumilly and Albens, the D16 (also called the route des Creuses) connecting Annecy to Rumilly, the D14, which follows the narrow passage of the Fier to reach the Chautagne, and the D911, which passes through the Chéran valley to enter the Bauges.
The territory is also well served by the Aix-les-Bains-Annecy railway. The Gare de Rumilly is the principal station of the territory and is served by TGV
TGV
The TGV is France's high-speed rail service, currently operated by SNCF Voyages, the long-distance rail branch of SNCF, the French national rail operator....
trains. Two secondary train stations are also in operation, the Gare de Grésy-sur-Aix and Gare d'Albens. Train stations at Lovagny
Lovagny
Lovagny is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, Hauteville-sur-Fier
Hauteville-sur-Fier
Hauteville-sur-Fier is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
and Bloye
Bloye
Bloye is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
were closed in the 1990s with the abandonment of the bus.
Two motor coach
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
companies connect Aix-les-Bains and Annecy via Alby-sur-Chéran and Saint-Félix.
The closest airport
Airport
An airport is a location where aircraft such as fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, and blimps take off and land. Aircraft may be stored or maintained at an airport...
s, other than the diminutive Annecy - Haute-Savoie - Mont Blanc Airport
Annecy - Haute-Savoie - Mont Blanc Airport
Annecy – Haute-Savoie – Mont Blanc Airport or Aéroport Annecy Haute-Savoie Mont Blanc , also known as Aéroport d'Annecy - Meythet, is an airport located 3.5 km northwest of Annecy, between Meythet and Metz-Tessy, all communes of the Haute-Savoie département in the Rhône-Alpes région of...
and the Chambéry Airport
Chambéry Airport
-Charter airlines:-Airport statistics:-External links:* * *...
, which specializes in low-cost international and business flights, are the international airport
International airport
An international airport is any airport that can accommodate flights from other countries and are typically equipped with customs and immigration facilities to handle these flights to and from other countries...
s Lyon-Saint Exupéry Airport and Geneva International Airport.
Castles
- Château de Montrottier (14th century) in LovagnyLovagnyLovagny is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
- Château de Pieuillet in Marcellaz-AlbanaisMarcellaz-AlbanaisMarcellaz-Albanais is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
- Château de Pierrecharve in MûresMûresMûres is a commune in the Haute-Savoie department in the Rhône-Alpes region in south-eastern France.-References:*...
, located atop a rock of molasseMolasseThe term "molasse" refers to the sandstones, shales and conglomerates formed as terrestrial or shallow marine deposits in front of rising mountain chains. The molasse is deposited in a foreland basin, especially on top of flysch, for example that left from the rising Alps, or erosion in the Himalaya...
and dating at least to the 12th century - Château de Songy, former remains of the Seigneurs de Songy in Saint-Sylvestre
Museums
- Musée de l'Albanais à Rumilly – created by the local history society les Amis du Vieux Rumilly et de l'Albanais (Friends of old Rumilly and the Albanais), was closed in August 2008 for reconstruction, will be in reopened in 2010 at a size of 1300 square metre, an increase from its former 400 square metre
- Musée d'histoire naturelle de Gruffy – a natural historyNatural historyNatural history is the scientific research of plants or animals, leaning more towards observational rather than experimental methods of study, and encompasses more research published in magazines than in academic journals. Grouped among the natural sciences, natural history is the systematic study...
museum which integrates an apiaryApiaryAn apiary is a place where beehives of honey bees are kept. Traditionally beekeepers paid land rent in honey for the use of small parcels. Some farmers will provide free apiary sites, because they need pollination, and farmers who need many hives often pay for them to be moved to the crops when...
and an interpretive path - Musée de la cordonnerie à Alby-sur-Chéran – a shoemaking museum which showcases the tools and machines used over the centuries
- A former grain mill in Mûres complete with hydraulic machines and a baker's oven
Religious monuments
- Chapelle Saint-Maurice à Alby-sur-Chéran – chœur roman, stained glassStained glassThe term stained glass can refer to coloured glass as a material or to works produced from it. Throughout its thousand-year history, the term has been applied almost exclusively to the windows of churches and other significant buildings...
es of 1925 represent the saints of Savoy and the heraldryHeraldryHeraldry is the profession, study, or art of creating, granting, and blazoning arms and ruling on questions of rank or protocol, as exercised by an officer of arms. Heraldry comes from Anglo-Norman herald, from the Germanic compound harja-waldaz, "army commander"...
of Alby nobility - Notre-Dame de l'Aumône (Rumilly) – dating to the 13th century, contains vestiges of a former hospiceHospiceHospice is a type of care and a philosophy of care which focuses on the palliation of a terminally ill patient's symptoms.In the United States and Canada:*Gentiva Health Services, national provider of hospice and home health services...
- Église Notre-Dame du Plainpalais at Alby-sur-Chéran – created by the architect Novarina in 1954, the church was inspired by Byzantine architectureByzantine architectureByzantine architecture is the architecture of the Byzantine Empire. The empire gradually emerged as a distinct artistic and cultural entity from what is today referred to as the Roman Empire after AD 330, when the Roman Emperor Constantine moved the capital of the Roman Empire east from Rome to...
and has a cylindrical bell tower 22 metres (72.2 ft) tall, which is pierced by 108 attic windows and resembles certain aspects of castles - Église de Rumilly – a SardiniaSardiniaSardinia is the second-largest island in the Mediterranean Sea . It is an autonomous region of Italy, and the nearest land masses are the French island of Corsica, the Italian Peninsula, Sicily, Tunisia and the Spanish Balearic Islands.The name Sardinia is from the pre-Roman noun *sard[],...
n-style church in the neo-classicNeoclassical architectureNeoclassical architecture was an architectural style produced by the neoclassical movement that began in the mid-18th century, manifested both in its details as a reaction against the Rococo style of naturalistic ornament, and in its architectural formulas as an outgrowth of some classicizing...
style, was built in 1837 and has a bell tower dating to the twelfth century. Trompe-l'œil paintings in the church include those by Laurent Baud, stained glass constructed by the Lyon master Pagnon, as well as an organOrgan (music)The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
by Joseph Merklin - Église du Thusy – dating to the 16th century, the church has a naveNaveIn Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
unique to Sardinian style which was restored in 1825, the bell tower with an entrance dates to 1663
Parks and gardens
- Jardins secrets de Vaulx – Private garden, which from east to west has more than 7000 square metre of plantationPlantationA plantation is a long artificially established forest, farm or estate, where crops are grown for sale, often in distant markets rather than for local on-site consumption...
s, mosaicMosaicMosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
s, and ouvrages en bois; the garden is divided into multiple thematic indoor and outdoor sections
Bridges
- Pont de l'Abîme – a suspension bridgeSuspension bridgeA suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders. Outside Tibet and Bhutan, where the first examples of this type of bridge were built in the 15th century, this type of bridge dates from the early 19th century...
built at the end of the 19th century above a portion enclosed by the Chéran valley, at the outlet (water gap) near Allèves, between the communes of Cusy and Gruffy. - Pont Coppet – a stone bridge spanning the Fièr between the communes of Sales and Vallières. Built at the beginning of the 17th century on the former road between Chambéry and Geneva, it is one of the oldest bridges in the department.
Nature
- Marais des Mièges – covers an area of 21 hectares (51.9 acre) and is classified by the Natura 2000Natura 2000Natura 2000 is an ecological network of protected areas in the territory of the European Union.-Origins:In May 1992, the governments of the European Communities adopted legislation designed to protect the most seriously threatened habitats and species across Europe. This legislation is called the...
and ZNIEFFSite of Community ImportanceA Site of Community Importance is defined in the European Commission Habitats Directive as a site which, in the biogeographical region or regions to which it belongs, contributes significantly to the maintenance or restoration at a favourable conservation status of a natural habitat type or of a... - Étangs de Crosagny – an established avian breeding ground, this pond was important as a center for fish farmingFish farmingFish farming is the principal form of aquaculture, while other methods may fall under mariculture. Fish farming involves raising fish commercially in tanks or enclosures, usually for food. A facility that releases young fish into the wild for recreational fishing or to supplement a species'...
in the 14th century and is managed by the AEMC (the Association des Étangs et du Moulin de Crosagny, founded in 1992), and the intercommunal trade unionTrade unionA trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
of the Étangs de Crosagny. A functioning mill operated on the pond up until 1960, which for a long time provided the raw materials used in chairChairA chair is a stable, raised surface used to sit on, commonly for use by one person. Chairs are most often supported by four legs and have a back; however, a chair can have three legs or could have a different shape depending on the criteria of the chair specifications. A chair without a back or...
s. After the activity disappeared the pond, ceasing to be mowed, was filled in with an encroaching forest. The AEMC helps with the rehabilitation of the pond; volunteers have used boats to clear vegetation out of the pond, constructed an observatoryObservatoryAn observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
, and developed a flora and fauna interpretive program which is attracting an increasing amount of visitors. Since July 2004, the pond has become a tourist destination participating in a European program entitled Life Nature et Territoires en région Rhône Alpes, which subsidizesSubsidyA subsidy is an assistance paid to a business or economic sector. Most subsidies are made by the government to producers or distributors in an industry to prevent the decline of that industry or an increase in the prices of its products or simply to encourage it to hire more labor A subsidy (also...
the cost of labor and maintenance
Cultural and sporting events
- A triathlonTriathlonA triathlon is a multi-sport event involving the completion of three continuous and sequential endurance events. While many variations of the sport exist, triathlon, in its most popular form, involves swimming, cycling, and running in immediate succession over various distances...
is held in Rumilly, the eleventh of which took place in June 2010 with 400 participants - A two-day renaissance fairRenaissance FairA Renaissance fair, Renaissance faire, or Renaissance festival is an outdoor weekend gathering, usually held in the United States, open to the public and typically commercial in nature, which emulates a historic period for the amusement of its guests. Some are permanent theme parks, others are...
takes place annually in Alby-sur-Chéran (eleventh annual took place in August 2010)
Persons from the Albanais
- Father Michel Montmasson (1640–1688) – Catholic clerk and a Lazarist missionary
- Philibert Simond (1755–1794) – vicaire of Rumilly, deputy of Bas-RhinBas-RhinBas-Rhin is a department of France. The name means "Lower Rhine". It is the more populous and densely populated of the two departments of the Alsace region, with 1,079,013 inhabitants in 2006.- History :...
to the National ConventionNational ConventionDuring the French Revolution, the National Convention or Convention, in France, comprised the constitutional and legislative assembly which sat from 20 September 1792 to 26 October 1795 . It held executive power in France during the first years of the French First Republic...
, was guillotined in Paris on - Auguste de Juge (1797–1863) – judge and Savoyard poet
- Félix-Philibert Dupanloup (1802–1849) – born in Saint-Félix in 1802 and made a BishopBishop (Catholic Church)In the Catholic Church, a bishop is an ordained minister who holds the fullness of the sacrament of Holy Orders and is responsible for teaching the Catholic faith and ruling the Church....
at OrléansOrléans-Prehistory and Roman:Cenabum was a Gallic stronghold, one of the principal towns of the Carnutes tribe where the Druids held their annual assembly. It was conquered and destroyed by Julius Caesar in 52 BC, then rebuilt under the Roman Empire...
in 1849, he was an avid preacher and wrote much on education, including Une nature supérieure de prêtre militant, alliant l'intégrité au talent, l'ardeur de la foi à l'éclat de l'esprit, la générosité du cœur à l'éclat de l'imagination - Sébastien Madani – boxingBoxingBoxing, also called pugilism, is a combat sport in which two people fight each other using their fists. Boxing is supervised by a referee over a series of between one to three minute intervals called rounds...
champion with 25 professional fights (23 victories, 1 tie, 1 defeat), the Mediterranean champion of the World Boxing CouncilWorld Boxing CouncilThe World Boxing Council was initially established by 11 countries: the United States, Argentina, United Kingdom, France, Mexico, Philippines, Panama, Chile, Peru, Venezuela and Brazil plus Puerto Rico, met in Mexico City on February 14, 1963, upon invitation of the then President of Mexico, Adolfo...
External links
- Amis du Vieux Rumilly et de l'Albanais
- Mémoire des Pays du Chéran is an organization that deals with the collection of testimonies of the region's inhabitants to assist in the understand of centuries past for future geneerations. Since 1998, more than a thousand video cassettes of testimonies regarding the RésistanceResistance- Physics :* Electrical resistance, a measure of the degree to which an object opposes an electric current through it* Friction, the force that opposes motion** Drag , fluid or gas forces opposing motion and flow...
, the Maquis du Semnoz, the Maquis des GlièresMaquis des GlièresThe Maquis des Glières was a Free French Resistance group, which fought against the 1940-1944 German occupation of France in World War II. The name is also given to the military conflict that opposed Resistance fighters to German, Vichy and Milice forces....
, and the Algerian War have been collected - Association des Étangs et du Moulin de Crosagny (AEMC), created in 1992 to undertake the rehabilitation of the Étangs de Crossagny