Le Ménil
Encyclopedia
Le Ménil is a commune
in the Vosges
department in Lorraine
in northeastern France
.
It is sometimes called Le Ménil-Thillot to distinguish it from nearby Ménil-de-Senones
.
Inhabitants are called Guédons.
, some 6 kilometres (4 mi) to the west of the source of the Moselle
at Bussang
. The intervening presence of a 952 meter mountain peak means that for motorists the drive to Bussang covers approximately 15 kilometres (9 mi) however. Across the Ménil Pass to the northeast, and approached by smaller roads, is the less well known Moselotte River. The pass connects the seat of the canton, Le Thillot
, with Cornimont
and a number of smaller mountain villages.
The surrounding mountain summits offer superb views, and tourism has become a defining pillar of the local economy. Registered tourist accommodation exceeds 1,000 beds. The presence of a covered go-kart track
in a village with a registered population of barely above 1,000 provides further evidence of the importance of tourism.
, but it became a parish in its own right in 1735, and acquired the statute on a commune under the Revolution
.
Communes 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 Vosges
Vosges
Vosges is a French department, named after the local mountain range. It contains the hometown of Joan of Arc, Domrémy.-History:The Vosges department is one of the original 83 departments of France, created on February 9, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was made of territories that had been...
department in Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
in northeastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
It is sometimes called Le Ménil-Thillot to distinguish it from nearby Ménil-de-Senones
Ménil-de-Senones
Ménil-de-Senones is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.The name Ménil-de-Senones dates only from August 1961, before which the commune was called Ménil. The name was officially changed in order to reduce the risk of confusion with another Vosges commune called...
.
Inhabitants are called Guédons.
Geography
The commune is positioned southeast of the départementVosges
Vosges is a French department, named after the local mountain range. It contains the hometown of Joan of Arc, Domrémy.-History:The Vosges department is one of the original 83 departments of France, created on February 9, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was made of territories that had been...
, some 6 kilometres (4 mi) to the west of the source of the Moselle
Moselle River
The Moselle is a river flowing through France, Luxembourg, and Germany. It is a left tributary of the Rhine, joining the Rhine at Koblenz. A small part of Belgium is also drained by the Mosel through the Our....
at Bussang
Bussang
Bussang is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France....
. The intervening presence of a 952 meter mountain peak means that for motorists the drive to Bussang covers approximately 15 kilometres (9 mi) however. Across the Ménil Pass to the northeast, and approached by smaller roads, is the less well known Moselotte River. The pass connects the seat of the canton, Le Thillot
Le Thillot
Le Thillot is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.-External links:*...
, with Cornimont
Cornimont
Cornimont is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.-External links:*...
and a number of smaller mountain villages.
The surrounding mountain summits offer superb views, and tourism has become a defining pillar of the local economy. Registered tourist accommodation exceeds 1,000 beds. The presence of a covered go-kart track
Kart racing
Kart racing or karting is a variant of open-wheel motorsport with small, open, four-wheeled vehicles called karts, go-karts, or gearbox/shifter karts depending on the design. They are usually raced on scaled-down circuits...
in a village with a registered population of barely above 1,000 provides further evidence of the importance of tourism.
History
For a long time Le Ménil was a hamlet controlled by RamonchampRamonchamp
Ramonchamp is a large commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.Inhabitants are called Ramoncenais.-Geography:...
, but it became a parish in its own right in 1735, and acquired the statute on a commune under the Revolution
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
.