Méménil
Encyclopedia
Méménil is a commune
in the Vosges
department in Lorraine
in northeastern France
.
, along one of the routes to Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
. Surrounding communes are Fontenay
to the west, Girecourt-sur-Durbion
to the north and Viménil
to the east. The forested hillside to the south of the village is part of the commune of Méménil.
The commune is surrounded by forests and is crossed by two little streams, the Rouot and the Grande Roye: these cross the north of the commune through an unusually complex array of little channels before both feed into the little River Durbion, which itself runs through the commune to the east of the village itself.
under the bailiwick
of Bruyere
. In 1656 there is a reference to the village as Memeny.
The Church, consecrated to the The Assumption of Our Lady
, was controlled by the parish of nearby Aydoilles
.
It is recorded that in 1892 the 60 families of the village owned between them 140 head of cattle
.
On 27 September 1944, towards the end of the Second World War, 70 buildings suffered in a German
bombing attack. Victims included the church windows.
at the end of each November.
The Church of the Assumption of Our Lady retains its dominating position in the heart of the village: villagers are particularly proud of three substantial church bells: Agathe (321 kg), Anne (440 kg) and Marie herself (647 kn).
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...
.
Geography
Méménil is positioned some ten kilometres (six miles) to the east-north-east of ÉpinalÉpinal
Épinal is a commune in northeastern France and the capital of the Vosges department. Inhabitants are known as Spinaliens.-Geography:The commune has a land area of 59.24 km²...
, along one of the routes to Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges
Saint-Dié-des-Vosges, commonly referred to as Saint-Dié, is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:...
. Surrounding communes are Fontenay
Fontenay, Vosges
Fontenay is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.- References :*...
to the west, Girecourt-sur-Durbion
Girecourt-sur-Durbion
Girecourt-sur-Durbion is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.-References:*...
to the north and Viménil
Viménil
Viménil is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.-External links:*...
to the east. The forested hillside to the south of the village is part of the commune of Méménil.
The commune is surrounded by forests and is crossed by two little streams, the Rouot and the Grande Roye: these cross the north of the commune through an unusually complex array of little channels before both feed into the little River Durbion, which itself runs through the commune to the east of the village itself.
History
The name Memesnil dates back at least to 1594 when Méménil was part of the territory belonging to DompierreDompierre, Vosges
Dompierre is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.- External links :*...
under the bailiwick
Bailiwick
A bailiwick is usually the area of jurisdiction of a bailiff, and may also apply to a territory in which the sheriff's functions were exercised by a privately appointed bailiff under a royal or imperial writ. The word is now more generally used in a metaphorical sense, to indicate a sphere of...
of Bruyere
Bruyère
Bruyère is a French name The family name Bruyère may refer to:* Bernard Bruyère , French Egyptologist...
. In 1656 there is a reference to the village as Memeny.
The Church, consecrated to the The Assumption of Our Lady
Assumption of Mary
According to the belief of Christians of the Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodoxy, Oriental Orthodoxy, and parts of the Anglican Communion and Continuing Anglicanism, the Assumption of Mary was the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her life...
, was controlled by the parish of nearby Aydoilles
Aydoilles
Aydoilles is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France....
.
It is recorded that in 1892 the 60 families of the village owned between them 140 head of cattle
Cattle
Cattle are the most common type of large domesticated ungulates. They are a prominent modern member of the subfamily Bovinae, are the most widespread species of the genus Bos, and are most commonly classified collectively as Bos primigenius...
.
On 27 September 1944, towards the end of the Second World War, 70 buildings suffered in a German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
bombing attack. Victims included the church windows.
Features
The village is the setting for a Christmas marketChristmas Market
A Christmas market, also known as Christkindlmarkt, Christkindlesmarkt, Christkindlmarket, and Weihnachtsmarkt, is a street market associated with the celebration of Christmas during the four weeks of Advent...
at the end of each November.
The Church of the Assumption of Our Lady retains its dominating position in the heart of the village: villagers are particularly proud of three substantial church bells: Agathe (321 kg), Anne (440 kg) and Marie herself (647 kn).