Raon-sur-Plaine
Encyclopedia
Raon-sur-Plaine is a commune
in the Vosges
department in Lorraine
in northeastern France
.
Inhabitants are called Raonnais.
Valley, 3 kilometres (2 mi) to the west of the highest point of the North Vosges Mountains
, the Donon Peak. The valley is a classic V shaped one, followed by the River Plaine which here follows a relatively indirect course.
Sited at an average altitude of 430 meters, the little village is surrounded by a number of hills, such as the Hazelle and the Charaille, and contains several mountain streams such as the Goudiot streams.
The vegetation is dominated by conifer forests which historically have been a source of wealth.
The climate is 'continental' which means, by the standards of central France, cold winters, but warm summers, supported by relatively high levels of precipitation.
The layout of the village is broadly linear, set along the route of a former main road linking Lorraine with Strasbourg
in Alsace
. The road was 'declassified' after 1972, by when alternative routes to the north and south had been upgraded.
The confined nature of the valley and the mountainous terraine enforce a compact layout for the village itself. The mountain topography also enforces a collaborative approach to agriculture: it is no coincidence that the mayor since 2001 has been a member of the (by Anglo-American criteria) pragmatic French Communist Party
.
founded the Benedictine monastery at
Senones
. The monks rapidly cleared the valley sufficiently to extend the settled land beyond Raon as far as Mount Donon
, also including Lake Maix and the valley of the Bruche. The extent of this settlement approximately defines the territory that centuries later became the Principality of Salm-Salm
after the settlement of 1751.
From the eighth century, the abbey took to inviting chosen "devout" and powerful individuals (les "voués") nominated by the powerful Bishops of Metz, to attend to defending its lands. This the first time one comes across mention of the name Salm in connection with the territory. Towards the end of the eleventh century the territory acquired a more assertive protector in the form of Count Herman II. Arriving at the abbey as its protector, he managed to take over its temporal powers by a sort of coup d'état. However, the next year the marriage of Herman's daughter, Christine of Salm signalled the dividing of the county between Herman's son, Henry and Christine who through her marriage transferred that part of the territory on the other side of the Plaine River to what would become a separate branch of the family. A new village grew up on the opposite bank of the river in the form of Raon-lès-Leau
which now, thanks to events in the second half of the nineteenth century, is not even in the same département as Raon-sur-Plaine.
Through and beyond the later medieval period, the history of the villages in the valley dominated by Celles-sur-Plaine
was effectively the history of Salm-Salm
. After the French revolution
the territory was 'voluntarily' attached to France
after the revolutionary army blocked the valley and the inhabitants ran out of food. Under the revolutionary settlement, Raon-sur-Plaine found itself in the canton of Allarmont
. Under Napoleon I
the administrative map of France was extensively reworked and in 1805 Raon was incorporated into the commune of Schirmeck
, which at this stage was still part of the Vosges
département.
In 1871, following the defeat at Sedan
, the village was scheduled for annexation to Prussia
. However, there followed a desperate renegotiation by the French government which was keen to retain territorial control of the route of a private railway line at Avricourt
. In return Germany received approximately 14 square kilometres of the 18 square kilometres of forest surrounding Raon-sur-Plaine and, across the river, Raon-lès-Leau
. Opinions vary as to which nation state, in the event, benefitted from this last minute reworking of the Treaty of Frankfurt
, but for the villagers of Raon-sur-Plaine, deprived of most of its rich forest, the deal was a poor one. Local discontent was perpetuated after 1919
and 1945 when France found itself on the winning side in two successive
wars
against Germany, but Paris decided not to restore the regional frontiers that had been cut by the outcome of the Franco-Prussian war
. Most of the woodland which before 1871 belonged to Raon-sur-Plaine in Lorraine therefore remains, since that date, controlled from Grandfontaine
in Alsace
.
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...
.
Inhabitants are called Raonnais.
Geography
Raon-sur-Plaine is positioned in the CellesCelles-sur-Plaine
Celles-sur-Plaine is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.-References:*...
Valley, 3 kilometres (2 mi) to the west of the highest point of the North Vosges Mountains
Vosges mountains
For the department of France of the same name, see Vosges.The Vosges are a range of low mountains in eastern France, near its border with Germany. They extend along the west side of the Rhine valley in a northnortheast direction, mainly from Belfort to Saverne...
, the Donon Peak. The valley is a classic V shaped one, followed by the River Plaine which here follows a relatively indirect course.
Sited at an average altitude of 430 meters, the little village is surrounded by a number of hills, such as the Hazelle and the Charaille, and contains several mountain streams such as the Goudiot streams.
The vegetation is dominated by conifer forests which historically have been a source of wealth.
The climate is 'continental' which means, by the standards of central France, cold winters, but warm summers, supported by relatively high levels of precipitation.
The layout of the village is broadly linear, set along the route of a former main road linking Lorraine with Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
in Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
. The road was 'declassified' after 1972, by when alternative routes to the north and south had been upgraded.
The confined nature of the valley and the mountainous terraine enforce a compact layout for the village itself. The mountain topography also enforces a collaborative approach to agriculture: it is no coincidence that the mayor since 2001 has been a member of the (by Anglo-American criteria) pragmatic French Communist Party
French Communist Party
The French Communist Party is a political party in France which advocates the principles of communism.Although its electoral support has declined in recent decades, the PCF retains a large membership, behind only that of the Union for a Popular Movement , and considerable influence in French...
.
History
It is believed that Celts, Gauls and Romans inhabited the valley long before the arrival of Christian monks. Records indicate that around 640 St GondelbertGondelbert
Gondelbert, also in ancient times named in various manner, is a founder of a Merowingian ban around 640 or 650 in the Vosgian Mountains, near Saales, at the locus Grangia Fossa, today La Grande Fosse...
founded the Benedictine monastery at
Senones Abbey
Senones Abbey was a Benedictine abbey located in the valley of the Rabodeau, in the present village of Senones in Lorraine, France.-History:...
Senones
Senones
The Senones were an ancient Gaulish tribe.In about 400 BC they crossed the Alps and, having driven out the Umbrians settled on the east coast of Italy from Forlì to Ancona, in the so-called ager Gallicus, and founded the town of Sena Gallica , which became their capital. In 391 BC they invaded...
. The monks rapidly cleared the valley sufficiently to extend the settled land beyond Raon as far as Mount Donon
Mont Donon
Mont Donon is the highest peak in the northern Vosges. It is a Category 2 climb in the Tour de France.On Donon, there is a 80 metre tall lattice tower for TV transmission...
, also including Lake Maix and the valley of the Bruche. The extent of this settlement approximately defines the territory that centuries later became the Principality of Salm-Salm
Salm-Salm
The Principality of Salm-Salm was a state of the Holy Roman Empire. It was located in the present-day French départements of the Bas-Rhin and the Vosges and was one of a number of partitions of Salm.-History:...
after the settlement of 1751.
From the eighth century, the abbey took to inviting chosen "devout" and powerful individuals (les "voués") nominated by the powerful Bishops of Metz, to attend to defending its lands. This the first time one comes across mention of the name Salm in connection with the territory. Towards the end of the eleventh century the territory acquired a more assertive protector in the form of Count Herman II. Arriving at the abbey as its protector, he managed to take over its temporal powers by a sort of coup d'état. However, the next year the marriage of Herman's daughter, Christine of Salm signalled the dividing of the county between Herman's son, Henry and Christine who through her marriage transferred that part of the territory on the other side of the Plaine River to what would become a separate branch of the family. A new village grew up on the opposite bank of the river in the form of Raon-lès-Leau
Raon-lès-Leau
Raon-lès-Leau is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
which now, thanks to events in the second half of the nineteenth century, is not even in the same département as Raon-sur-Plaine.
Through and beyond the later medieval period, the history of the villages in the valley dominated by Celles-sur-Plaine
Celles-sur-Plaine
Celles-sur-Plaine is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.-References:*...
was effectively the history of Salm-Salm
Salm-Salm
The Principality of Salm-Salm was a state of the Holy Roman Empire. It was located in the present-day French départements of the Bas-Rhin and the Vosges and was one of a number of partitions of Salm.-History:...
. After the French 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...
the territory was 'voluntarily' attached to 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...
after the revolutionary army blocked the valley and the inhabitants ran out of food. Under the revolutionary settlement, Raon-sur-Plaine found itself in the canton of Allarmont
Allarmont
Allarmont is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France....
. Under Napoleon I
Napoleon I
Napoleon Bonaparte was a French military and political leader during the latter stages of the French Revolution.As Napoleon I, he was Emperor of the French from 1804 to 1815...
the administrative map of France was extensively reworked and in 1805 Raon was incorporated into the commune of Schirmeck
Schirmeck
Schirmeck is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
, which at this stage was still part of 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...
département.
In 1871, following the defeat at Sedan
Battle of Sedan
The Battle of Sedan was fought during the Franco-Prussian War on 1 September 1870. It resulted in the capture of Emperor Napoleon III and large numbers of his troops and for all intents and purposes decided the war in favour of Prussia and its allies, though fighting continued under a new French...
, the village was scheduled for annexation to Prussia
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. However, there followed a desperate renegotiation by the French government which was keen to retain territorial control of the route of a private railway line at Avricourt
Avricourt, Meurthe-et-Moselle
Avricourt is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.- See also :* Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
. In return Germany received approximately 14 square kilometres of the 18 square kilometres of forest surrounding Raon-sur-Plaine and, across the river, Raon-lès-Leau
Raon-lès-Leau
Raon-lès-Leau is a commune in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in north-eastern France.-See also:*Communes of the Meurthe-et-Moselle department...
. Opinions vary as to which nation state, in the event, benefitted from this last minute reworking of the Treaty of Frankfurt
Treaty of Frankfurt (1871)
The Treaty of Frankfurt was a peace treaty signed in Frankfurt on 10 May 1871, at the end of the Franco-Prussian War.- Summary :The treaty did the following:...
, but for the villagers of Raon-sur-Plaine, deprived of most of its rich forest, the deal was a poor one. Local discontent was perpetuated after 1919
Treaty of Versailles
The Treaty of Versailles was one of the peace treaties at the end of World War I. It ended the state of war between Germany and the Allied Powers. It was signed on 28 June 1919, exactly five years after the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand. The other Central Powers on the German side of...
and 1945 when France found itself on the winning side in two successive
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
wars
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
against Germany, but Paris decided not to restore the regional frontiers that had been cut by the outcome of the Franco-Prussian war
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
. Most of the woodland which before 1871 belonged to Raon-sur-Plaine in Lorraine therefore remains, since that date, controlled from Grandfontaine
Grandfontaine, Bas-Rhin
Grandfontaine is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. In the German dialect of the region it is called Grosbrun.-Name:...
in Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
.