Briançon

Briançon (in Of Provence Briançoun ) is a common French located in the department of the Hautes-Alpes and the area Provence-Alp-Coast of Azure.

Its inhabitants is the Briançonnais .

Geography

Briançon is located at the confluence of the valleys of the Durance, the Guisane and the Cerveyrette, on a glacial bolt. With 1.326 meters of altitude, it is the upper town of France and the second in Europe, after Davos in Suisse. The broad valley of the Durance opens to him towards north, by the Col of Montgenèvre, the doors of the Italy and, in the south, towards Gap and the Provence.

By the road, Briançon is served by RN 94 coming from Gap and in direction of the Italy via the Col of Montgenèvre (1 854 m), by RD 1091 (ex-RN 91) coming from Grenoble via the Col of Lautaret (2 058 m). The city is also located on the historical axis of the large collars of the Alps (the collars of the Galibier and of Izoard are very close to the city), road axis which connects Nice to the lake Léman.

By railway, the Gare of Briançon is the terminus of the line coming from Marseilles-Saint-Charles. Projetté as of the end of the XIXe century, and regularly extirpated paperboards, a railway tunnel under the Col of Montgenèvre would make it possible to continue the line towards Italy (Oulx) and thus to put in direct connection Marseilles and Turin. * It should be noted that currently, and until November 2007, of work of renewal of the ways cause closings of the line between Briançon and Gap. A service of replacement per coach is then set up between the two high-alpine cities.

Briançon is located at 15 km of the border Italy nne, to 33 km of Sestrières, to 45 km of Bardonèche (station TGV), to 46 km of Embrun, to 84 km of Barcelonnette and Saint-Jean-with-Maurienne, to 87 km of Pignerol, to 109 km of Turin and to 115 km of Grenoble.

Briançon is famous for its old city. The fortified town consists of a considerable device imagined by Vauban and carried out in particular by Tardif, director of the fortifications of the Dauphiné, and Negro: in addition to the traditional belt of fortifications which surrounds the downtown area, the engineers installed many forts on the surrounding mountains in order to prevent an invasion coming from the Italy.

It is also a ski station belonging to the field of Serre-Chevalier of which it was at the origin in 1941 on the site of Chantemerle.

Briançon is located on the layouts of the paths of great excursion GR. 5, GR. 5C and GR. 50.

Climate

Briançon is famous to be one of the sunniest cities of France (2 460 hours with mask, higher than 2.500 hours by removing the mountainous masks) with a 300 days sunning per annum (threshold: at least 2 hours of sun per day). The city is also characterized by a very low moisture: average lower than 40% in day.

The local Micro-climat is explained by the specific measure of the city: the North-South orientation of the valley of the the Durance, exceptional in the the French Alps, makes go up the hot air of the Mediterranean to Briançon, while very high assembly lines block the clouds as well coming from the west as those which rise along the valley of the Po.

Communes bordering

in the Canton of Briançon-North :
Valley-of-Meadows;
in the Canton of Briançon-South :
Cervières, Puy-Saint-Andre, Puy-Saint-Pierre and Villar-Saint-Pancrace;
in the Canton of the Monêtier-the-Baths :
Saint-Chaffrey.

History

With the crossroads of five valleys (the Durance, Clarée, Guisane, Cerveyrette, Orceyrette), the site was occupied as of the Bronze Age. Tribes celto-Ligurians, Brigiani, are at the origin of the Roman name Brigantio, Brigantium (Celtic root brig, “high place”).

Antiquity

The existence of Briançon is successively reported by Strabon, Ptolémée, Atticus, Ammien Marcellin and Pline, which, according to Malta-Brown, would allot “the foundation of it to driven out Greeks of the surroundings of the Lac of Like by Boïens and Sénonais, which would have destroyed their city, Brigantium . These Greeks would have taken refuge in the the Alps, fixed themselves between the Genèvre mount and Sisteron and built a city which they named Brigantium , in memory undoubtedly of the city that they had lived in Italy. ” Malta-Brown also reports that “others want that it is Bellovèse or Brennus which founded this city”.

At the time Roman, Briançon belongs to the the Alps Cottiennes, controlled a time by king Cottius, and it is a point of essential passage on the road Turin - Arles (Voie Domitienne).

The Middle Ages

After the cruel invasions of the IV {{E}} at the 9th century, the Roman city Brigantium is folded up under the protection of the strengthened piton which dominates the narrow valley of the Durance. From the Dauphine as of 1024, the village occupies the northern half of its current base and a district, now disappeared, located on the site of Field-of-Mars.
Closed in 1371, important commercial crossroads, it is the chief town of Large the Écarton. Of 1343 to the Revolution, the area is indeed organized in a federation of five Escartons, territories having particular prerogatives, which remained with the fastening of the Dauphiné to the France. After the fastening of the Dauphine to the France in 1349, Briançonnais undergoes the repercussions of the royal ambitions carried towards the Italy.

Rebirth

Its rise is slowed down considerably by the Guerres of Italy and wars of religion. The city is taken by Lesdiguières the August 6th 1590.

Modern times

Because of its situation, Briançon becomes a military city. In 1690, a new enclosure protects the city. This same year, the rallying of the Duché of Savoy reinforces the Ligue of Augsburg. During the summer 1692, the duke Victor-Amédée II of Savoy directs a campaign in southernmost Dauphiné, proving that the mountains do not make stopping. The city was destroyed in a fire started by Savoyards.
It passed to the Savoy in 1697 (Traité of Ryswick) then returned to France in 1713 (Traité of Utrecht). Sebastien de Vauban then goes to the border the Alps to improve the defensive systems, and, in collaboration with the best military engineers and the largest generals, equips Briançon with barracks, thus alleviating fears of the population caused by the destructive passages of the men-at-arms.
Malta-Brown affirms that before the French revolution, one could still read, above one of the doors vestiges of the Roman enclosure , the following inscription: “CORNELLÆ SOLININÆ AUGUSTÆ CONJUGI”. Assertion to be moderated since the letter “J” is of recent creation (16th century) and was formerly returned by the letter “I”…

XIXe and XXe centuries

In 1815, at the time of the Napoleonean wars, the city resisted the attacks of Allied and the second treaty of Paris was signed without the city having capitulé.
For economic reasons, Briançon will hold with its character of garrison town which affirms in 1890, when the 159 {{E}} Régiment of Alpine Infantry is sent there. It becomes the regiment of the city then par excellence. One century later, in 1994, is created within 159e RIA the National center of inurement in mountain. This one has the role of involving the French and foreign in a difficult natural environment, of ensuring the specific instruction in mountain and the support of the training courses in altitude of organizations of Army or interarmées trainings of infantry.

In 1990, the city becomes a ski station thanks to the startup of the telpher carrier of Prorel which connects the city to the ski station of Serre-Chevalier, directing even more clearly the economy around tourism which becomes the main resource of richness for the commune and its principal vector of communication.

Heraldic

Blasonnement of the weapons of the town of Briançon, as brought back by the Large encyclopedic Larousse (1960) : “ Of azure to a door of crenelated city of money surmounted by three turrets of same, sand the whole built and openwork and opened champ. ”

Malta-Brown, in illustrated France (1882), brought back another blasonnement traditionnel : “ Of azure, with two chequered stakes of gold and mouths of three pièces. ”

He affirmed moreover that the weapons of Briançon would have been, “ autrefois ” : “ From three of money, surmounted by a fourth, with the devise : “PETITE CITY, LARGE RENOM”. ” This last blasonnement appears curious, since it misses enamel of the ecu there itself…

Administration

Demography

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Demographic trends

(source INSEE - development graphic by Wikipédia)

to see also Graphic evolution of the population 1793-1999

In addition, at the time of the Census of 1999, the Total population, including the double accounts, was of 11.287 inhabitants. The reduction in population between 1990 and 1999 is explained by the dissolution of the 159 {{E}} RIA replaced by a center of aguérissement with the mountain.

Culture

International festival of Chamber music

Economy

Health resort classified with many health care institutions: hospital of Escartons, sanitary institutions (respiratory affections and allergic, rehabilitations…)
Mainly turned towards tourism thanks to the quality of the inheritance and the site: hotel trade, trade, ski station, cycling, hiking…
Mountain rescue (PGHM): base héliportée operative around Briançon, of the Queyras and the Massif of the Jewel cases.
It is it should be noted that in 1990, the construction and the inauguration of the telpher carrier of the Prorel, connecting Briançon to Serre-Chevalier, involved in debt the commune considerably and durably.

The city has an antenna of the Chamber of commerce and industry of Hautes-Alpes. It manages Research the Bioclimatic Center European Medical of and University education (CEMBREU) of Briançon as well as the Regional center and European of Tourism (CRET).

Celebrities

Oronce Fine (° in 1494 - † in 1555): astronomer then cartographer it will invent a new cartographic projection of the world.
Jean-Antoine Morand de Jouffrey (° in 1727 - † the January 24th 1794 with Lyon): architect, town planner and painter Lyon be born.
Luc Alphand (° the August 6th 1965): winner of the World cup of Alpine skiing (1995, 1996 and 1997). Reconverted, inter alia, with the mechanical sports, it also gained the Rallye Dakar in 2006.

Sports

Equip with hockey of the Red Diables of Briançon evolving/moving in Ligue Magnus.

Principal sports equipment: telpher carrier of Prorel, skating rink, swimming pool and ludo-watery center, center of oxygenation, via ferrata, tennis, football fields and of Rugby, gymnasium and wall of climbing…

Regularly stage city of many cycle races (Tour de France, Giro, Critérium of Dauphine). In addition, during a few days in summer, the collars of the Galibier and of Izoard are reserved to the only cyclists.

All these regards, in 2007, Briançon was elected by the weekly magazine Team- theMagazine: town of less than 20.000 inhabitants " most sporting of France" .

Inheritance

Briançon is classified Ville of Art and History. The list which follows reflects only one small portion of the buildings indexed by the historic buildings, which they are or not protected. Member of the Network of the major sites of Vauban.

Religious heritage

Parish church Our-Lady-and-Saint-Nicolas (old collegial Notre-Dame), built 1705 with 1718. Classified under the historic buildings by decree of the October 14th 1931.
Bell-tower of the old vault of Penitent blacks, dating from the 2 half of the 16th century. Registered voter on the additional Inventory of the historic buildings by decree of the July 30th 1973.
Old church of Cordeliers, dating from the 14th century, property of the commune. Classified under the historic buildings by decree of the September 21st 1982.

Military inheritance

Extremely of Anjou, not dated. Registered voter (with the contiguous grounds) on the additional Inventory of the historic buildings by decree of the October 21st 1986.
Redoute of the Point of the Day, not dated. Registered (with the contiguous grounds) on the additional Inventory of the historic buildings by decree of the October 21st 1986.
Bridge of Asfeld, built 1729 with 1731. Classified under the historic buildings by decree of the December 5th 1988.
Extremely of Randouillet, 1st quarter of the 18th century. Frontages, roofs, remainders of the buildings and grounds contiguous classified or registered under the historic buildings by decree of the January 26th 1989.
Extremely of Salettes, 1st quarter of the 18th century. Frontages, roofs, remainders of the buildings and grounds contiguous classified or registered under the historic buildings by decree of the February 14th 1989.

Communication Y, 1st quarter of the 18th century. Frontages, roofs, remainders of the buildings and grounds contiguous classified or registered under the historic buildings by decree of the June 8th 1989.
Extremely of the Three-Heads, 1st quarter of the 18th century. Frontages, roofs, remainders of the buildings and grounds contiguous classified or registered under the historic buildings by decree of the June 8th 1989.

Strong Dolphin
Extremely of Cross-of-Brittany
Extremely of Lausette
Extremely of Infernet
Extremely of Gondrans
Extremely of Janus of the Line Maginot
Extremely of the Olive
Extremely of Lenlon

It should be noted that the city is candidate (with twelve other French Vauban sites) with the inscription with the World heritage of UNESCO at the time of the 300e birthday of died of Vauban in 2007. Decision awaited in July 2008.

Industrial inheritance

Many coal mines worked mainly by farmers XIX {{E}} and 20th century
Factory of the Silk waste, old manufacture (1842 - 1933) of combing of Central silk scrap
and electrical installations

Another civil inheritance

Fountain of the Sighs (or François Ier), in the Large Waste-gas main, dating from the 18th century. Registered on the additional Inventory of the historic buildings by a decree of the March 18th 1930.
Frontages and roofs of the “house of the Temple”, built in 1575. Registered on the additional Inventory of the historic buildings by a decree of the February 5th 1982.
Together of sundials on the frontages of public buildings and particular houses
House of the Pope, built in 1635, set fire to in 1692 and rebuilt in 1714 - 1717. Was used successively of hospital, barracks and school for young girls.

Twinnings

External bonds

Briançon-online
Site of the OT/SI
Site of the tourist office of Serre-Chevalier
Association Food in Briançonnais
information on line in Briançon
Geological and Mining Company of Briançonnais
Directory of the Web sites of Briançon and Briançonnais
Site of old of the 159 {{E}} RIA and of the CNAM
Chart of Cassini of Briançon on the site of GenCom
Briançon on the site of GenCom
Briançon on the site of the national geographical Institute
Briançon on the site of INSEE
Briançon on the site of Quid
the communes closest to Briançon
Briançon on Mapquest
Briançon on Viamichelin

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