Injoux-Génissiat

History

The current administrative name of Injoux-Génissiat recovers three communities which the geography and the history almost always dissociated:

- Craz, ancient parish related to the abbey of Saint-Claude, access road to Valromey

- Injoux in the mobility of the priory of Nantua, open on the plain of Michaille;

- Génissiat, whose soil was emphasized by the abbey of Chézery and whose fortress locked the Rhone.

The commune of Injoux originally of 1760 ha of then the absorption of Génissiat 1827 was separated from that of billat in north by the brook of Ringes reached the Rhone in the east of Génissiat was limited by Surjoux and Craz to the south and reached Hotonne in the west.

Injoux appears in 1198 like parish of the diocese of Geneva, under the term of the saints Laurent and Didier. There was in Injoux neither house, nor seigneuriale family, However the lords de Génissiat claimed to raise revenues on Injoux and the count de Sévin, member of the Senate of Savoy, said lord of it. The investigation of the Bouchu intendant describes into 1666 the inhabitants like “strong the poor”, paying revenues with the lord of Génissiat as to the count de Sévin which took possession of the forests. The register of grievances of 1789 was carried in Belley by Pierre Goy and François Grosbonnet. It was not preserved. In 1790, Injoux entered the canton of Billat until the absorption of this one by the canton of Châtillon-of-Michaille, in 1800. The cure and the goods of the factory were sold but, in spite of the orders of Abbitte; one kept a bell of 70 kg. During the 19th century, the communal population increased following the fastening of the hamlet of Génissiat detached from Craz on April 25th, 1827. It was stabilized then around 700 inhabitants, before strongly declining as from 1890: the mountain pastures regressed. Bellegarde and even Lyon attracted the labor. At the beginning of the 10th century, one still found cheese-making in Chaix and two fairs were held has Injoux the February 12th and October 20th. In year 4, a school was envisaged in Craz, only then Under consideration for the canton of Billat, apart from that of the chief town. In 1800, Craz, like the canton of Billat, joined the canton of Chatillon-of-Michaille. During the 19th century, the population declined following the retreat of the mountain pastures and the industrialization of Bellegarde. April 25th, 1827, Craz lost the hamlet of Génissiat, too far away from the church of Craz according to the bishop of Belley. At the beginning of the 10th century, Craz still counted a school at the village with an appendix with Bériaz, two inns and fruit-bearing closed since. Today, Craz-in Michaille is not any more: when one decided the fusion of Injoux and Craz, on December 22nd, 1972, one also decided to replace his name by that of Génissiat. Thus the memory disappeared from one of the oldest villages of Michaille. Starting from the Middle Ages, the history of Génissiat is attached to the fortress, built about the 12th century, had by the family of Génissiat and on which the monastery of Nantua had rights. In 1334, Marguerite de Génissiat brought the castle in dowry to Pierre de Coucy. After the Revolution, Génissiat remained dependant has Craz but the church was there more distant than that from Injoux; April 25th, 1827, Génissiat was transferred to Injoux. Génissiat becomes the chief town of Injoux, concentrating the town hall, public services and rare trade. Since 1948, the visitors tributary with the stopping, their bus cross simply the village. The order of the prefect of December 22nd, 1972 which decided the fusion of Injoux and Craz retained the name of Génissiat for the new commune known as of Injoux-Génissiat.

Geography

Presentation

The commune of Injoux Génissiat, located at 12 km in the south of Bellegarde on Valserine, is surrounded by those of Billat in north, of Hotonnes in the west, Surjoux and the Hospital in the south. In the east, the Rhone constitutes the limit with Haute-Savoie.

Altitude:

- dam Génissiat: 375 m;

- school of Injoux: 553 m;

- Collar of Richemond: 1036 m;

- Chaix 615 m;

- the post 517 m;

- the Tulle ones and Bourbouillon 512 m;

- Under wood 610 m;

- Craz 671 m;

- Lingiaz 567 m;

- Bériaz 520 Mr.

Demography:

Dam Génissiat

The dam Génissiat was first hydroelectric dam of Europe during its construction: beginning of work in 1938, put out of water in 1948. This installation of the `type' weight `', i.e. made up of a stable concrete mass by its own weight, created a reserve of 23 kilometers, and the hydroelectric factory is located at the foot of the stopping. To see: the crest gate of believed of surface located Right Bank: long channel finishing in <>. Unfortunately the visits inside the buildings are cancelled because of the vigipirate plan. The commune extends on a surface from approximately 30 km square. The commune is 3rd larger canton of Bellegarde, in surface and population. It consists of 3 villages - Injoux, Génissiat- and Craz and 6 hamlet Chaix, Béria, Tulle Lingiaz Balavant and Bourbouillon. A communal forest occupies 200 hectares of the commune. The culminating point is with the crêt the naked one with 1351m. For what and fauna the roe-deers and the wild boars live in our wood but also much of birds like the black peak, the Hazel grouse, bondrée the apivore and the circaète, without counting the innumerable ones, titmouses, red throats.

The inhabitants of Génissiat are called the `' Génissiatus `', those of Craz the `' Cratous'' those of Injoux remain the `' Injolans `' or the `' Indiolans'' and those of Chaix the `' Chaillans''.

Economy

The village reserves some sports activities (plain of plays, stage of foot, dance in the versatile room, athletics, tennis court, grounds of balls, pond of fishing…), and cultural activities: music (accordion, guitar, piano) rhythmic…

The first economic activity is the dam Génissiat, large producing of electricity. We have also agriculture (two farms are still exploited), of the trade (butchery, bakery)… The common one has a career to build houses and it is exploited by the company SCREG (which belongs to the Bouygues groups). The whole of common counts 10 craftsmen: painter, butcher, baker, carpenter plumber… we have also the chance to have on our commune a doctor and an architect. As you note it, the economic fabric is diversified enough for such a commune. We have also a certain number of crosses border dailies to work (who work in Switzerland).

Natural heritage: The cave of Huguenots (or Vézeronce), towards the hamlet of Bériaz. Known in the past to the first siphon the continuation of the cavity at summer discovered by the spéléos of Geneva of 1973 to 1975 having crossed the siphon after pumping or in diving. In 1984 the spéléos of Hauteville install an automatic siphoning which functions until 1989, explore some prolongations and carry out a circuit with the higher entry. Hundred meters before its entry, is the Mandrin cave. Cultural heritage: Stopping, the baker's oven of Chaix (entirely renovated, it is regularly used). Leisures: Tourism of Injoux proposes certain leisures, like tennis, game of bowls, sins it (in Balavant), of the excursion, the USCG which proposes gym dance and music, the stage and the playing field, it there with the swimming pool of Génissiat reserved to the people of the commune. You can visit the cave of “under bag” located at the hamlet of Bériaz. There is also a walk on the banks of the Rhone which carries out of Génissiat to Bellegarde by a marked out way. Tourist lodging: rooms of hosts, you place “at the inhabitant”. Comfort 3 ears and three very vain double rooms with meals of the soil very goûtus (label lodgings of France). Vis-a-vis the church of Injoux, you will be able to walk on the ground around.

See too

List of the Common of Ain

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