Chénelette () is a

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

in the

Rhône The Rhône ( , ; wae, Rotten ; frp, Rôno ; oc, Ròse ) is a major river in France and Switzerland, rising in the Alps and flowing west and south through Lake Geneva and southeastern France before discharging into the Mediterranean Sea. At Ar ...

department in eastern

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic, Pacific and Indian Oceans. Its metropolitan area ...

. While there have been settlements in the region since before the

Roman conquest of Gaul The Gallic Wars were waged between 58 and 50 BC by the Roman general Julius Caesar against the peoples of Gaul (present-day France, Belgium, Germany and Switzerland). Gallic, Germanic, and British tribes fought to defend their home ...

, the modern village of Chénelette first appears in records dating to the 14th century. Today it has a population of approximately 300 people.

Geography

Chénelette is a small village of approximately 300 people (2012) located in the north-west of the Rhône Department, notably in the

Beaujolais Beaujolais ( , ) is a French ''Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée'' (AOC) wine generally made of the Gamay grape, which has a thin skin and is low in tannins. Like most AOC wines they are not labeled varietally. Whites from the region, which mak ...

region. The surrounding landscape is one of forests, mountains (of the

Massif Central The (; oc, Massís Central, ; literally ''"Central Massif"'') is a highland region in south-central France, consisting of mountains and plateaus. It covers about 15% of mainland France. Subject to volcanism that has subsided in the last 10,0 ...

), and pastures; and is frequented by hikers and outdoor enthusiasts. The village has an elevation of 660 meters, and is located approximately 60 kilometres north-northwest of

Lyon Lyon,, ; Occitan language, Occitan: ''Lion'', hist. ''Lionés'' also spelled in English as Lyons, is the List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, third-largest city and Urban area (France), second-largest metropolitan area of F ...

(as the crow flies) and about 375 kilometres south-south west of

Paris Paris () is the Capital city, capital and List of communes in France with over 20,000 inhabitants, most populous city of France, with an estimated population of 2,165,423 residents in 2019 in an area of more than 105 km² (41 sq mi), ma ...

(as the crow flies). It lies between

Roanne Roanne (; frp, Rouana; oc, Roana) is a commune in the Loire department, central France. It is located northwest of Lyon on the river Loire. It has an important Museum, the ''Musée des Beaux-arts et d'Archéologie Joseph-Déchelette'' (Fre ...

and

Mâcon Mâcon (), historically anglicised as Mascon, is a city in east-central France. It is the prefecture of the department of Saône-et-Loire in Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Mâcon is home to near 34,000 residents, who are referred to in French as ...

History

Chénelette has its roots from the Middle Ages when, in the fourteenth century, a castle was built at the peak of the Mont Tourvéon (to the east of the village) by Louis de Pieux. Today the ruins of this castle can still be seen by climbing to the top of the mountain, which requires a considerable hike. Chénelette has been significant to the region because it has been a point of convergence for travellers from surrounding areas. During World War Two this region was occupied by German forces and was known for its considerable resistance.

Demographics

References

Communes of Rhône (department) Beaujolais (province) {{Rhône-geo-stub

Geography

History

Demographics

See also

References