Saint-Genis-Pouilly

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Coordinates: 46°14′37″N 6°01′30″E / 46.2437, 6.0250

Commune of Saint-Genis-Pouilly
Location
Saint-Genis-Pouilly (France)
Saint-Genis-Pouilly
Time Zone GMT +1
Administration
Country France
Region Rhône-Alpes
Department Ain
Arrondissement Gex
Canton Ferney-Voltaire
Intercommunality Pays de Gex
Mayor Hubert Bertrand
(2001-2008)
Statistics
Elevation 419 m–502 m
Land area¹ 9.77 km²
Population²
(2004)		 7237
 - Density 665.0/km²
Miscellaneous
INSEE/Postal code 01354/ 01630
Dialling code 0450
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population sans doubles comptes: residents of multiple communes (e.g. students and military personnel) only counted once.
France

Saint-Genis-Pouilly is a commune in the department of Ain in eastern France.

It is located in the Pays de Gex, at the foot of the Jura. Bordering the Swiss frontier, it is part of the cross-border area of Geneva. Because of its population, it is one of the ten most important towns in the department of Ain.[1] Its habitants are know as Saint-genésiens.

A large portion of CERN, the European laboratory for particle physics, is located in the territory of Saint-Genis-Pouilly. CERN is one of the top locations in the world for fundamental research and it is the presence of CERN that has been responsible for the development of the community since the middle of the 1960s.

Contents

[edit] Geography

Saint-Genis-Pouilly is composed of two market towns (Saint-Genis and Pouilly) and two hamlets (Pregnin and Flies). The two market towns have both continued to expand and now practically merge together into one, however the two hamlets still remain separate from each other and from the two towns. The altitude of the commune varies from 419 m (at the extreme south of the commune, to the confluence of the rivers Allandon and Nant de l'Ecra) at 502 m (at the extreme north of the commune, in the village of Flies). The commune is situated at the limit between the plain and the first rising of the Jura. As indicated on the map opposite, the communes surrounding Saint-Genis-Pouilly are: Thoiry, Sergy, Crozet, Chevry, Prévessin-Moëns and Dardagny (Swiss).

Communes bordering Saint-Genis-Pouilly
Communes bordering Saint-Genis-Pouilly

[edit] Hydrology

Many water courses traverse or border Saint-Genis-Pouilly: Lion, Allandon, Nant de l'Ecra, Bief de la Janvoin, Ouaf, Grand Journans and Petit Journans. In 2005 and 2006, these water courses were subject to a ban on water extraction as a result of the drought. In 2004, only the Allandon and the Lion would have been restricted.[2] The depth of the Allandon is measured at Saint-Genis-Pouilly by a network HYDRO station which transmits these readings by telephone. [3]

[edit] Climate

The meteorological station situated at Geneva International Airport, Cointrin, furnishes measurements of the weather relevant to Saint-Genis-Pouilly. This station is situated only 6.5 km from the centre of the commune and at a similar altitude (420m).[4] Data from this station is available in real time from MétéoSuisse.

Saint-Genis-Pouilly, like the whole of the Pays de Gex and the Canton of Geneva, knows the touch of the Joran, the cold wind which descends towards Lac Léman from the high Jura, where it sometimes provokes a storm.

[edit] Natural risks

According to a study [5] made in 2002, commissioned by the Department of Agriculture and the Forests of Ain, Saint-Genis-Pouilly is classed in a zone at risk from flooding. According to another official publication,[6] the commune is classed in a zone at risk from torrential downpours and rapid flooding. However, according to the list of major risks [7] to Saint-Genis-Pouilly published on the portal of the website of the Ministry of Ecology, “Prevention of major risks”, the commune is classed in a zone at risk from overcrowding from man’s activities. These three different qualifications of risk cannot be explained.

Along with the other communes in the canton of Gex, Saint-Genis-Pouilly is classed in seismic zone Ib, which is to say that the seismic risk is low.[8] A new classification is being prepared by the Ministry of Ecology,[9] but it does not seem that this will significantly change the classification of the communes in the Pays de Gex.

[edit] Nature zones

That part of the Allandon valley which is found within the territory of the commune constitutes a natural zone with interesting ecology, fauna and flora (ZNIEFF type I).[10]

The commune is lightly wooded (the area occupied by trees is between 10 and 20%[11]).

[edit] History

It was in 1887 that the actual name, Saint-Genis-Pouilly, first appeared on the State civil registers. Previously, Saint-Genis-Pouilly was called Pouilly-Saint-Genis. Before that, the two towns were separately identified. The spelling Saint-Genix had been quite frequently used. Pouilly was a little Roman city which probably took its name from the Latin Appolliacum.

In his historical Atlas, G. Debombourg placed Pulliacum in the epoque of the second reign of the Bourgogne (879-1032) and he placed the church of Pouilly-St-Genis on the religious maps.[12] In these "Preuves" he cites a text of 993 which mentions Pulliacum.[13]

A diary of 1698 mentions a certain Balthazard as a noble of Prengin, in the Pays de Gex (perhaps this is the name given during this epoque to the current hamlet of Pregnin). Between 1601 and 1789 mention is made of the Baronnie of Saint-Genist. [14]

Names of the area with a Gallo-Romanic origin, Polliacum, Pulliacum, derived, with the suffix -acum from the root name Paulius or Pollius[15].

It is probable that under the Roman occupation the church in the village was to be dedicated to Apollon.

Towards the end of this time, Saint Genis took on a greater importance. Its takeover of the Postes Royales (next to the current chapel) commenced the growth of the town and Pouilly-Saint-Genix became Saint-Genis-Pouilly.

Pregnin figures in the Procès-verbaux du Directoire[16]. The name of Saint-Genis, as in the case of Saint-Genis-Laval, probably comes from Saint-Genest, a Roman comedian from the second half of the IIIe century, martryed under Dioclétien.[17]

[edit] Roman period

The Roman colony Colonia Iulia Equestris founded by Julius Caesar between 50 et 45 BC extended as far as Thoiry and included the territory which was to become Saint-Genis-Pouilly.

The villa of Pouilly had been occupied by a rich family, as evidenced by the jewelry found there.[18]

The place called les châtelets, situated to the north of Pregnin took its name, without doubt, from the presence in the 2nd century of a small fort situated on the Roman road running along the Jura.[19]

[edit] Middle Ages

A priory was established at Pouilly at the end of the 10th century.[20]

In 1301, Uldric, the Seigneur of Saint-Genis renewed his allegiance to the Dauphin.[21]

[edit] 18th century

The map of ancient Geneva by Cassini, with the measurements taken by Calon de Felcourt between 1759 and 1761, shows the town of Pouilly, the hamlets of Pregnin and Flies, and also the windmill at St Genis can be identified. The road from Lyon to Geneva and the fork towards Gex are also clearly visible. These roads, easily identifiable by the route they trace through the Pays de Gex, still exist today.

[edit] Notable events

A few (albeit rather rare) events in the history of the commune :

Year Event
 1590  The château of Pouilly was destroyed by order of the Conseils.[22]
 1591  The Spanish army of Don Olivaros sacked the Pays de Gex with sword and fire.[23]
 1601  With the whole of the Pays de Gex, Saint-Genis-Pouilly was reattached to France.
Restoral of the fiefdom of Saint-Genix by Françoise of Lambert.[24]
 1662  The Protestant temple of Pouilly was destroyed on 30 November by order of the Evêque of Geneva.[25]
 1722  The Seigneurie of Saint-Genix was ceded to the Evêque and the Prince of Geneva.[26]
 1887  First mention of Saint-Genis-Pouilly as the name of the commune.

[edit] Today

It was the extension within France of CERN (European organisation for nuclear research), in the middle of the sixties, which made Saint-Genis-Pouilly the little town “coquette”[27] that it is today. It is also thanks to the presence of CERN that the local economy has considerably increased and diversified.

[edit] Coat of Arms

Until recently, the commune used an azure coat of arms with three gold towers. Today, the commune uses exclusively a modern logo which figures prominently on the pages of its Web site and in its publications.

[edit] Demography

The population of Saint-Genis-Pouilly has grown rapidly since the middle of the 1960s, largely due to the activities of CERN:

Year  1936   1946   1954   1962   1968   1975   1982   1990   1999   2001   2003   2004 
Municipal Population[28] 639 612 647 904 2,030 3,549 4,631 5,696 6,383 6,704 6,985 7,237
Source CASSINI[29] INSEE[30] INSEE[31] JO[32] JO[33] INSEE[34]
Population History of Saint-Genis-Pouilly since 1936
Population History of Saint-Genis-Pouilly since 1936

Note: On its web site the municipality of Saint-Genis-Pouilly indicates the number of inhabitants as 8,683 and the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry [35] gives the number as 7,380 in 2005, but it does not seem possible to retrieve these figures from the official journal published by INSEE.

One of the consequences of this rapid expansion of the population (along with those of the neighbouring communes in France and Switzerland) is the rapid increase in house prices. For example, the price per square metre of an apartment in the Pays de Gex increased by 59% between 2000 and 2004, according to INSEE.[36]

[edit] An international population

In addition to CERN, the proximity of Switzerland and the international organisations headquartered in Geneva explains why a significant proportion of the population of the commune are foreigners. According to the census taken by INSEE in 1999, the commune contained amongst its 6,383 inhabitants 1,697 foreigners [37] (making 26.6%). By way of comparison, the département of Ain contains, at the time of the recent census, amongst its 515,478 inhabitants 40,903 foreigners[38] (making 7.9%).

[edit] Housing

Most housing in Saint-Genis-Pouilly is in apartment blocks (67.8%) and individual houses (31.3%).[39] The apartment blocks are concentrated in the town of Saint-Genis.

The commune has a significantly larger proportion of individual residences to apartment blocks than the other communes in the district: More than two-thirds (67.8%) of Saint-genésiens live in apartment blocks, less than one Gessien in two (46.5%) live in apartments.[40]

The majority of the population in the Pays de Gex, Ain, the Rhône-Alpes region, and mainland France are owner-occupiers of their homes. In Saint-Genis-Pouilly, by contrast, the majority of the population live in rented accommodation (only 43.6% of individual residences are owner-occupied). Within the Pays de Gex, only Ferney-Voltaire has a lower proportion of owner occupiers (33.5%).[41] It is possible that this peculiarity is explained by the large number of employees living in the two communities who work for international organisations. (The last 3 paras need review).

[edit] Administration

[edit] Elections

The commune is presently administered by M. H. Bertrand and his team. The results of the second round of the municipal elections on 18 March 2001 was as follows:

Party Head of party Votes  % Seats
Un avenir pour tous H. Bertrand 859 48,67 22
En avant M. Hayotte 689 39,04 6
Unis pour réussir M. Mugnier 217 12,29 1

In total, from the 3,023 registered electors, there were 1,807 votes cast and 1,765 votes counted.[42]

[edit] Municipal budget

The commune expended in 2005 a total revenue spend of € 6.64 million and a total capital investment of € 4.06 million, however these figures have increased to € 7.96 million (revenue) and € 3.69 million (capital). It has therefore reached an overall positive result of € 0.96 million this year. At 31 December 2005, Saint-Genis-Pouilly was indebted to the amount of only € 2.12 million, being € 288 per inhabitant (the communes of between 5,000 and 10,000 inhabitants — (la strate) — had an average debt of € 935 per inhabitant). Whereas the receipts from the “taxe professionnelle” have been weak: € 0.53 million (equivalent to € 72 per inhabitant against the average of the (strate) of € 211 per inhabitant).

Note: The numbers given above are extracted from the collective accounts for 2005 published by the Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry[43].

[edit] Local taxation

Rate of Taxe d'habitation in effect within the Pays de Gex in 2006 (Saint-Genis-Pouilly in red)
Rate of Taxe d'habitation in effect within the Pays de Gex in 2006 (Saint-Genis-Pouilly in red)

For several years the rate of the Taxe d'habititation (local council tax) has been fixed at 7.78%. As indicated on the chart opposite this rate was, in 2006, approximately equal to the average for the Pays de Gex: 7.69%.[44]

[edit] Communauté de Communes

[edit] Political life

[edit] Municipal elections

A more complete list of the mayors of the commune is available elsewhere.[45]

[edit] Cantonal Elections

Election Ward Title Name Date
Municipales Saint-Genis-Pouilly Maire H. Bertrand 18 March 2001
Cantonales Ferney-Voltaire Conseiller général J. Boch 28 March 2004
Législatives Ain - 3ème Député E. Blanc 16 June 2002

[edit] National referenda

For the referendum on the Treaty establishing a constitution for Europe, on the 29 May 2005, 1,865 of the 3,089 electors who voted and the 1,838 (suffrages) expressed on this occasion which were reported in the following manner: 1,087 Yes (59.14%) and 751 No (40.86%).

For the referendum on the Treaty of Maastricht, on the 20 September 1992, 1,814 of the2,576 electors who voted and the 1,774 (suffrages) expressed on this occasion which were reported in the following manner: 1,186 Yes (66.85%) and 588 No (33.15%).

The inhabitants of Saint-Genis-Pouilly are therefor more europhile than the rest of the French population who rejected the Treaty establishing a constitution for Europe, and approved by only a slim majority (51.04%) the Treaty of Maastricht.

Note: Unless indicated otherwise, the results presented above are taken from the Ministry of the Interior.

[edit] Cultural life

[edit] Heritage

The church of Saint Pierre at Pouilly (porch and choir from the 13th century) is without doubt the most well know element of religious architecture in the commune. The church is Roman, except for the choir which is Gothic.

Church of Saint Pierre at Pouilly
Church of Saint Pierre at Pouilly

Some ruins from the small fortified château (from 13th century) are still visible in Flies. Gallo-roman sepulchres and others from the 6th-8th centuries can still be found in the cemetery surrounding the church at Pouilly.

[edit] Science

CERN brings to the community an opening on to the world of physics which is perhaps unique in the world. Conferences are very frequently organised and some of these are open to the public. It is possible to visit the exhibition centre at CERN and also, with a prior appointment, to make a half day visit to CERN itself.

[edit] Theatre

The construction of the Théâtre du Bordeau has finished and the theatre is now open. This modern theatre offers a 250 seat auditorium for use by amateur dramatic groups, dance, music and other dramatic arts.

[edit] Sculpture and related subjects

Pregn'Art is a annual weekend event in the course of which several local artists exhibit their work in the gardens of the inhabitants of the hamlet of Pregnin. It is one of the events dedicated to sculpture and related subjects.

[edit] Traditions and folklore

The principal fete of the commune is the Bird Festival “La fête de l'oiseau”, which takes place this year (2008) from 30 May until 2nd June.

[edit] Economic Life

Since the creation of the Technoparc, Saint-Genis-Pouilly has become the centre of economic activity in the Pays de Gex.

[edit] Free trade zone

Saint-Genis-Pouilly benefits, as do all the other communes in the Pays de Gex, from the specific laws implementing the free trade zone. Under this arrangement, merchandise imported or exported to and from the European Union is not subject to customs duty. If this law has known important changes in the past,[46] it seems to have stabilised today.

[edit] Unemployment

According to the annual employment survey carried out by INSEE[47] in 2004, the unemployment rate in the commune is 7.9% (compared to 7.4% in 1999).

[edit] Town twinning

Since 2006 Saint-Genis-Pouilly has been twinned with Mogliano Veneto (Italy).

[edit] External links

[edit] Official Websites

[edit] Notes and references

  1. ^ Ministère de l'Intérieur. Le département de l'Ain. Retrieved on 2007.04.27.
  2. ^ Observatoire Départemental de l'Eau - Département de l'Ain. Mesures contre la sécheresse. Retrieved on 2007.04.27.
  3. ^ The readings provided by this station are available here. The record of the height of the Allandon in the medium term is available from the website of the Observatoire départemental de l'Eau.
  4. ^ However, because this station is further from the Jura mountains than Saint-Genis-Pouilly it underestimates the rainfall experienced in the commune. In effect, as we can see by consulting the bulletins mensuels|monthly bulletin published by Météo France for the Department of Ain, more rain falls as we move away from the lake and approach the summit of the Jura.
  5. ^ Commissioned by the Department of Agriculture and the Forests of Ain. Département de l'Ain - Risques naturels (PDF). Retrieved on 2007.04.27.
  6. ^ Préfecture de l'Ain. Communes concernées par le risque inondations. Retrieved on 2007.04.27.
  7. ^ Ministère de l’Ecologie et du développement durable. Risques majeurs - Saint-Genis-Pouilly. Retrieved on 2007.05.14.
  8. ^ Ministère de l’Ecologie et du développement durable. Zonage sismique de la France. Retrieved on 2007.05.10.
  9. ^ Ministère de l’Ecologie et du développement durable. Nouvelle carte d’aléa sismique. Retrieved on 2007.05.12.
  10. ^ ZNIEFF type I are often small zones which present a particular natural interest (eg. display a protected animal or vegetable species). They assist in the preservation of the biotopes concerned. Further information is available on the site INPN.
  11. ^ Département de l'Ain. Document de gestion de l'espace agricole et forestier - Taux de boisement - Carte (PDF). Retrieved on 2007.05.24.
  12. ^ Debombourg, Georges (1859). Atlas historique du département actuel de l'Ain. Printer: Louis Perrin.
  13. ^ Ibid., preuve no 71: "In nomine .. Rodolphus rex ... Pulliacum villam in abbatia Agaunenfe per praecetum concederemus ... hoc donativum fummae pietatis gratia peractum hunc praeceptalem fieri praecipimus ..."
  14. ^ Ibid., map for the period from 1601 to 1789.
  15. ^ Henry Suter. Noms de lieux de Suisse romande, Savoie et environs. Retrieved on 2007.04.27.
  16. ^ Archives nationales. Procès-verbaux du Directoire, An V - An VIII, Tome 3 (p.97) (PDF). Retrieved on 2007.04.27.
  17. ^ Other origina have also been suggested.. There are many mentions in another encyclopedia.
  18. ^ Malgouverne A., Melo A. (1986). Histoire du Pays de Gex - Tome 1 : des origines à 1601. Intersections. p. 35
  19. ^ Ibid., p. 29
  20. ^ Ibid., p. 49
  21. ^ Ibid., p. 67
  22. ^ Voir Histoire de Genève depuis son origine, A. Thourel, 1832, Tome 2, p. 338.
  23. ^ Voir Histoire de la réunion a la France des provinces de Bresse, Bugey et Gex sous Charles-Emmanuel Ier, J. Baux, ?, p. 338.
  24. ^ Voir Histoire politique et religieuse du Pays de Gex ..., J. Brossard, 1831, p. 411; reprise du fief de Farges (auquel le cens de Pouilly est attaché) par Pompée de Gribald, Ibid. p.418; mention is also made of the rejoining of the (cens) of Pouilly to the fiefdeom of Flies (Ibid., p. 418); mention of the rejoining of the (rentes) and (cens) of Saint-Genix to the fiefdom of Sergier (Ibid., p. 416) but also of Pougny (Ibid., p. 417)
  25. ^ Voir Histoire des églises réformées du Pays de Gex, T. Claparède, 1856, p. 130.
  26. ^ Ibid. p. 412
  27. ^ The town received its 2nd flower in 2006 [1]
  28. ^ Population without double counting
  29. ^ Notice communale CASSINI pour Saint-Genis-Pouilly
  30. ^ Evolutions démographiques 1962-1999
  31. ^ Populations légales de la commune: Saint-Genis-Pouilly (01354)
  32. ^ Official Journal of 29 January 2002
  33. ^ Official Journal of 19 February 2004
  34. ^ INSEE. Résultats de l'enquête de recensement pour les communes de moins de 10,000 habitants enquêtées en 2004, en 2005 ou en 2006. Retrieved on 2007.04.31.
  35. ^ Ministère de l’Économie, des finances et de l’industrie. Finances locales - Les communes. Retrieved on 2007.04.27.
  36. ^ INSEE Rhône-Alpes (Février 2007). "Prix des appartements: forte hausse du côté français de l’agglomération transfrontalière de Genève" (PDF). La Lettre (68). 
  37. ^ INSEE. Recensement de la population francaise de mars 1999 - Donnés pour Saint-Genis-Pouilly. Retrieved on 2007.04.30.
  38. ^ INSEE. Recensement de la population francaise de mars 1999 - Donnés pour l'Ain. Retrieved on 2007.04.30.
  39. ^ Category of dwelling 2004 census.
  40. ^ Estimated from series R_MRP data of the 1999 census. Using series P_LOGB yields sometimes different figures. This is due to the latter not distinguishing principal residences from the rest (therefore, communes having a large part of summer or winter seasonal lodging, mainly collective, are given a high collective lodging ratio, which does not reflect the habitat of the dwellers; this is the case of e.g. Lélex).
  41. ^ 2004 census.
  42. ^ Le Pays Gessien, Friday 23 March 2001
  43. ^ Ministère de l’Économie, des finances et de l’industrie. Finances locales - Les communes. Retrieved on 2007.04.27.
  44. ^ Préfecture de l'Ain. Etat des impositions locales levées par les communes en 2006. Retrieved on 2007.04.31.
  45. ^ FranceGenWeb. Les maires de Saint-Genis-Pouilly. Retrieved on 2007.05.13.
  46. ^ Santschi C. et al. (1982). Encyclopédie de Genève. Association de l'Encyclopédie de Genève. Tome 1, pp 109-111.
  47. ^ INSEE. Enquête annuelle de recensement 2004 - Chiffres clés (PDF). Retrieved on 2007.04.27.

Based in part on the article in the French Wikipedia.