Vassieux-en-Vercors | |
|---|---|
 Vassieux-en-Vercors seen from the slopes of the col de la Chau, near the Mémorial de la Résistance | |
.svg) Coat of arms | |
 Location of Vassieux-en-Vercors | |
  Vassieux-en-Vercors  Vassieux-en-Vercors | |
| Coordinates:44°53′46″N5°22′15″E / 44.8961°N 5.3708°E /44.8961; 5.3708 | |
| Country | France |
| Region | Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes |
| Department | Drôme |
| Arrondissement | Die |
| Canton | Vercors-Monts du Matin |
| Government | |
| • Mayor(2020–2026) | Thomas Ottenheimer[1] |
Area 1 | 48.25 km2 (18.63 sq mi) |
| Population (2022)[2] | 338 |
| • Density | 7.01/km2 (18.1/sq mi) |
| Time zone | UTC+01:00 (CET) |
| • Summer (DST) | UTC+02:00 (CEST) |
| INSEE/Postal code | 26364 /26420 |
| Elevation | 1,028–1,654 m (3,373–5,427 ft) (avg. 1,048 m or 3,438 ft) |
| 1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries. | |
Vassieux-en-Vercors (French pronunciation:[vasjøɑ̃vɛʁkɔʁ], literallyVassieux inVercors;Occitan:Vaciu de Vercòrs) is acommune in thedepartment ofDrôme in southeasternFrance.
The town is known for its assistance to theFrench Resistance duringWorld War II, for which it was awarded theOrdre de la Libération.
The village is built on apolje oflimestone and dominated by a vastKarst landscape.[3] This polje lies on asyncline generally known as the "Plateau de Vassieux".
The Plateau de Vassieux is the site of numerous other karst phenomena, such aslimestone pavements andcaves, which are studied and explored by localspeleology groups.
Vassieux-en-Vercors is home to several prehistoricarchaeological sites, and has a Museum of Prehistory which was created in May 1970 after the discovery of aflintknapping workshop.[4]
In June and July 1944, during theSecond World War, theFrench Resistance, known as theMaquis du Vercors, staged a major uprising against the German occupation inVercors and proclaimed the Free Republic of Vercors. It was the first democratic territory in France since the beginning of the German occupation in 1940 – the revolt was brutally suppressed. For its great acts of resistance the town was awarded theOrdre de la Libération. A memorial was built at theCol de la Chau44°54′27″N5°21′40″E / 44.90760°N 5.36124°E /44.90760; 5.36124 to remember the grim events of theSecond World War, and includes a cemetery where the victims of a July 1944 German massacre are buried.
| Year | Pop. | ±% p.a. |
|---|---|---|
| 1968 | 257 | — |
| 1975 | 257 | +0.00% |
| 1982 | 310 | +2.71% |
| 1990 | 283 | −1.13% |
| 1999 | 290 | +0.27% |
| 2009 | 347 | +1.81% |
| 2014 | 328 | −1.12% |
| 2020 | 333 | +0.25% |
| Source: INSEE[5] | ||
The main human and economic activities are based onagriculture (livestock,timber etc.) andtourism.
| International | |
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| National | |
| Other | |
