Biviers

French commune
nomcommune=Biviers


x=200
y=156
lat_long=coord|45|14|N|5|48|E|region:FR_type:city
région=Rhône-Alpes
département=Isère
arrondissement=Grenoble
canton=Saint-Ismier
insee=38045
cp=38330
maire=Jannick Moussin
mandat=2008-2014
intercomm=-
alt moy=417 m
alt mini=311 m
alt maxi=1388 m
hectares=617
km²=6.17
sans=2391
date-sans=2005
dens=386
date-dens=2005

Biviers (pronounced|ˈbivje in French) is a commune of France in the Isère "département", in the Rhône-Alpes "région".

Geography

The village of Biviers lies 10 km from Grenoble on the D1090, at the foot of the Saint-Eynard, on a limestone scree located on the East side of the Chartreuse mountains. Towards the South-West, Biviers faces the Belledonne range, in the Grésivaudan section of the Isère River valley. In the North West direction, the village leans against a convert|450|m|ft|0|lk=on tall limestone cliff, above the scree. The cliff is subject to constant erosion and rock slides frequently "blast" during the summer time, with great noise and much dust. [cite web | url = http://biviers.free.fr/bivrisqu.htm | title = Biviers - Risques Naturels | format = HTML | publisher = [http://biviers.free.fr/bivconta.htm Pierre Blanc (in French)] | date = 2008-03-31 | accessdate = 2008-04-12]

Mount Blanc can be seen from many places in the village and is only distant convert|105|km|mi|0|lk=on.

Biviers can be subdivided in three main sectors.

The upper part of the village is a cliff starting from an elevation of convert|900|m|ft|0|lk=on and culminating at convert|1358|m|ft|0|lk=on.

The middle section - between convert|500|m|ft|0|lk=on and convert|900|m|ft|0|lk=on - is a forest and is a favorite destination of hikers. The slope is steep and averages 20%. This section is very sparsely populated. The lower section sits on flatter ground and is where most inhabitants live, the lowest point of the village being at convert|311|m|ft|lk=on.

History

Current administration

Jannick MOUSIN: mayor

Jean-Claude BECQUAERT: 1^st counselor
Jacques BONFIGLIO: 2^nd counselor
Agnès SIMON: 3^rd counselor
Jean-Philippe RAGUIN: 4^th counselor
Thierry FEROTIN: 5^th counselor

Other counselors

Eric BERNARDONEric BOUVIERCatherine COEUR Marie-Thérèse COUTURE Frank DEBAECKER Béatrice DENISE René GAUTHERONGilbert GONCALVES Robert GUYON Joëlle MARTIN-BORRET Geneviève PELLEGRIN Claude SENECHALLucien VULLIERME

Demography

The inhabitants of Biviers are known as "Biviérois" (pronounced|ˈbivjeRwa in French).

Places and monuments

Montbives is a fortified house, built during the XIV^th century and sitting just below the middle section of the village. It boasts a massive square tower and an impressive kitchen with carved stone pillars.

The "château de Serviantin" dates back from the XV^th century. The name stems from Abel Servien who was born there in 1593 and who later served as a minister for Louis XIII. Its square tower can be seen from chemin de la Grivelière and is a classified historical monument. [cite web | url = http://www.chateauservien.com | title = Château Abel Servien | format = HTML | publisher = Arnaud KRIESMER (in French)| date = 2006-05-18 | accessdate = 2008-05-02]

The "château de Franquières" is more recent and dates back from the XVII^th century. It was built between 1601 and 1610 by the Aymon de Franquières family. During the French revolution, the property belonged to the scientist Laurent-Aymon de Franquières who was elected as the first revolutionary mayor of Grenoble in February 1790 but who knew he was seriously ill and thus resigned in favor of Joseph Marie de Barral. When he died the same year, the property went to Anne-Marie Franquières - most probably his sister - and then to the related McCarthy family in 1809 who renovated it in 1836. In 1852 it moved to Baroness of Vignet, then Charles de Vignet who sold it in 1880 to Félix du Bourg whose family owned it till 1924 when it was sold to the Forest-Colcombet. Finally, it was bought in 1959 by the OVE (Oeuvre des Villages d'Enfants).

Economy

In recent years, Biviers posted the highest income tax per active family in Isère. [cite web | url = http://www2.impots.gouv.fr/documentation/statistiques/ircom2005/dep/380.xls | title = L'impôt sur le revenu en 2006 | format = Microsoft_Excel | publisher = [http://www.comptes-publics.gouv.fr/ Ministère du Budget, des Comptes Publics et de la Fonction Publique, République Française] | date = 2006-12-31 | accessdate = 2008-04-12]

ee also

* Communes of the Isère département

External links

All sites are in French, unless otherwise indicated.

* [http://www.insee.fr/fr/recensement/nouv_recens/resultats/repartition/chiffres_cles/n3/38/n3_38045.pdf Census data for Biviers on the INSEE site]
* [http://www.ign.fr/affiche_rubrique.asp?rbr_id=1087&CommuneId=37622 Biviers on the French National Geographic Institute - Institut géographique national]
* [http://www.meteo-consult.fr/ter/france/prevision/detail.php?ville=Biviers&num_ville=15925 Weather for Biviers]
* [http://www.taxe.com/rwtax/DMN~0_QueryID~38045_step~3.htm Tax information for Biviers]
* [http://mairie-biviers.fr Biviers city site]
* [http://Biviers.free.fr History of Biviers]

References