Zheks ( fr. Gex ) - a city and commune in the French department of Ain , the administrative center of the district of Zheks and the canton of Zheks .
Commune | |||
Zhex | |||
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fr. Gex | |||
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A country | France | ||
The Department | Nn | ||
History and Geography | |||
Square | 32.02 km² | ||
Center height | 611 m | ||
Timezone | and | ||
Population | |||
Population | 9,882 people ( 2009 ) | ||
Density | 309 people / km² | ||
Digital identifiers | |||
Postcode | 01170 | ||
INSEE | 01173 | ||
Geographical position
Zheks lies at an altitude of 600 m above sea level, 16 km northwest of Geneva in the valley of the Jurnan River in the Jura Mountains.
History
The territory of Zheks was very early populated. The earliest archaeological finds date back to 1800 BC. e. During the time of the Gauls and Ancient Rome, Jex was a stronghold.
For the first time in historical documents, Jex appears as de Gayo. Then the names Gaix (1137), Jaz (1160), Gez (1227), Jayz (1234), Jax (1265), Jacium (1278), Geyz (1289), Ges (1416), and finally Gex (1559) )
Since the beginning of the XII century, Zheks was the residence of the genus Zheks, then passed to the Counts of Geneva. They fortified the city and gave it freedom. After the capture of the city by Amadeus VI, Earl of Savoy in 1353, Jex fell under the control of Savoy for two hundred years. In 1536, the city was captured by the Bernians with the help of Geneva, and the Reformation was carried out in it. However, under the Lausanne Treaty of 1564, Jex again went to the House of Savoy. In 1589, during the war with Geneva, the city was again conquered last. According to the Treaty of Lyon in 1601, Zheks left France and again converted to the Catholic faith.
The Congress of Vienna of 1814-1815 left Zheks as part of France, but the city became a free economic zone, which led to close trade relations with Geneva.
Attractions
- Zheks Church (1860)
- the remains of the city wall of the XIII century and ancient buildings of the XVII — XIX centuries in the city center
- Ruins of a 13th century medieval castle and Florimon castle
- fire museum
Economics and Industry
Until the beginning of the XX century, Zheks was mainly a city engaged in agriculture and artisanal industry. Since the beginning of the 50s of the last century, Zheks has become more and more an industrial city in the metropolitan area with Geneva.
Jex has a good car connection. Geneva Airport is also nearby.
Tourism
Due to its proximity to Geneva, the Zhex, since 1960, is experiencing a tourist boom. The pass Coll de la Fossil in the summer is the beginning of tourist routes to the crest of the Jura, and in winter takes skiers. In recent years, a whole tourist complex has been built here, as well as a year-round track for downhill skiing, similar to the one existing in the German city of Immenstadt im Allgau .