Caille, Alpes-Maritimes

Caille

Caille
Administration
Country France
Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department Alpes-Maritimes
Arrondissement Grasse
Canton Saint-Auban
Intercommunality Monts d'Azur
Mayor Yves Funel
(2008–2014)
Statistics
Elevation 1,122–1,644 m (3,681–5,394 ft)
(avg. 1,160 m/3,810 ft)
Land area1 16.96 km2 (6.55 sq mi)
Population2 330  (2008)
 - Density 19 /km2 (49 /sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 06028/ 06750
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

Caille is a commune in the Alpes-Maritimes department in southeastern France.

Contents

Geography

Caille is built on a rocky outcrop in a glacial peneplain. Near to Bauroux, one of the major summits of the Alps, the village is surrounded by coniferous forests. Caille is constructed on an East-West axis along a single main street, which leads to the village of Andon, six kilometres away. Caille was a fundamentally agrarian town and although the population of farmers has halved in the last 30 years,[1] cereal crops, sheep and cattle are still farmed there today by two families. Recently, there has been a drive towards tourism and the village features gîtes[2], mountain biking courses [3]., an adventure playground, a ski slope and a gallery exhibitng local artists [4].

History

Caille takes its name from the Indo-European root word Cal, meaning a place overlooking a rock. Interestingly, Caille is also the French word for quail, and the local church, rectory and town hall all feature carvings of quails. Although there was a human presence in the Caille region in antiquity, it was not until the late 15th century that the name of Caille is mentioned in official documents as Calha. Two large families were recorded in the region; 'De Castellane' (of Castellane) and 'Brun de Castellane' (Brown of Castellane). From the 17th to 18th century, the ruling family of Caille were 'Théas'. In January 1790, the National Constituent Assembly created the department of Caille, which included the 11 cantons of Séranon. On the 6th of November 1801, when the number of Cantons was reduced, it was included in the canton of St. Auban.[5]

Population

Historical population of Caille, Alpes-Maritimes
Year 1962 1968 1975 1982 1990 1999 2008
Population 114 124 109 144 176 220 330

See also

References

External links