Saint-Véran

For homophone places, see Saint-Vérand (disambiguation). For the white Burgundy wine, see Saint-Véran AOC.
Saint-Véran

A view within Saint-Véran, in August 2008

Coat of arms
Saint-Véran

Coordinates: 44°42′03″N 6°52′09″E / 44.7008°N 6.8692°ECoordinates: 44°42′03″N 6°52′09″E / 44.7008°N 6.8692°E
Country France
Region Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur
Department Hautes-Alpes
Arrondissement Briançon
Canton Aiguilles
Intercommunality Queyras
Government
 • Mayor (2008–2014) Danielle Guignard
Area1 44.75 km2 (17.28 sq mi)
Population (2008)2 282
 • Density 6.3/km2 (16/sq mi)
INSEE/Postal code 05157 / 05350
Elevation 1,756–3,175 m (5,761–10,417 ft)
(avg. 2,040 m or 6,690 ft)

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.

Saint-Véran is a commune in the Hautes-Alpes department in southeastern France in the Queyras Regional Natural Park.

Geography

Saint-Véran, located in the French Alps is the most elevated commune of the French Republic[1] (and of Europe). It is the third highest village in Europe after Trepalle in Italy and Juf in Switzerland.

Permanent population is around 300 but this is swelled by tourists in both summer and winter. In addition to tourism the main activities are agriculture and wood crafts.

Name

The village is named after Saint Véran, 6th century Bishop of Cavaillon who in legend drove away a dragon.

The Observatoire de Saint-Véran was constructed nearby by the Observatoire de Paris in the early 1970s.

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1962236—    
1968220−6.8%
1975232+5.5%
1982275+18.5%
1990257−6.5%
1999267+3.9%
2008282+5.6%

See also

References

  1. ↑ Page 505, Chapter Hautes Alpes, book France, Collection Guide vert, publisher Le Michelin, 2009

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Saint-Véran.