Martigny-les-Bains
Encyclopedia
Martigny-les-Bains is a commune
in the Vosges
department in Lorraine
in northeastern France
.
It acquired its present name only in 1880s, before which it was called Martigny-lès-Lamarche. The modern name highlights the thermal springs and spa facilities which remain a defining feature of the place.
Inhabitants are called Octoduriens.
, approximately six kilometres (four miles) to the north-east of Lamarche
, and twenty-two kilometres to the north of another noted spa town, Bourbonne-les-Bains
("Aquae borvonis" in Roman
times).
The village occupies a sheltered plateau. On the higher ground forests of oak
and beech
alternate with conifer plantations. The village is protected by the topography from the worst extremes of wind and temperature.
The railway which since 1881 has provided a connection with Vittel
and Contrexéville
skirts the village on its north-western side. Some fifteen kilometres to the west the Autoroute A31
offers access to the autoroute network for the age of mass motorisation, while five kilometres to the east, roughly parallel with the autoroute and the railway line, the remnants of a Roman road
provide evidence that the district has been much transited over many centuries.
The altitude above sea level at the station is 370 meters, equivalent to 114 meters higher than the valley of the Saône
at Les Thons
, just fourteen kilometres (nine miles) to the south-south-east. The commune is close to the watershed that separates the catchment areas of the Rivers Saône
and Meuse
. The commune includes within its confines the sources of the Anger and Mouzon rivers which set off in opposite directions before they connect between Pompierre
and Circourt
after about thirty kilometres (nineteen miles). The valley of the Mouzon, which sets off in a westerly direction before turning to the north, flows over relatively flat plateau land rather than in some form of a gorge: claims appropriate to a spa village are made for the health giving properties of the air here.
who were in the pay of the French king
at this time: the inhabitants turned up as refugees in Martigny-Saint-Remy and constructed the quarter which became known as Martigny-Saint-Pierre, including a church of which the remains survived until recently.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Vosges
Vosges
Vosges is a French department, named after the local mountain range. It contains the hometown of Joan of Arc, Domrémy.-History:The Vosges department is one of the original 83 departments of France, created on February 9, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was made of territories that had been...
department in Lorraine
Lorraine (région)
Lorraine is one of the 27 régions of France. The administrative region has two cities of equal importance, Metz and Nancy. Metz is considered to be the official capital since that is where the regional parliament is situated...
in northeastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
It acquired its present name only in 1880s, before which it was called Martigny-lès-Lamarche. The modern name highlights the thermal springs and spa facilities which remain a defining feature of the place.
Inhabitants are called Octoduriens.
Geography
Martigny-les-Bains is positioned in the south-west of Lorraine and at the western end of the Vosges Plain, forty kilometres (twenty-five miles) to the south of the administrative centre of the arrondissement, NeufchâteauNeufchâteau, Vosges
Neufchâteau is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.Inhabitants are called Néocastriens.-Geography:Positioned at the confluence of the Rivers Meuse and Mouzon, the little town dominates the Vosges Plain...
, approximately six kilometres (four miles) to the north-east of Lamarche
Lamarche
Lamarche is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France....
, and twenty-two kilometres to the north of another noted spa town, Bourbonne-les-Bains
Bourbonne-les-Bains
Bourbonne-les-Bains is a commune in the Haute-Marne department in north-eastern France.-Spa:Bourbonne is a health resort due to hot springs. These thermal springs were known to the Gauls and to the Romans who built baths...
("Aquae borvonis" in Roman
Roman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
times).
The village occupies a sheltered plateau. On the higher ground forests of oak
Oak
An oak is a tree or shrub in the genus Quercus , of which about 600 species exist. "Oak" may also appear in the names of species in related genera, notably Lithocarpus...
and beech
Beech
Beech is a genus of ten species of deciduous trees in the family Fagaceae, native to temperate Europe, Asia and North America.-Habit:...
alternate with conifer plantations. The village is protected by the topography from the worst extremes of wind and temperature.
The railway which since 1881 has provided a connection with Vittel
Vittel
Vittel is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.Mineral water is bottled and sold here by Nestlé Waters France, under the Vittel brand.-History:...
and Contrexéville
Contrexéville
Contrexéville is a commune of north-eastern France, in the Vosges département. Inhabitants are called Contrexévillois.The reputation of Contrexéville as a health resort dates from 1864, when development began by a company, the Société des Eaux de Contrexéville.-Twin towns:Contrexéville is twinned...
skirts the village on its north-western side. Some fifteen kilometres to the west the Autoroute A31
A31 autoroute
The A31 autoroute is a French autoroute. It runs from the Franco-Luxembourg border to Beaune where it joins the A6. The north of the autoroute is free, up to the town of Toul, but it is a toll road south of there...
offers access to the autoroute network for the age of mass motorisation, while five kilometres to the east, roughly parallel with the autoroute and the railway line, the remnants of a Roman road
Roman road
The Roman roads were a vital part of the development of the Roman state, from about 500 BC through the expansion during the Roman Republic and the Roman Empire. Roman roads enabled the Romans to move armies and trade goods and to communicate. The Roman road system spanned more than 400,000 km...
provide evidence that the district has been much transited over many centuries.
The altitude above sea level at the station is 370 meters, equivalent to 114 meters higher than the valley of the Saône
Saône
The Saône is a river of eastern France. It is a right tributary of the River Rhône. Rising at Vioménil in the Vosges department, it joins the Rhône in Lyon....
at Les Thons
Les Thons
Les Thons is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.-References:*...
, just fourteen kilometres (nine miles) to the south-south-east. The commune is close to the watershed that separates the catchment areas of the Rivers Saône
Saône
The Saône is a river of eastern France. It is a right tributary of the River Rhône. Rising at Vioménil in the Vosges department, it joins the Rhône in Lyon....
and Meuse
Meuse River
The Maas or Meuse is a major European river, rising in France and flowing through Belgium and the Netherlands before draining into the North Sea...
. The commune includes within its confines the sources of the Anger and Mouzon rivers which set off in opposite directions before they connect between Pompierre
Pompierre
Pompierre is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France.-Geography:The village lies on the border with the adjacent Haute-Marne department south of Neufchâteau and across country from Robécourt which is the nearest access point for the A31, Lorraine's principal...
and Circourt
Circourt
Circourt is a commune in the Vosges department in Lorraine in northeastern France....
after about thirty kilometres (nineteen miles). The valley of the Mouzon, which sets off in a westerly direction before turning to the north, flows over relatively flat plateau land rather than in some form of a gorge: claims appropriate to a spa village are made for the health giving properties of the air here.
History
Following the successive wars against France that characterised the seventeenth century, the village consisted of two parts, namely Martigny-Saint-Remy and Martigny-Saint-Pierre. The nearby village of Saint-Pierre had been destroyed by the SwedesGustavus Adolphus of Sweden
Gustav II Adolf has been widely known in English by his Latinized name Gustavus Adolphus Magnus and variously in historical writings also as Gustavus, or Gustavus the Great, or Gustav Adolph the Great,...
who were in the pay of the French king
Louis XIII of France
Louis XIII was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and of Navarre from 1610 to 1643.Louis was only eight years old when he succeeded his father. His mother, Marie de Medici, acted as regent during Louis' minority...
at this time: the inhabitants turned up as refugees in Martigny-Saint-Remy and constructed the quarter which became known as Martigny-Saint-Pierre, including a church of which the remains survived until recently.