Country France Department Vosges Time zone CET (UTC+1) Local time Tuesday 5:55 AM Arrondissement Arrondissement of Épinal | Region Grand Est Canton Le Thillot Area 20.38 km² Population 1,117 (1999) | |
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Intercommunality CC Ballons des Hautes-Vosges Weather 1°C, Wind SE at 3 km/h, 82% Humidity | ||
Le Ménil is a commune in the Vosges department in Grand Est in northeastern France. It is sometimes called Le Ménil-Thillot to distinguish it from nearby Ménil-de-Senones.
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Map of 88160 Le M%C3%A9nil, France
Inhabitants are called Guédons.
Geography
The commune is positioned southeast of the département, some 6 kilometres (4 mi) to the west of the source of the Moselle at Bussang. The intervening presence of a 952 meter mountain peak means that for motorists the drive to Bussang covers approximately 15 kilometres (9 mi) however. Across the Ménil Pass to the northeast, and approached by smaller roads, is the less well known Moselotte River. The pass connects the seat of the canton, Le Thillot, with Cornimont and a number of smaller mountain villages.
The surrounding mountain summits offer superb views, and tourism has become a defining pillar of the local economy. Registered tourist accommodation exceeds 1,000 beds. The presence of a covered go-kart track in a village with a registered population of barely above 1,000 provides further evidence of the importance of tourism.
History
For a long time Le Ménil was a hamlet controlled by Ramonchamp, but it became a parish in its own right in 1735, and acquired the statute on a commune under the Revolution.