Argis is a commune in the Ain department in the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes region of eastern France.
The commune covers an area of 7.84 km2 (3.03 sq mi). Laurent Bou is the mayor for the 2020-2026 tenure.
Geography Argis is in the mountains of the southern Jura in the mountains of Bugey in the valley of the Albarine between Tenay and Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey. Altitude varies from 315 metres in the valley to 800 metres on the slopes of the valley.
The commune is some 10 km east of Amberieu-en-Bugey and 10 km south-west of Hauteville-Lompnes. It can be accessed on the D1504 road from Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey in the north-west passing through the northern border of the commune then south to the village and continuing south to Tenay. The D104 road also goes from the village over a tortuous mountain route to Arandas in the south-west. There are also many small mountain roads in the commune. The railway line from Saint-Rambert-en-Bugey to Tenay also passes through the commune parallel to the D1504 road. There is no station in the commune with the nearest station being the one near Tenay. In addition to the village there is the small hamlet of Plomb in the south. The commune is mountainous and heavily forested.Google Maps
The Albarine river passes through the commune from south to north parallel with the railway and the D1504 continuing west to join the Ain near Chez le Bret. A number of streams flow into the river including the Ruisseau de la Gorge, the Ruisseau de la Tine, the Biez Molet, the Biez Michel, and the Biez Gallet.
History There was a lordship and a castle in the Middle Ages.
Toponymy Over the centuries, Argis has been called:Regional Terms and placenames of French Switzerland and surroundings . Argil (1242) De Argillo (1385) Argit (1650) Argy (1734)
Heraldry
Administration
List of mayors of ArgisList of Mayors of France
From To Name 1944 1959 Louis Dillenschneider 1959 1974 Louis Ronchall 1974 1974 Jean Reverdy 1974 1999 (resigned) André Ollier 1999 2001 Jean-Claude Marquis 2001 2022 Marcel Chevé 2022 incumbent Laurent Bou
Population
Sites and monuments Waterfalls de la Côte and de la Pissoire.
Photo gallery
Notable people Antoine-Gaspard Boucher d'Argis was born in the commune on 3 April 1708.
See also Communes of the Ain department
Notes and references
External links Argis on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website Argil on the 1750 Cassini Map