Riervescemont is a French commune (municipality) located in the département of Territoire de Belfort, in the administrative region of Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, and in the historical and cultural region of Franche-Comté. It is part of the arrondissement of Belfort and the canton of Giromagny.
Geography
The village is situated at the head of a narrow glacial valley at the foot of the Wissgrut massif, which gives rise to the river La Rosemontoise. The commune covers an area of 8.52 km², with elevations ranging from 516 m to 1,091 m above sea level. The valley of Riervescemont provides access to hiking trails in the Ballon d'Alsace massif. The commune consists of scattered isolated dwellings with no concentrated village center. As of 2024, it is classified as a rural commune with very dispersed housing.
Administration
Riervescemont is part of the Communauté de communes des Vosges du Sud (intercommunality). The current mayor is Fabien Canal, whose term runs from 2026 to 2032. The commune's postal code is 90200, and its INSEE code is 90085. The inhabitants are called Rosemontois.
Demographics
As of 2023, Riervescemont had a population of 83 inhabitants, a decrease of 17% compared to 2017. The population peaked in the early 19th century (281 inhabitants in 1831) and has declined significantly since, reaching a low of 42 in 1975 before partially recovering.
Toponymy
The name Riervescemont is believed to derive from Old French, meaning "behind Vescemont" (rière = behind + Vescemont). Historical forms of the name include Rier Vescemont (1793) and Riere-Vescemont (1801).
History
At the entrance to the valley, on a rocky spur, the Château du Rosemont was built in the mid-11th century. During the 16th century, the seigneurie (lordship) of Rosemont covered the entire northeastern part of the present-day département, with its capital at Chaux. Mountain agriculture developed following deforestation linked to mining activity in the late Middle Ages, driven by demand for timber for mine galleries and charcoal for foundries. The village itself was first mentioned in 1698.
Sights and Monuments
- Château du Rosemont — ruins of an 11th-century castle.
- Mountain farmhouses dating from the late 18th to early 19th century.
- A cross erected in 1875.
- The town hall and former school from the early 20th century.
Notable Person
- Jules Théophile Gasser (1865–1958), born in Riervescemont, was a physician-surgeon who served as mayor of Oran (Algeria) from 1912 to 1921 and again from 1943 to 1945, and later as a senator for the département of Oran.
Adjacent Communes
Riervescemont borders the communes of Lamadeleine-Val-des-Anges, Vescemont, Rougegoutte, Grosmagny, Lepuix, and others in the Vosges du Sud area.
