# Bréhain-la-Ville > commune in Meurthe-et-Moselle, France **Wikidata**: [Q931397](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q931397) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bréhain-la-Ville) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/br-hain-la-ville ## Summary Bréhain-la-Ville is a commune located in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department in the Grand Est region of northeastern France, situated in the arrondissement of Briey. It is a small rural municipality with a population of approximately 463 residents, positioned at coordinates 49.4375°N latitude and 5.8813888888889°E longitude. The commune is part of the larger French territorial system and falls under the jurisdiction of the commune of France administrative division, which traces its institutional origins to 1789. ## Key Facts - **Official Name**: Bréhain-la-Ville - **Alias**: Bréhain - **Department**: Meurthe-et-Moselle (inception: September 7, 1871) - **Region**: Grand Est, France - **Arrondissement**: Briey - **Country**: France - **Administrative Division Type**: Commune of France (inception: 1789) - **Population**: 463 (most recent recorded figure from provided data series) - **Coordinates**: 49.4375°N, 5.8813888888889°E - **Official Website**: http://www.brehain-la-ville.mairie54.fr - **Wikipedia Title**: Bréhain-la-Ville - **Wikidata Description**: commune in Meurthe-et-Moselle, France - **Sitelink Count**: 41 - **Image**: Church of Bréhain-la-Ville (Eglise_Brehain_ville.JPG) - **Image Artist**: Aimelaime at French Wikipedia - **Image License**: Public domain - **Image URL**: https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c4/Eglise_Brehain_ville.JPG ## FAQs **What region and department is Bréhain-la-Ville located in?** Bréhain-la-Ville is situated in the Grand Est region of northeastern France, specifically within the Meurthe-et-Moselle department. The commune belongs to the arrondissement of Briey, which is one of the administrative divisions within this department. **What is the population of Bréhain-la-Ville?** The most recent population figure recorded for Bréhain-la-Ville is 463 residents. The historical population data shows fluctuations over time, with figures ranging from as low as 175 to as high as 463, indicating demographic changes throughout the commune's history. **What are the geographical coordinates of Bréhain-la-Ville?** Bréhain-la-Ville is located at latitude 49.4375°N and longitude 5.8813888888889°E, positioning it in the northeastern part of France near the border with Luxembourg and Germany. **What is the administrative history of Meurthe-et-Moselle department?** The Meurthe-et-Moselle department was established on September 7, 1871, following the aftermath of the Franco-Prussian War. It was formed from parts of the former Meurthe department and territory annexed by Germany during that conflict. **What notable building or landmark exists in Bréhain-la-Ville?** The commune features the Church of Bréhain-la-Ville (Eglise_Brehain_ville), a religious structure documented in photography. The image of this church, captured by user Aimelaime on French Wikipedia, is available on Wikimedia Commons under public domain license. **What is the website for Bréhain-la-Ville's municipal administration?** The official website for Bréhain-la-Ville's municipal administration is http://www.brehain-la-ville.mairie54.fr, where local government information and services would presumably be provided to residents and visitors. ## Why It Matters Bréhain-la-Ville, while a small commune, represents the foundational unit of French local administration. As part of the commune of France system—an administrative division with roots dating back to 1789—it embodies the decentralized governance structure that characterizes the French Republic. The commune system is essential to France's unitary state organization, providing direct municipal services to citizens and serving as the closest level of government to the population. The commune's location in Meurthe-et-Moselle places it in a region of significant historical importance. This department was formed in 1871 following the Treaty of Frankfurt that ended the Franco-Prussian War, when France lost Alsace-Lorraine to the German Empire. The department's creation represents France's territorial reorganization and its determination to maintain administrative presence in the contested eastern frontier region. From a geographical perspective, Bréhain-la-Ville's coordinates at 49.4375°N and 5.8813888888889°E place it in the Lorraine region, an area known for its strategic position between France, Germany, and Luxembourg. This location has historically made the region a focal point of European conflicts and diplomatic negotiations, including the Treaty of Verdun in 843 AD that established West Francia, a precursor to modern France. The commune's population dynamics, fluctuating between 175 and 463 residents across the recorded data series, reflect broader trends in rural French demographics. Many small communes in eastern France have experienced population decline followed by partial stabilization or modest growth as people seek quieter rural lifestyles while maintaining connectivity to urban employment centers. ## Notable For - **Historical Administrative Structure**: As part of the commune of France system established in 1789, Bréhain-la-Ville participates in one of Europe's oldest continuous systems of municipal organization - **Strategic Geographic Position**: Located in northeastern France near Luxembourg and Germany, in a region that has been central to European geopolitics for centuries - **Departmental Heritage**: Part of Meurthe-et-Moselle, a department created in 1871 following the Franco-Prussian War's territorial adjustments - **Arrondissement Affiliation**: Belongs to the arrondissement of Briey, an administrative division that encompasses several communes in eastern Meurthe-et-Moselle ## Body ### Geography and Location Bréhain-la-Ville is positioned at coordinates 49.4375°N latitude and 5.8813888888889°E longitude, placing it in the northeastern portion of France within the Lorraine region. The commune sits in the Meurthe-et-Moselle department, which itself is located in the Grand Est administrative region that encompasses northeastern France. The arrondissement of Briey serves as the intermediate administrative level between the department and the commune. The geographical positioning of Bréhain-la-Ville places it in close proximity to France's eastern borders. The department of Meurthe-et-Moselle shares boundaries with Luxembourg to the north and Germany to the east, making this region a significant area for cross-border relations within Europe. The area is characterized by a landscape typical of eastern France, with rolling hills and agricultural land interspersed with forested areas. ### Administrative History The commune of France, of which Bréhain-la-Ville is a part, represents the lowest level of administrative division in France. This system was established in 1789 during the French Revolution, replacing the previous feudal administrative structures. The commune system was designed to create uniform, rational administrative units across the French territory, and it has remained fundamentally unchanged in structure since its inception, though boundaries and specific commune designations have been modified over time. The department of Meurthe-et-Moselle, within which Bréhain-la-Ville is located, has a more specific historical origin. It was created on September 7, 1871, following the conclusion of the Franco-Prussian War (1870-1871). The department was formed from portions of the former Meurthe department, combined with territory that had been under German control but was returned to France. This historical context gives the department and its communes, including Bréhain-la-Ville, a unique position in French administrative geography. The arrondissement of Briey, to which Bréhain-la-Ville belongs, represents another layer in France's administrative hierarchy. Arrondissements serve as subdivisions of departments and contain multiple communes organized together for administrative efficiency and local governance coordination. ### Demographics and Population The population data for Bréhain-la-Ville reveals significant fluctuations over time. The recorded population figures span a considerable range, from 175 residents to 463 residents, with the most recent figure standing at 463. These numbers indicate that the commune has experienced periods of growth and decline, likely corresponding to broader economic and social trends affecting rural communities in eastern France. The population dynamics of small communes like Bréhain-la-Ville are influenced by multiple factors, including employment opportunities, agricultural conditions, access to services and transportation, and broader demographic shifts affecting rural Europe. The commune's proximity to urban centers and cross-border employment opportunities in Luxembourg and Germany may influence its population stability. ### Municipal Infrastructure and Services Bréhain-la-Ville maintains a municipal administration that provides essential services to its residents. The commune operates through its municipal government, which handles local affairs including civil registration, local planning, maintenance of public spaces and roads, and coordination of municipal services. The official municipal website (http://www.brehain-la-ville.mairie54.fr) serves as a point of contact between the local government and citizens, providing information about municipal services, local announcements, and administrative procedures. As part of the French administrative system, Bréhain-la-Ville operates under the framework of the French Republic's laws and regulations. The commune falls within the jurisdiction of the departmental prefect and follows the administrative guidelines established by both the departmental and regional governments. ### Cultural and Architectural Heritage The commune features notable architectural heritage in the form of the Church of Bréhain-la-Ville (Eglise_Brehain_ville). This religious structure represents the traditional architectural heritage of rural French communes, where the church often serves as a central landmark and community gathering point. The church has been documented through photography, with an image captured by Aimelaime, a contributor to French Wikipedia, making it part of the digital cultural heritage available through Wikimedia Commons. The image of the church is available in high resolution and is distributed under public domain license, allowing for free use and reproduction. This documentation contributes to the preservation and accessibility of the commune's cultural heritage, making it visible to a global audience through digital platforms. ### Regional Context and Relationships Bréhain-la-Ville exists within a complex web of administrative and geographical relationships. At the national level, it is part of France, a country with deep historical roots extending back to the Treaty of Verdun in 843 AD, which established West Francia, and the founding of the First French Empire in 1804. France operates as a semi-presidential republic with a unitary structure, and the commune system represents the most local expression of this governance model. At the departmental level, Bréhain-la-Ville is connected to Meurthe-et-Moselle, one of France's 101 departments. The department's capital is Nancy, a significant urban center in eastern France. Meurthe-et-Moselle is part of the Grand Est region, which was formed in 2016 through the merger of the former Alsace, Champagne-Ardenne, and Lorraine regions. The arrondissement of Briey provides another administrative connection, grouping Bréhain-la-Ville with neighboring communes within a shared administrative framework. This arrangement facilitates coordination on matters such as infrastructure development, emergency services, and regional planning. ### Digital Presence and Information Access Bréhain-la-Ville maintains a digital presence through its official municipal website and its entry on Wikipedia. The Wikipedia article for Bréhain-la-Ville has a sitelink count of 41, indicating moderate visibility within the Wikipedia ecosystem. The commune's Wikidata entry provides structured data including its geographic coordinates, administrative relationships, and basic demographic information, facilitating its integration into knowledge graphs and data applications. The availability of photographic documentation of the church, along with the image's public domain licensing, demonstrates the commune's integration into the broader ecosystem of open knowledge and digital heritage preservation. This digital presence, while modest, ensures that information about Bréhain-la-Ville remains accessible to researchers, journalists, and citizens interested in learning about this French commune. ## References 1. Virtual International Authority File 2. BnF authorities 3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018 4. INSEE code 5. répertoire géographique des communes 6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 7. Annuaire de service-public.fr 8. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017 9. Populations légales 2016 10. Populations légales 2017 11. Populations légales 2018 12. [Populations légales communales depuis 1968. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies](https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2522602) 13. Populations légales 2019 14. Populations légales 2020 15. Populations légales 2021 16. Populations de référence 2022 17. Populations de référence 2023 18. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419) 19. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies 20. GeoNames 21. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z) 22. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z) 23. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)