Raon-sur-Plaine
Raon-sur-Plaine () is a commune in the Vosges department in Grand Est in northeastern France. Inhabitants are called Raonnais. Geography Raon-sur-Plaine is positioned in the Celles Valley, to the west of the highest point of the North Vosges Mountains, the Donon Peak. The valley is a classic V shaped one, followed by the River Plaine which here follows a relatively indirect course. Sited at an average altitude of 430 meters, the little village is surrounded by a number of hills, such as the Hazelle and the Charaille, and contains several mountain streams such as the Goudiot streams. The vegetation is dominated by conifer forests which historically have been a source of wealth. The climate is 'continental' which means, by the standards of central France, cold winters, but warm summers, supported by relatively high levels of precipitation. The layout of the village is broadly linear, set along the route of a former main road linking Lorraine with Strasbourg in Alsace. The road was 'declassified' after 1972, by when alternative routes to the north and south had been upgraded. The confined nature of the valley and the mountainous terraine enforce a compact layout for the village itself. The mountain topography also enforces