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ALSACE |
The Alsace Area is one of smallest regions in France. With a surface area of 8,280 km, it is approximately 200 km long and 30 to 40 km broad. In 1990, the population of the area reached the 1,624,372 inhabitant. Alsace was initially populated Celtic people (it belonged to the kingdom of Arvernes a century before Jesus Christ). In 65 BC, the area was occupied by Suèves d' Arioviste. Ariovists where then driven out in 58 BC by the troops of Julius Caesar. These battles where centered around Cernay). One of the tribes called Triboques, Germano-Celtic, settled in the area and remained after the escape of the Arioviste. During nearly four centuries, the Greco-Roman civilization settled in Alsace. Introduction of the culture of the vine, construction of many roads supporting the economic advancement of the area. Strasbourg (Argentorate) becomes the significant city of the area; other cities develop (Saverne, Seltz, Kembs, Wissembourg).
After the introduction of Christianity in Alsace (under the authority of the bishops of Strasbourg and Basle), the rechristianisation took place in the 7th Century. Of many monasteries (Wissembourg, Murbach, Munster, Marmoutier, Sainte-Odile) formed genuine hearths of economic life and Latin culture. In the 8th century appear the first monumental sanctuaries: Saint-Etienne of Strasbourg (founded by Sainte-Attale, resulting from the family of the dukes of Alsace), Dompeter d' Avolsheim... Alsace formed a duchy under the Mérovingiennes dynasties. With the succession of Charlemagne, second king of the Francs Carolingien and Louis the Piles where overthrown from revolted by his sons. By the Oath of Strasbourg (842), the two juniors Louis the Germanic one and Charles the Bald person (France) promised to help each other. The area was separated into two regions in 843. One called the Lothaire Ier and the other Lotharingie, named the Treaty of Verdun. By this treaty in (870), Half belonged to the Holy roman Empire Roman Germanium, and the other to The king de Germane.
Alsace had major problems until the end of the Middle Ages. Appearance of new Lords which wanted power over the lands: families of Habsbourg in High Alsace (southern of the area), Ribeaupierre (Rappolstein) in "central" Alsace, Lichtenberg, in Low-Alsace (northern of the area). These three dynasties, ended up feuding over disputed lands.
The 8th and 9th centuries mark one boom, and the town of Haguenau became the residence of the large imperial baillif, while Strasbourg became a significant city of the Holy roman Empire Roman, forming a republic independent within the framework of the Empire.
A Victory in 1262, at the Battle of Hausbergen. Released Strasbourg from the supervision of its bishop who will reside at Saverne. Low-Alsace (Alsace of north) was parceled out between the bishops of Strasbourg and ten princess. In 1268, the duke Conrad V separated his stronghold into two sections: One in the north, landgraviate (sovereign county) of Nordgau or Low-Alsace (with the bishops of Strasbourg after 1365); in the south, county of Sundgau (in Habsbourg).
Alsace was usually parceled out politically because of the obliteration of the imperial capacity and the enrichment of the urban middle-class. In 1354, Décapole of Alsace formed a league of the ten commercial towns most significant, under imperial protection, namely the free cities of Mulhouse, Colmar, Munster, Turckheim, Kaysersberg, Sélestat, Obernai, Rosheim, Haguenau, and Wissembourg (in 1511, Landau will replace there Mulhouse which is combined, in 1515, with the Swiss League) In 1439, Gutenberg invented printing press in Strasbourg. Many writers, such Herrade de Landsberg (handwritten "Hortus Deliciarum" or "Garden of the Delights"), Ottfrid de Wissembourg, took part in the intellectual life while the artistic life gave civilization the of Middle Ages a sharp glare.
In 16th century, Alsace was at its peak of humanism and Reform (1530). More divided politically than ever, the province saw an intense intellectual radiation. Strasbourg Became famous for the quality of its artillery (imperial deposit). Its magistrate, Jacques Sturm (deceased in 1553), was one of the mentors of the European arms policy. In 1580, the Bishop Jean de Manderscheidt called the Jesuits in Alsace: to construct the colleges in Molsheim (becoming a university 1617), of Haguenau and Sélestat; then of Rouffach and Ensisheim (diocese of Basle).
During 16th and 17th centuries, Alsace had a long period of social, religious, political and economic growth. At the time of the Revolt of the Peasants, the peasants of Alsace oppressed by their lords and encouraged by the Protestants who promise freedom to them, raised themselves against the nobility in 1525. They are crushed in Saverne and Scherwiller. During the wars of religion, of 1562 to 1598. Alsace was invaded on several occasions by the German Protestant troops which where paid to help the French Huguenots. The population suffers from plundering of undisciplined bands.
The 17thcentury saw the Alsatian area as a battle field of the Thirty Year old War (1618-1648). The entire country was put at bay by the Germans, the Swedes, the Spaniards, the Lorraine ones, the French... The massacres, famines, and the epidemics reduce the population by half. In order to escape the Swedes, Évêché of Strasbourg, the County of Hanau, then certain cities of Décapole Alsace was put under French protection in 1634. The French troops ended up staying in Alsace. In 1638-39, Louis XIII king of France ordered General Bernard mercenary of Saxony-Weimar as the overseer of Alsace. By 1639 to 1643 whole the country, except Strasbourg and Mulhouse, was occupied. Louis XIII asserts for his person the title of landgrave. In 1648, the treaties of Westphalia transferred to the King of France "the rights of the Emperor on Alsace", which meant, in direct possession of, the grounds of habsbourgeoises (including/understanding most of High-Alsace) and as Official Authority (called prefecture) on Décapole.
Consequently, after the Thirty Year old War, there was a significant immigration, mainly Swiss. The King of France commits himself respecting the rights of the German princes on the fields which they have in Alsace. Strasbourg and Mulhouse remain free cities. In 1648, most of the provinces were divided between Habsbourg, archdukes of Austria and Emperors of the Holy roman Empire (seigniories of Marimont, Altkirch, Thann, Belfort), the Prince-Bishops of Strasbourg (Saverne, Molsheim, Benfeld), the Counts de Hanau-Lichtenberg (Bouxwiller, Woerth, Ingwiller), the house Palatine (counties of Small Pierre, of Ribeaupierre), the Republic of Strasbourg (Barr, Wasselonne). From 1673 to 1681, the King of France Louis XIV ensures his suzerainty on the remainder of the country, and lastly in Strasbourg (1681). Mulhouse, allied with the Swiss cantons since 1515, remains independent. In 1697, the treaty of Ryswick recognizes the suzerainty of King de France on Alsace (the local lords would remain until the French revolution).
After the War of Holland in 1679, the Dutch confirmed the rights of Louis XIV on Alsace. At the beginning of the 18th
century, Vauban, the administrator of Alsace began building fortresses along the Rhine (Strasbourg, Sélestat, Neuf-Brisach, Huningue, like Belfort), to ensure the safety of Alsace. Draining of marsh and rebuilding of the road network. The religious policy supported Catholicism then. Radiation of the university of Strasbourg in Protestant Europe (students: Metternich, Cobenzl, Goethe, as well as many Russians). Rise of goldsmithery of Strasbourg, development of industry (Vosgean mines, breweries and tobacco factories in the area of Strasbourg, spinning mills in Mulhouse), florissement of the trade by inland waterway.
Days before the revolution, more of the quarter of Alsatian where still prone to "foreign" Lords. The people (particularly in Strasbourg and in the free cities of Décapole, where very attached to their freedoms) and adopted them with enthusiasm with the new idea of Révolution. July 1789 was marked by disorder and chaos in addition rather quickly suppressed. Riots burst in Strasbourg (unpopularity of the Magistrate in charge of the administration of the city). In Sundgau, the involved in debt and miserable peasants invade the castles, abused the agents of the lords, and plundered Guebwiller the residence of the Prince-Abbot of Murbach. After the abolition of the privileges voted Tuesday August 04, 1789, the foreign princes refuse to subject themselves to the decisions of the Parliament and pushed back the allowances which where offered to them for there loyalty and to their rights and of their grounds. The province of Alsace was divided into two departments: Haut-Rhin (having Colmar for chief town) which includes/understands the districts of Colmar, Altkirch and Belfort; and the Low-Rhine (having Strasbourg for chief town) which included the districts of Strasbourg, Benfeld, Haguenau and Wissembourg.
The declaration of war in Austria, Friday April 20, 1792, causes the invasion of the north of Alsace in 1793. The French Armies where ordered to push back the Austrians to the east bank of the Rhine. In 1815 the north of Alsace between Queich and Lauter), with Pram, is annexed by Rhenish Bavaria. In 1839-41, construction of the railways Mulhouse-Thann and Strasbourg-Basle. In 1870 the Franco-German war started. Strasbourg was under siege for 31 days, and undergoes a bombardment of 18 hour a day, during which some 220 000 projectiles were counted. Unfortunately The library was burnt to the ground. With the number of the victims in the thousands Alsace concedes and becomes " The Ground Empire" (Reichsland). The law of September 06, 1871 proclaims that "the provinces of Alsace and Lorraine [ the Moselle ], yielded by France by the preliminaries of peace of February 26, 1871, within the limits fixed by the peace treaty of May 10, 1871, are joined together forever with the Empire of Germany"; in September 1871 Eduard von Moeller (1814-1880) is named Oberpraesidium (higher President)
Do to the is proclamations, the Alsatian-Natives of the Moselle region had the possibility of choosing French Nationality between September 30, 1872 and September 30, 1873 for the residents out of Europe). 128,000 Alsatian-Lorraine (that is to say approximately 8,5 % of the population including 50,000 young people from 17 to 20 years) chooses France; 70,000 will settle in Algeria. Out of 1,800,000 inhabitants in Alsace-Lorraine, 260,000 emigrated moved towards France (industrialized areas), 330,000 towards America, 400,000 German immigrants. January 1, 1874, the Constitution of the Empire of Germany east put into force in Alsace-Lorraine. Lorraine province sent 15 deputies to Reichstag. October 29, a regional delegation was created called the (Landesausschuss). May 02, 1877, Alsace obtained the authorization to deliberate the laws to emit by Kaiser (the Emperor of Germany). This authorization would be widened on July 04, 1879 with the law to make private bills. Statthalter, representing Kaiser, was named in Strasbourg, to the ministry of Alsace-Lorraine (a Secretary of State, three under-secretaries), two renewed councils every three years: the Delegation (elected) 58 members and Staatsrat (Council of State) 12 to 16 members named by the emperor. With the elections of February 21, 1887, all the protesters are elected, of deputies elected for 5 years by the direct and secret general vote. 1914 -31-7 suspended Constitution, state of siege.
Principal administrative provisions, resulting from the laws former to 1870 (repealed in France between 1870 and 1918) are in force in Alsace like belonging to the local right. 1. A logical system of land tenure: grounds and constructions registered in a land book where are mentioned: owner, mortgage 2. Mode of the supervisions: the husband surviving remains only legal guardian under the monitoring of the judge of the supervisions; in the event of death of the 2 husbands, the judge of the supervisions names a tutor (often paternal side). Surrogate guardian nor obligation to sell the inheritance to convert it into placements of the State. 3. Social Security: refunding and pension plans more advantageous than in the remainder of France. Since 1889, compulsory insurance for the agricultural accidents: contribution resting on the wages paid in agriculture (rate 5 %); forest employees: according to the forest cadastral value by commune, contribution taken on the annual product of the hiring drives out, complement perceived by % on the wages (rate 11 %); for the gamekeepers: rate 6,6 % of the gross salary. 4. Maintenance of bilingualism. 5. particular Mode of associations. 6. Law of local hunting. 7. religious Legal settlement: denominational primary schools; a crucifix always appears in the court of bases; the clergy of the 3 principal religions is paid by the State; direction of the worships in Strasbourg; shortly after been unemployed Christmas and Good Friday. 8. Commercial law: particular provisions. 9. Notaries: sworn in and named by the Minister of Interior Department; they cannot preserve in their trunks liquidities and titles of their customers (they must be versed in a banking house). 10. Circulation on the right of the trains except Mulhouse-Paris line; close to the old Franco-German border, a "flyover" allows the passage of left on the right. 11. "Allowance of administrative difficulties" for the civil personnel of the State [ going up not modified since the decree (17-9-1946 )]
1914-18 military dictatorship: 250 000 Alsatian and Lorraine mobilized in the German army, generally on the Russian face; approximately 30,000 1918 - Nov. return to France. -14-12 ministerial decree creating 4 categories of population: chart a: people from of which all the parents or grandparents were born in France, Alsace or Lorraine; B: in which a relative or grandparent is originating in All.; C: arising from the countries combined with the France or neutrals; D: enemy ex-countries. 1918 - Nov. at 1920 - seven. 110,000 inhabitants of expelled origin or partially of German origin. 1926 reacting to the policy of assimilation and awkward nesses of the French administration, a hundred the Lorraine ones constitute Heimatbund (League of the fatherland), claiming autonomy in the French framework and Franco-German bilingualism. 1927 arrests in the separatists. Several prohibited newspapers. 1928 lawsuits in Colmar of 22 separatists (a few weeks earlier, 2 had been elected with legislative): 4 judgments.
In 1939, 374,000 Alsatians evacuated towards South-west and the Center of France, in particular 80,000 Strasbourgers in the Dordogne and 11, 000 in Périgueux.; -. After the armistice, Alsace is attached to the country of Bade and is placed under the authority of Gauleiter (governor). Alsatians. are regarded as Deutsche Volk, belonging to the German nation. After World War II the forest of Obermundat was annexed by France (allowing to supply out of water all the area); German goods put under sequestration. 1962 convention: the French would release the German grounds under sequestration; on the other hand, the forest of Obermundat will be definitively attached to France. 1963 ratified by the France but not by Germany (the Constitution prohibits any separation of the own territory).
Today The Alsace Region sets its future with the tone of the past. The area has some of the richest lands in Europe. Many fine wines are attributed due to the climate of the region.
The originality of Alsace lies in its diversity with a vast panorama of history, gastronomy, culture, and museums. A broad spectrum of activities and natural beauty spots await you in this region of tradition, legends and unique festivals. Here you are the great explorer. Wend your way between the River Rhine and the Vosges mountains, through the plain, vineyards and mountains, along country lanes with fortresses and rich archaeological ruins on the horizon. Wander through the towns and villages with their starting architectural wealth combining typical rural styles and gems from the Mediaeval, Renaissance and Gothic periods…. And experience the wonders of a region which has carefully preserved its heritage. In Alsace, you will be greeted whit a smile. The warm-hearted Alsatians with their living traditions and skilled craftwork inhabit a corner of France where the good life is a byword. Whether you go for the thrill of sports or the beauty of nature, you will find what you want at the heart of the beauty of Presenting, walks and hikes… it’s all here for the taking. Here you’ll have all the time you need to experience life to the full. Local specialties, gourmet dishes, traditional flavor, vintage Alsace wines, beer and eau-de-vie… at the heart of a region where good living is an every day event.