In 58 BC, Julius Caesar’s troops conquered the region and brought with them the Roman culture, built roads and imported vines. The Alsace region’s touristic appeal is closely linked to its rich history. The Alsace region is also known for the richness of its gastronomy.
According to a 2022 study, 46% of the population of Alsace still describe themselves as dialect-speakers. Like all regional languages in France, however, the transmission of Alsatian is on the decline. The survey counted 548,000 adult speakers of Alsatian in France, making it the second most-spoken regional language in the country (after Occitan). Although the French government signed the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 1992, it never ratified the treaty and therefore no legal basis exists for any of the regional languages in France. However, Alsatian, along with other regional languages, are recognized by the French government in the official list of languages of France. However, while French is the major language of the region, the Alsatian dialect of French is heavily influenced by German and other languages such as Yiddish in phonology and vocabulary.
Alsace within the Holy Roman Empire
By 4000 BC, farming arrived in the form of Linear Pottery culture in the region from the Danube and the Hungarian plain. The city is the seat of several international organizations and bodies. The economic and cultural capital of Alsace, as well as its largest city, is Strasbourg, which sits on the present German international border.
Pamper yourself in one of Alsace’s 7 outstanding spas
The bird practically disappeared around 1970, but re-population efforts are continuing. Alsace is also the main beer-producing region of France, thanks primarily to breweries in and near Strasbourg. Alsace is also well known for its foie gras made in the region since the 17th century. The festivities of the year's end involve the production of a great variety of biscuits and small cakes called bredela as well as pain d'épices (gingerbread cakes) which are baked around Christmas time. Traditional dishes include baeckeoffe, flammekueche, choucroute, and fleischnacka.
- Strasbourg began to grow to become the most populous and commercially important town in the region.
- Saint-Louis and its suburbs form part of the Basel agglomération in Switzerland, which comprises 830,000 inhabitants in Swiss and German towns.
- However, the Constitution of France still requires that French be the only official language of the Republic.
- As it underlines the Germanic roots of the region, it was replaced in 1949 by a new “Union jack-like” flag representing the union of the two départements.
- Textile manufacturing, based in and around Mulhouse, is one of the region’s oldest industries, though now it has little importance.
- The alsatian industry has been facing diversification, particularly since 2004 when many potassium mines (Mines de potasse d’Alsace or MDPA) were closed for good.
The Alemanni were agricultural people, and their Germanic language formed the basis of modern-day dialects spoken along the Upper Rhine (Alsatian, Alemannian, Swabian, Swiss). As a border province, the Romans built fortifications and military camps, many of which, including Argentoratum (Strasbourg), evolved into modern towns and cities. From the time of Augustus to the early fifth century AD, the area of Alsace was incorporated into the Roman province of Germania Superior. In 58 BC, after negotiations with Ariovistus failed, Julius Caesar routed the Suebi at the foot of the Vosges near what became Cernay in southern Alsace. The culture was characterized by "timber longhouse settlements and incised pottery … favoring floodplain edge situations for their permanent villages … and small clearings in the forest" for their crops and animals."
The commercial partners of Alsace
Alsace, located in northeastern France, is a picturesque and culturally rich region that offers a wide range of attractions for tourists. Whether you’re drawn to its Christmas markets, outdoor adventures, or gastronomic delights, Alsace promises an unforgettable journey through one of France’s most distinctive and alluring destinations. Visitors to Alsace can immerse themselves in a unique fusion of cultures, evident in the region’s architecture, cuisine, and traditions. From the stunning Vosges Mountains to the meandering Rhine River, Alsace offers a diverse landscape that beckons travelers to explore its natural beauty and charming towns.
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In order not to antagonize the Alsatians, the region was not subjected to some legal changes that had glitzbets casino registration occurred in the rest of France between 1871 and 1919, such as the 1905 French law on the separation of Church and State. With the arrival of the French soldiers, many Alsatians and local Prussian/German administrators and bureaucrats cheered the re-establishment of order. Between 100,000 and 130,000 Alsatians (of a total population of about a million and a half) chose to remain French citizens and leave Reichsland Elsaß–Lothringen, many of them resettling in French Algeria as Pieds-Noirs. The constitution of the Reichsland of 1911 reserved one seat in the first chamber of the Landtag for a representative of the Jewish Consistory of Alsace–Lorraine (besides two seats respectively for the two main Christian denominations). Antisemitic local riots occasionally occurred, especially during the Revolution of 1848.
Places to visit in Alsace
This enchanting land is renowned for its picturesque villages with half-timbered houses, rolling vineyards producing world-class wines, and a rich cultural heritage that spans centuries. At the southernmost tip of Alsace, about an hour’s drive south of Colmar, towards the Swiss border, this little morsel of paradise feels light years away from the rest of the region. One of Alsace’s best-kept secrets, the Sundgau offers a wonderful bucolic atmosphere, rolling pasturelands interspersed with ponds and time-forgotten villages. Unlike villages on the Route des Vins, you won’t find any colorful façades here, for the natural white of lime was cheaper.
- The festivities of the year’s end involve the production of a great variety of biscuits and small cakes called bredela as well as pain d’épices (gingerbread cakes) which are baked around Christmas time.
- The Alsace vineyards extend across the hills of the Vosges at between 200 and 400 metres high, over some 14,000 hectares of grapevines which produce an average of 150 million bottles of wine.
- For travelers looking to immerse themselves in local culture and language essentials.
- Alsace formed part of the Middle Francia, which was ruled by the eldest grandson Lothar I.
- The Upper Rhine region, of which Alsace is part, is located at the heart of the European Megalopolis, which stretches from Liverpool to Geneva.
- In addition to these three dynasties, the region was divided into many territories meshed with each other, operating under the authority of little lords, laymen or clergymen.
Alsace is known for its picturesque villages and towns, each with its own unique charm and attractions. Alsace, located in northeastern France, is a region known for its picturesque villages, vineyard-covered hills, and a blend of French and Germanic culture. Don’t miss the chance to savor dishes like choucroute (sauerkraut with sausages and other meats), tarte flambée (similar to pizza), and delicious Alsatian wines, including Riesling and Gewürztraminer. You can visit wineries for tastings and explore charming towns like Riquewihr, Eguisheim, and Kaysersberg.
There is now a population of about 900 chamois in the Vosges, particularly in the high ridges of the valley of Munster above 800 metres. Today, the mountain range provides a habitat for about 30 lynxes. With an annual recorded rainfall of 530mm, Colmar and its region take advantage of one of France’s driest climates, making it ideal for vines to grow on the southern slopes. From Colmar, next to the foothills and at the base of the Vosges mountains, clouds arriving from the West are forced to rise and fall as precipitation over the high summits, hence protecting the lower area from rain. The topography of Alsace, the Vosges and the Black Forest in Germany all play a major role in the local climate. In the South-West, the Gate of Burgundy opens Alsace to Franche-Comté, while the crest of the Vosges mountains serves as a natural border with Lorraine.
Alsatian folk music is essentially orchestral and is closely linked to German, Swiss and particularly Austrian music, due to the history of the region. This traditional symbol of the Alsace region can often be admired at tourist and cultural events. It can change from one village to another, and some areas have their own characteristic costumes which may differ greatly, in particular in the Vosges mountains, the Sundgau and Alsace Bossue. The Alsatian costume as we know it today developed during the 18th century and is reminiscent of rural Alsace, of the region’s history and religious beliefs. However, attendance at Protestant and Catholic services is reflected by the number of churches still open and which can still be visited throughout the region. Strasbourg and the region of Wissembourg were the main bastions of Protestantism, while the rest of Alsace remained Catholic and loyal to the Habsburgs.
French lost ground to such an extent that it has been estimated that only 2% of the population spoke French fluently, and only 8% had some knowledge of it (Maugue, 1970). Between 1870 and 1918, Alsace was annexed by the German Empire in the form of an imperial province or Reichsland, and the mandatory official language, especially in schools, became High German. The French language never really managed, however, to win over the masses, the vast majority of whom continued to speak their German dialects and write in German (which we would now call "standard German").citation needed From the annexation of Alsace by France in the 17th century and the language policy of the French Revolution up to 1870, knowledge of French in Alsace increased considerably. Although German dialects were spoken in Alsace for most of its history, the dominant language in Alsace today is French.
A stop on the Paris-Vienna-Orient trade route, as well as a port on the Rhine route linking southern Germany and Switzerland to the Netherlands, England and Scandinavia, it became the political and economic center of the region. Part of the province of Germania Superior in the Roman Empire, the area went on to become a diffuse border region between the French and the German cultures and languages. Regarding the Alsace Wine Route, it’s quite feasible to explore it using public transportation, especially if you’re staying in one of the larger towns like Strasbourg or Colmar.
Nestled in the heart of Europe, Alsace is a captivating region in northeastern France that seamlessly blends French and German influences. In fact, this area has actually changed hands between the two countries several times throughout history. Alsace is such a special region of France. Partly built during WWI to supply French frontline troops, the 80km (50-mile)-long Route des Crêtes (Ridge Road) in the upper slopes of the Vosges takes you to the highest mountain peaks. Outdoorsy types will find plenty of opportunities to enjoy the Route des Vins at their own pace, whether by bike or on foot. Many of the independent AOC wine producers offer free wine tasting at their cellars.
These villages are gems of the wine country and often comprise old medieval ramparts, winding alleyways that bloom with magnificent geraniums, winstubs, half-timbered houses and medieval churches. The position of Alsace within the Holy Roman Empire at the time of the Reformation further complicated the fragile political balance in the Upper Rhine region. This is due to the region having belonged to the Holy Roman Empire until the 17th century, and also to the fact that the region has passed between German and French control four times between 1870 and 1945. In addition to the AOC, the notes “Late Harvest” (Récoltes Tardives) and “Selection of Noble Grains” (Sélection des Grains Nobles) designate rare wines, which are most often the most mellow or syrupy. Since 1972, it has been compulsory for wine to be bottled in the region where it is produced.
