Balbronn

Coordinates: 48°35′04″N 7°26′16″E / 48.5844°N 7.4378°E / 48.5844; 7.4378
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Balbronn
Commune
The Protestant church in Balbronn
The Protestant church in Balbronn
Coat of arms of Balbronn
Coat of arms
Location of Balbronn
Map
Balbronn is located in France
Balbronn
Balbronn
Balbronn is located in Grand Est
Balbronn
Balbronn
Coordinates: 48°35′04″N 7°26′16″E / 48.5844°N 7.4378°E / 48.5844; 7.4378
CountryFrance
RegionGrand Est
DepartmentBas-Rhin
ArrondissementMolsheim
CantonSaverne
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Daniel Reutenauer[1]
Area
1
10.18 km2 (3.93 sq mi)
Population
 (2021)[2]
673
 • Density66/km2 (170/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
67018 /67310
Elevation209–450 m (686–1,476 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Balbronn (French pronunciation: [balbʁɔn] ⓘ; German: Ballbronn) is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in the Grand Est region of north-eastern France.

Geography[edit]

Balbronn is located some 25 kilometres west of Strasbourg and 8 km south-west of Wasselonne. Access to the commune is by the D75 road from Westhoffen in the north which passes through the village and continues west through the commune then south-west to Oberhaslach. The D275 goes from the village south-east to Bergbieten. The commune is mostly farmland but with large forests north of the D75 in the west of the commune.[3]

Le Schleithal river flows south through the forests in the west and continues south through the commune to join the Bruche at Dinsheim-sur-Bruche. The Niedermattgraben rises near the village and flows south-east to join the Kehlbach east of Bergbieten.[3]

Neighbouring communes and villages[edit]

[3]

History[edit]

In his chronicle, Hertzog describes Balbronn as a Staettlin (small town). The church is very old. Inside it is a headstone from 1574 containing the remains of Jean de Mittelhausen and his wife Barbe Hufel.

In the forests in the west of Balbronn there was once a village called Elbersforst which was in a large clearing in the forest where there is now the Auberge d'Elemerforst. A plaque indicates that the place is the property of the Notre Dame works. Stones from the old village can still be seen above the restaurant patio. These are the old foundations of several buildings of what was formerly called Elbersforst. Since 2007 this medieval town has been the subject of archaeological excavations. Elbersforst was part of Westhoffen which depended on Marmourtier Abbey.

Heraldry[edit]

Arms of Balbronn
Arms of Balbronn
 Blazon:

Gules, a fountain Argent between four roses of Or set 2 and 2.

These are Canting arms based on Bronn, a derivative of Brunne meaning "fountain" in German.



Administration[edit]

List of Successive Mayors[4]

From To Name Party Position
2001 2026 Daniel Reutenauer Policy officer

Demography[edit]

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Balbronnais or Balbronnaises in French.[5]

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1793 935—    
1800 904−0.48%
1806 921+0.31%
1821 993+0.50%
1831 1,103+1.06%
1836 1,081−0.40%
1841 1,076−0.09%
1846 1,140+1.16%
1851 1,093−0.84%
1856 994−1.88%
1861 1,033+0.77%
1866 1,062+0.56%
1871 1,019−0.82%
1875 1,010−0.22%
1880 994−0.32%
1885 1,014+0.40%
1890 1,028+0.27%
1895 1,003−0.49%
YearPop.±% p.a.
1900 905−2.04%
1905 885−0.45%
1910 852−0.76%
1921 687−1.94%
1926 652−1.04%
1931 642−0.31%
1936 639−0.09%
1946 618−0.33%
1954 589−0.60%
1962 594+0.11%
1968 600+0.17%
1975 587−0.31%
1982 563−0.59%
1990 581+0.39%
1999 602+0.40%
2007 649+0.94%
2012 634−0.47%
2017 656+0.68%
Source: EHESS[6] and INSEE[7]

Culture and heritage[edit]

Civil heritage[edit]

The commune has many buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments:

  • A Jewish House (1628) at 47-48 Rue Balbach[8]
  • Farmhouses (14th-19th century)[9]
  • A Chateau at Rue du Chateau (15th century)[10]
  • The Town Hall/School at 63 Place de la Mairie (1897)[11]
  • A Protestant School at 170 Place du Pasteur-Albert-Kiefer (1834)[12]
  • A Merchant's House at 29 Rue des Tonneliers (19th century)[13]
  • A Forester's House at Elmersforst (1755)[14]

Religious heritage[edit]

The commune has several religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:

  • A Synagogue (disused) at Rue des Femmes (1895)[15]
  • A Protestant Presbytery 173 Rue du Fossé (1732).[16] The Presbytery contains 2 communion ewers (18th century) which are registered as an historical object.[17]
  • A Protestant Church at Place du Pasteur-Albert-Kiefer (12th century)[18]
  • The Parish Church of Saint-Catherine at Rue de Westhoffen (20th century).[19] The church contains many items that are registered as historical objects:
  • The Interdenominational Cemetery at Rue de Westhoffen (1882)[28]
  • The Church and Cemetery of Balbronn (12th century).[29] The Cemetery contains a Cemetery Cross (19th century) which is registered as an historical object.[30]

Notable people linked to the commune[edit]

  • Louis Albert Kiefer, pastor from 1873 to 1913, the date of his death, author of the book: Die geschichte Balbronn, 1894.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Populations légales 2021". The National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 28 December 2023.
  3. ^ a b c Google Maps
  4. ^ List of Mayors of France (in French)
  5. ^ Le nom des habitants du 67 - Bas-Rhin, habitants.fr
  6. ^ Des villages de Cassini aux communes d'aujourd'hui: Commune data sheet Balbronn, EHESS (in French).
  7. ^ Population en historique depuis 1968, INSEE
  8. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA67006502 Jewish House (in French)
  9. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA67006504 38 Rue des Champs IA67006505 65 Rue du Chateau IA67006506 40 Rue des Femmes IA67006507 41 Rue des Femmes IA67006508 93 rue de la Fôret IA67006510 169 Rue Neuve IA67006509 17 Rue Neuve IA67006511 122-123 Rue Principale IA67006512 136 Rue Principale IA67006519 Houses and Farms (in French)
  10. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA67006514 Chateau (in French)
  11. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA67006516 Town Hall/School (in French)
  12. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA67006515 Protestant School (in French)
  13. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA67006503 Merchant's House (in French)
  14. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA67006513 Forester's House (in French)
  15. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA67000036 IA67006517 Synagogue (in French)
  16. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA67006501 Protestant Presbytery (in French)
  17. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM67001199 2 Communion Ewers (in French)
  18. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA67006522 Protestant Church (in French)
  19. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA67006521 Parish Church of Saint-Catherine (in French)
  20. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM67010309 Furniture in the church (in French)
  21. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM67010308 Chalice with Paten and Spoon (in French)
  22. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM67010307 Painting: Saint Catherine (in French)
  23. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM67010306 Eucharistic Cabinet (in French)
  24. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM67010305 Baptismal font (in French)
  25. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM67010304 Main Altar (in French)
  26. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM67010303 3 Stained glass windows (in French)
  27. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM67010302 Monumental Cross (in French)
  28. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée IA67006520 Interdenominational Cemetery (in French)
  29. ^ Ministry of Culture, Mérimée PA00085276 Church and Cemetery of Balbronn (in French)
  30. ^ Ministry of Culture, Palissy IM67010301 Cemetery Cross (in French)

External links[edit]

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balbronn.
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