Kaysersberg
{{short description|Part of Kaysersberg Vignoble in Grand Est, France}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox French commune
|name = Kaysersberg
|image = Kaysersberg.jpg
|native name = {{native name|gsw|Kaiserschbarig|paren=omit}} (Alsatian)
{{native name|de|Kaisersberg}}
|caption = The town as seen from the castle
|image coat of arms = Blason de la ville de Kaysersberg (68).svg
|arrondissement = Colmar-Ribeauvillé
|canton = Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines
|INSEE = 68162
|postal code = 68240
|type = Delegated commune
|commune = Kaysersberg Vignoble
|coordinates = {{coord|48.14|7.26|format=dms|display=inline,title}}
|elevation m = 240
|elevation min m = 236
|elevation max m = 924
|area km2 = 24.82
|population = 2414
|population date = 2022
|population footnotes = {{cite web|url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/fichier/8290591/ensemble.pdf|title=Populations de référence 2022|language=fr|trans-title=Reference populations 2022|publisher=INSEE|date=December 2024}}
}}
Kaysersberg ({{IPA|fr|kajzœʁsbɛʁɡ|lang}}; {{langx|de|Kaisersberg}} {{IPA|de|ˈkaɪzɐsbɛʁk||Kaisersberg.ogg}}; {{langx|gsw-FR|Kaiserschbarig}}) is a historical town and former commune in Alsace in northeastern France. The name is German for Emperor's Mountain. The high fortress that dominates the town serves as a reminder of both its strategic importance and its warlike past.
Kaysersberg lies in the canton of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, which itself is a subdivision of the Colmar-Ribeauvillé arrondissement. It was a separate commune until 1 January 2016, when it was merged into the new commune of Kaysersberg Vignoble together with nearby Kientzheim and Sigolsheim, and remains its seat.[http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/jo_pdf.do?id=JORFTEXT000031665358 Arrêté] 14 July 2015 {{in lang|fr}}
The town was first mentioned in 1227, when Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor purchased the castle and gave orders to refortify it. During the Middle Ages, Kaysersberg, a member of the Décapole, prospered. In 1648, the city became a part of France, although most inhabitants continued to speak German. From 1871 to 1918 and (again from 1940 to 1944) Kaysersberg belonged to Germany.
In 2017 Kaysersberg was voted the Village préféré des Français (Village favoured by the French). The inhabitants are called Kaysersbergeois.
Geography
Kaysersberg lies about {{convert|12|km|mi|0}} northwest of Colmar, on the eastern slopes of the Vosges mountains, on the river Weiss.
Kaysersberg lies on the Route des Vins d'Alsace (Alsace "Wine Route"). Kaysersberg is north of Ammerschwihr and south of Riquewihr.
Population
{{Historical populations
|source = EHESS{{Cassini-Ehess|21567|Kaysersberg}} and INSEE (2007-2019){{cite web|url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/2123878?geo=COM-68162|title=Populations légales 2012: Commune de Kaysersberg (68162)|publisher=INSEE|date=27 December 2014}}
|percentages = pagr
|align = none
|1962 |2821
|1968 |2979
|1975 |2942
|1982 |2707
|1990 |2755
|1999 |2676
|2007 |2720
|2012 |2705
|2022 |2414
}}
Economy
The area around Kaysersberg is one of the finest wine-growing areas in Alsace. The first vines were brought here in the 16th century from Hungary, and wine production is still an important aspect of the town's economy today. Wine produced from the pinot gris variety is a local specialty.
Culture
Kaysersberg is a historic town, that has preserved many architectural monuments. These include:
- Église Sainte-Croix, the oldest parts of which date form the 13th century{{Base Mérimée|IA68000563|Église paroissiale Sainte-Marie puis de l'Invention-de-la-Sainte-Croix}}
- Hôtel de ville (town hall), 16th century, renaissance style{{Base Mérimée|PA00085479|Hôtel de ville}}
- Oberhof chapel, 14th century{{Base Mérimée|PA00085472|Chapelle de l'Oberhof dite Notre-Dame du Scapulaire}}
- Saint-Michel chapel, 16th century{{Base Mérimée|PA00085471|Chapelle Saint-Michel et son ossuaire (chapelle inférieure)}}
- Château de Kaysersberg or Schlossberg, 13th century, partly ruined{{Base Mérimée|PA00085474|Château dit Schlossberg et enceinte}}
Tourism
Besides the fact that Alsace wine is produced locally, there is the ruin of Kaysersberg Castle. The ruins of Château de Wineck in Katzenthal, Château de Lupfen-Schwendi and Château de Reichenstein in Kientzheim are within walking distance.
Notable people
- Matthäus Zell (1477–1548), Protestant reformer
- Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965), theologian, musician, philosopher, and physician
- Anthony Bourdain (1956–2018), chef and writer, was found dead in Kaysersberg
Gallery
File:2003 0530Kaysersberg.jpg|On the left, Oberhof chapel
File:Kaysersberg 2008.jpg|View of Kaysersberg
File:Kaysersberg.JPG|The medieval church
File:Kaysersberg Église façade occidentale.JPG|Fountain and facade of Holy Cross Church
File:Kaysersberg SteCroix30.JPG|1518 altar inside the medieval church
File:Kaysersberg Hôtel de ville.JPG|Kaysersberg's Renaissance town hall
File:Kaysersberg.Casa.A.Schweitzer.JPG|Albert Schweitzer museum
File:Chateau Kaysersberg 2.jpg|Kaysersberg is dominated by the ruins of its castle
File:Kaysersberg Château.JPG|Kaysersberg Castle
File:Kaysersberg Cimetière et vignes 2011.jpg|Cemetery and vineyards
File:Kaysersberg Vignoble b 2011.jpg|Bell tower and roofs seen from Schlossberg
File:Maison Herzer in Kaysersberg.jpg|Maison Herzer
File:00 0389 Gebäude in Kaysersberg - Elsass.jpg|A typical building
See also
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- [https://www.kaysersberg-vignoble.fr/communes-historiques Historical commune of Kaysersberg] {{in lang|fr}}
{{Décapole}}
{{Authority control}}