Kaysersberg

Kaysersberg ( welsch Kèysprè ) is a commune with 2709 inhabitants (as of January 1, 2011 ) in the department of Haut-Rhin in the Alsace region. It belongs to the district Ribeauvillé ( Rappoltsweiler ), is the capital of the canton of Kaysersberg and the seat of the Municipal Association Vallée de Kaysersberg.

Geography

The municipality is located in Kaysersberg Valley of the White northwest of Colmar in the Alsace Wine Route. The municipality is part of the Regional Natural Park of Ballons des Vosges.

History

The Valley of White was used in the Middle Ages as a link between the Rhine Valley and Lorraine. As Castrum Keisersberg the settlement in 1227 was mentioned for the first time in a document. To protect this distance the Hohenstaufen Emperor Frederick II was the convenient place where presumably already was a castle, acquire the imperial magistrate Wölflin and again (?) Fix. 1293 Kaysersberg became a town, started to boom and entered 1353 as a free imperial city of the Decapolis Bund at. From the resident Imperial Vogt Lazarus of Schwendihotel (1522-1584) is told that this, as a military leader serving against the advancing Turks in Hungary, and from there the Tokajerrebe should have brought. In the 1648 Treaty of Westphalia, the city fell to France and then on remained, except 1871-1918, French. His privileges deprived Kaysersberg fell into broad insignificance. After the French Revolution the city was temporarily Mont- Libre. Today, the small town is a popular tourist destination with its old town.

Attractions

In many houses, high towers and churches you can see storks' nests, sitting, on and departing storks. This is especially in the spring during the mating season and rearing of young birds a spectacle.

Structures

• Created in the medieval Hohenstaufen castle has been preserved as a mighty castle ruins, leading to the city of the two footpaths. In the dungeon, a new concrete staircase was installed; the spire is this freely accessible.
• In the church of Sainte -Croix ( Holy Cross ) there is a large figure of Christ and carved by Hans Bongart from the year 1518th
• The city hall (hotel de ville ) is a watchable Renaissance building (1604 ) with courtyard.
• In the old town, there are still many richly decorated half-timbered houses.

Museums

• The local historical museum (French: Musée historique local ) is housed in a stone house from 1521 and bears witness to the history of the region.
• The Albert Schweitzer Museum (French: Musée Albert Schweitzer ) offers exhibits from the life of the 1875 born in Kaysersberg German missionary doctor Albert Schweitzer. The city belonged to the German Empire.

Church of Sainte -Croix

Town hall

Picturesque nook

Birthplace of Albert Schweitzer

The Museum Doctor Albert Schweitzer

Partnership

Kaysersberg maintains a partnership with Lambaréné in Gabon (Africa) where born in Kaysersberg Albert Schweitzer had worked in the jungle Hospital founded by him. Since 2008 there is also a partnership with the Belgian municipality Perwez in Wallonia.

Sons and daughters of the town

• Johann Geiler von Kaysersberg (1445-1510), significant German preacher of the late Middle Ages, although not born in Kaysersberg, but raised from the age of 4 here at his grandfather on.
• Matthew Zell (1477-1548), theologian and reformer
• Joseph Philippi (1808-1891), priest and member of the Reichstag
• Albert Schweitzer (1875-1965), Protestant theologian, organists, music, philosopher, missionary doctor and Nobel Peace Prize (1952 )