Mittelwihr

Mittelwihr (German Central Weier ) is a commune in the department of Haut-Rhin in the Alsace region. It belongs to the district Ribeauvillé, the canton of Kaysersberg and is a member of the Association of Municipalities Ribeauvillé. The village has 816 inhabitants (as of 1 January 2011).

• 4.1 Sons and daughters of the town

Geography

The town is located 220 meters above sea level in the western Upper Rhine Plain, approximately eight kilometers north of Colmar at the foot of the Vosges. The municipality is part of the Regional Natural Park of Ballons des Vosges.

History

The first historical mention of this village there is from the year 974 Mittelwihr was from 1324 part of the property of Horbourg- Riquewihr. From 1534 until the French Revolution of 1789 was Mittelwihr owned by the Counts of Württemberg -Montbéliard.

During World War II Mittelwihr was in December 1944 during the fighting in the " Colmar Pocket " ( Poche de Colmar) - the last battle of World War II on French territory - severely damaged by bombing.

Demographics

Economy and infrastructure

Original industry was the wine, the abbeys of Murbach, Saint Hippolyte- Lièpvre and Ebersmunster had here their vineyards. Even today, the wine plays a crucial economic role. The wine town is situated on the Alsace Wine Route. The individual layer almond mountain belongs to the Alsace Grand Cru sites.

Personalities

Sons and daughters of the town

• Friedrich Paul Greiner (* 1871), Member of Parliament and President of the Alsace Wine Farmers' Association