Balbronn

Balbronn
Commune
Coat of arms
Balbronn
Location within Grand Est region  Balbronn
Coordinates: 48°35′04″N 7°26′16″E / 48.5844°N 7.4378°E / 48.5844; 7.4378Coordinates: 48°35′04″N 7°26′16″E / 48.5844°N 7.4378°E / 48.5844; 7.4378
Country	France
Region	Grand Est
Department	Bas-Rhin
Arrondissement	Molsheim
Canton	Saverne
Government
• Mayor (2001–2020)	Daniel Reutenauer
Area1	10.18 km2 (3.93 sq mi)
Population (2010)2	625
• Density	61/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zone	CET (UTC+1)
• Summer (DST)	CEST (UTC+2)
INSEE/Postal code	67018 /67310
Elevation	209–450 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. 2 Population without double counting: residents of multiple communes (e.g., students and military personnel) only counted once.

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

The inhabitants of the commune are known as Balbronnais or Balbronnaises.^[1]

Geography

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.^[2]

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.^[2]

Neighbouring communes and villages^[2]

Adjacent places of Balbronn
	Wangenbourg-Engenthal	Cosswiller	Westhoffen
			Traenheim
		Balbronn
	Oberhaslach	Flexbourg	Bergbieten

History

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

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

List of Successive Mayors^[3]

(Not all data is known)

Demography

In 2010 the commune had 625 inhabitants. The evolution of the number of inhabitants is known from the population censuses conducted in the commune since 1793. From the 21st century, a census of communes with fewer than 10,000 inhabitants is held every five years, unlike larger communes that have a sample survey every year.^{[Note 1]}

Culture and heritage

Civil heritage

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

• A Jewish House (1628) at 47-48 Rue Balbach^[4]
• Farmhouses (14th-19th century)^[5]
• A Chateau at Rue du Chateau (15th century)^[6]
• The Town Hall/School at 63 Place de la Mairie (1897)^[7]
• A Protestant School at 170 Place du Pasteur-Albert-Kiefer (1834)^[8]
• A Merchant's House at 29 Rue des Tonneliers (19th century)^[9]
• A Forester's House at Elmersforst (1755)^[10]

Religious heritage

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

• A Synagogue (disused) at Rue des Femmes (1895)^[11]
• A Protestant Presbytery 173 Rue du Fossé (1732).^[12] The Presbytery contains 2 communion ewers (18th century) which are registered as an historical object.^[13]
• A Protestant Church at Place du Pasteur-Albert-Kiefer (12th century)^[14]
• The Parish Church of Saint-Catherine at Rue de Westhoffen (20th century)^[15] The church contains many items that are registered as historical objects:
  • The Furniture in the Church^[16]
  • A Chalice with Paten and Spoon (19th century)^[17]
  • A Painting: Saint Catherine (19th century)^[18]
  • A Eucharistic Cabinet (1453)^[19]
  • A Baptismal font (1687)^[20]
  • The main Altar (19th century)^[21]
  • 3 Stained glass windows (1905)^[22]
  • A Monumental Cross (18th century)^[23]
• The Interdenominational Cemetery at Rue de Westhoffen (1882)^[24]
• The Church and Cemetery of Balbronn (12th century).^[25] The Cemetery contains a Cemetery Cross (19th century) which is registered as an historical object.^[26]

Notable people linked to the commune

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

See also

• Communes of the Bas-Rhin department

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Balbronn.

• Balbronn on the old National Geographic website (in French)
• Regional Directorate of the Environment, Sustainable development, and Lodgings (DREAL) website (in French)
• Balbronn official website (in French)
• Balbronn on Lion1906
• Balbronn on Google Maps
• Balbronn on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website (in French)
• Balbronn on the 1750 Cassini Map
• Balbronn on the INSEE website (in French)
• INSEE (in French)

Notes and references

Notes

1. ↑ At the beginning of the 21st century, the methods of identification have been modified by Law No. 2002-276 of 27 February 2002 Archived 6 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine., the so-called "law of local democracy" and in particular Title V "census operations" allows, after a transitional period running from 2004 to 2008, the annual publication of the legal population of the different French administrative districts. For communes with a population greater than 10,000 inhabitants, a sample survey is conducted annually, the entire territory of these communes is taken into account at the end of the period of five years. The first "legal population" after 1999 under this new law came into force on 1 January 2009 and was based on the census of 2006.

References

Communes of the Bas-Rhin department

Achenheim Adamswiller Albé Alteckendorf Altenheim Altorf Altwiller Andlau Artolsheim Aschbach Asswiller Auenheim Avolsheim Baerendorf Balbronn Baldenheim Barembach Barr Bassemberg Batzendorf Beinheim Bellefosse Belmont Benfeld Berg Bergbieten Bernardswiller Bernardvillé Bernolsheim Berstett Berstheim Betschdorf Bettwiller Biblisheim Bietlenheim Bilwisheim Bindernheim Bischheim Bischholtz Bischoffsheim Bischwiller Bissert Bitschhoffen Blaesheim Blancherupt Blienschwiller Bœrsch Bœsenbiesen Bolsenheim Boofzheim Bootzheim Bosselshausen Bossendorf Bourg-Bruche Bourgheim Bouxwiller Breitenau Breitenbach Breuschwickersheim La Broque Brumath Buhl Burbach Bust Buswiller Butten Châtenois Cleebourg Climbach Colroy-la-Roche Cosswiller Crastatt Crœttwiller Dachstein Dahlenheim Dalhunden Dambach Dambach-la-Ville Dangolsheim Daubensand Dauendorf Dehlingen Dettwiller Diebolsheim Diedendorf Dieffenbach-au-Val Dieffenbach-lès-Wœrth Dieffenthal Diemeringen Dimbsthal Dingsheim Dinsheim-sur-Bruche Domfessel Donnenheim Dorlisheim Dossenheim-Kochersberg Dossenheim-sur-Zinsel Drachenbronn-Birlenbach Drulingen Drusenheim Duntzenheim Duppigheim Durningen Durrenbach Durstel Duttlenheim Eberbach-Seltz Ebersheim Ebersmunster Eckartswiller Eckbolsheim Eckwersheim Eichhoffen Elsenheim Engwiller Entzheim Epfig Erckartswiller Ergersheim Ernolsheim-Bruche Ernolsheim-lès-Saverne Erstein Eschau Eschbach Eschbourg Eschwiller Ettendorf Eywiller Fegersheim Fessenheim-le-Bas Flexbourg Forstfeld Forstheim Fort-Louis Fouchy Fouday Friedolsheim Friesenheim Frœschwiller Frohmuhl Furchhausen Furdenheim Gambsheim Geispolsheim Geiswiller Gerstheim Gertwiller Geudertheim Gingsheim Gœrlingen Gœrsdorf Gottenhouse Gottesheim Gougenheim Goxwiller Grandfontaine Grassendorf Grendelbruch Gresswiller Gries Griesheim-près-Molsheim Griesheim-sur-Souffel Gumbrechtshoffen Gundershoffen Gungwiller Gunstett Haegen Haguenau Handschuheim Hangenbieten Harskirchen Hatten Hattmatt Hegeney Heidolsheim Heiligenberg Heiligenstein Hengwiller Herbitzheim Herbsheim Herrlisheim Hessenheim Hilsenheim Hindisheim Hinsbourg Hinsingen Hipsheim Hirschland Hochfelden Hochstett Hœnheim Hœrdt Hoffen Hohatzenheim Hohengœft Hohfrankenheim Le Hohwald Holtzheim Hunspach Hurtigheim Huttendorf Huttenheim Ichtratzheim Illkirch-Graffenstaden Ingenheim Ingolsheim Ingwiller Innenheim Issenhausen Ittenheim Itterswiller Jetterswiller Kaltenhouse Kauffenheim Keffenach Kertzfeld Keskastel Kesseldorf Kienheim Kilstett Kindwiller Kintzheim Kirchheim Kirrberg Kirrwiller Kleingœft Knœrsheim Kogenheim Kolbsheim Krautergersheim Krautwiller Kriegsheim Kurtzenhouse Kuttolsheim Kutzenhausen Lalaye Lampertheim Lampertsloch Landersheim Langensoultzbach Laubach Lauterbourg Lembach Leutenheim Lichtenberg Limersheim Lingolsheim Lipsheim Littenheim Lixhausen Lobsann Lochwiller Lohr Lorentzen Lupstein Lutzelhouse Mackenheim Mackwiller Maennolsheim Maisonsgoutte Marckolsheim Marlenheim Marmoutier Matzenheim Meistratzheim Melsheim Memmelshoffen Menchhoffen Merkwiller-Pechelbronn Mertzwiller Mietesheim Minversheim Mittelbergheim Mittelhausbergen Mittelhausen Mittelschaeffolsheim Mollkirch Molsheim Mommenheim Monswiller Morsbronn-les-Bains Morschwiller Mothern Muhlbach-sur-Bruche Mulhausen Munchhausen Mundolsheim Mussig Muttersholtz Mutzenhouse Mutzig Natzwiller Neewiller-près-Lauterbourg Neubois Neugartheim-Ittlenheim Neuhaeusel Neuve-Église Neuviller-la-Roche Neuwiller-lès-Saverne Niederbronn-les-Bains Niederhaslach Niederhausbergen Niederlauterbach Niedermodern Niedernai Niederrœdern Niederschaeffolsheim Niedersoultzbach Niedersteinbach Nordheim Nordhouse Nothalten Obenheim Oberbronn Oberdorf-Spachbach Oberhaslach Oberhausbergen Oberhoffen-lès-Wissembourg Oberhoffen-sur-Moder Oberlauterbach Obermodern-Zutzendorf Obernai Oberrœdern Oberschaeffolsheim Obersoultzbach Obersteinbach Odratzheim Oermingen Offendorf Offwiller Ohlungen Ohnenheim Olwisheim Orschwiller Osthoffen Osthouse Ostwald Ottersthal Otterswiller Ottrott Ottwiller Petersbach La Petite-Pierre Pfalzweyer Pfulgriesheim Plaine Plobsheim Preuschdorf Printzheim Puberg Quatzenheim Rangen Ranrupt Ratzwiller Rauwiller Reichsfeld Reichshoffen Reichstett Reinhardsmunster Reipertswiller Retschwiller Reutenbourg Rexingen Rhinau Richtolsheim Riedseltz Rimsdorf Ringeldorf Ringendorf Rittershoffen Rœschwoog Rohr Rohrwiller Romanswiller Roppenheim Rosenwiller Rosheim Rossfeld Rosteig Rothau Rothbach Rott Rottelsheim Rountzenheim Russ Saales Saasenheim Saessolsheim Saint-Blaise-la-Roche Saint-Jean-Saverne Saint-Martin Saint-Maurice Saint-Nabor Saint-Pierre Saint-Pierre-Bois Salmbach Sand Sarre-Union Sarrewerden Saulxures Saverne Schaeffersheim Schaffhouse-près-Seltz Schalkendorf Scharrachbergheim-Irmstett Scheibenhard Scherlenheim Scherwiller Schillersdorf Schiltigheim Schirmeck Schirrhein Schirrhoffen Schleithal Schnersheim Schœnau Schœnbourg Schœnenbourg Schopperten Schweighouse-sur-Moder Schwenheim Schwindratzheim Schwobsheim Seebach Sélestat Seltz Sermersheim Sessenheim Siegen Siewiller Siltzheim Solbach Sommerau Souffelweyersheim Soufflenheim Soultz-les-Bains Soultz-sous-Forêts Sparsbach Stattmatten Steige Steinbourg Steinseltz Still Stotzheim Strasbourg Struth Stundwiller Stutzheim-Offenheim Sundhouse Surbourg Thal-Drulingen Thal-Marmoutier Thanvillé Tieffenbach Traenheim Triembach-au-Val Trimbach Truchtersheim Uhlwiller Uhrwiller Urbeis Urmatt Uttenheim Uttenhoffen Uttwiller Val-de-Moder Valff La Vancelle Vendenheim Villé Vœllerdingen Volksberg Wahlenheim Walbourg Waldersbach Waldhambach Waldolwisheim Waltenheim-sur-Zorn Wangen Wangenbourg-Engenthal La Wantzenau Wasselonne Weinbourg Weislingen Weitbruch Weiterswiller Westhoffen Westhouse Westhouse-Marmoutier Weyer Weyersheim Wickersheim-Wilshausen Wildersbach Willgottheim Wilwisheim Wimmenau Windstein Wingen Wingen-sur-Moder Wingersheim Wintershouse Wintzenbach Wintzenheim-Kochersberg Wisches Wissembourg Witternheim Wittersheim Wittisheim Wiwersheim Wœrth Wolfisheim Wolfskirchen Wolschheim Wolxheim Zehnacker Zeinheim Zellwiller Zinswiller Zittersheim Zœbersdorf