To the south, the Jura mountains mark the border with Switzerland from Basle to the vicinity of Porrentruy. The Alsace region is bordered by the German Länder of Rhineland-Palatinate to the north and to the east, across the Rhine, by Baden-Württemberg. Being the smallest administrative region of continental France, Alsace stretches from south to north along the Rhine, which borders its eastern flank. The Alsace region covers an area of 8,280 km2 (190 km long by 50 km wide), which represents 1.5% of the total area of France.
However, local antisemitism also increased and Napoleon turned hostile in 1806, imposing a one-year moratorium on all debts owed to Jews. They maintained their own customs, Yiddish language, and historic traditions within the tightly knit ghettos; they adhered to Jewish law. By 1790, the Jewish population of Alsace was approximately 22,500, about 3% of the provincial population.
These gems of the wine country are often made up of old medieval ramparts, winding alleyways that bloom with magnificent geraniums, winstubs, vaults, half-timbered houses, and medieval churches. Several cities and villages along the Alsace Wine Route have since become famous and attract a very large crowd of visitors during the summer months and Christmas. As in previous times, these castles still seem to dominate the Alsace Plain even today, watching over the Vosges valleys, communication channels and sometimes the abbeys.
The white stork
Alsatian is taught in schools (but is not mandatory) as one of the regional languages of France. This had grave effects on trade and the economy of the region since former overland trade routes were switched to newly opened Mediterranean and Atlantic seaports. The German language remained in use in local administration, in schools, and at the (Lutheran) University of Strasbourg, which continued to draw students from other German-speaking lands. After the conclusion of the war, France was again free to pursue its desire to reach the Rhine and in 1444 a French army appeared in Lorraine and Alsace. These territorial changes were recognised in the 1697 Treaty of Ryswick that ended the War of the Grand Alliance.But Alsace still contained islands of territory nominally under the sovereignty of German princes and an independent city-state at Mulhouse. France consolidated its hold with the 1679 Treaties of Nijmegen, which brought most remaining towns under its control. France continued to maintain its customs border along the Vosges mountains where it had been, leaving Alsace more economically oriented to neighbouring German-speaking lands. When hostilities were concluded in 1648 with the Treaty of Westphalia, most of Alsace was recognized as part of France, although some towns remained independent. By the time of the Protestant Reformation in the 16th century, Strasbourg was a prosperous community, and its inhabitants accepted Protestantism in 1523.Time travel in Neuf-Brisach
The wines of Alsace (except for sparkling wine) are still sold in gracefully-shaped bottles, which are named “Alsace flûtes”. In Alsace, the wines are mostly named after the variety of the grapes and not after the land on which they are produced. The local microclimate is favourable for the slow and prolonged ripening of grapes and the formation of grapes of great finesse. Munster is still being made on either side of the Vosges mountains in Alsace and in Lorraine. In the Vosges mountains, many farmhouses (fermes-auberges) serve an authentic traditional farm meal called “marcaire”, which features pie as a first course and roïgabrageldi (potatoes with smoked pork shoulder) as a main.Experience ecotourism in alsace
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- For more than 300 years, from the Thirty Years' War to World War II, the political status of Alsace was heavily contested between France and various German states in wars and diplomatic conferences.
- Earthenware and crockery have been fashioned here for several centuries, and most Alsatian families still use a colorful Soufflenheim pot to cook choucroute (sauerkraut).
- That city’s Protestant influence was countered, however, by the resolute Roman Catholicism of the Habsburgs, who tried to eradicate heresy in upper Alsace.
- Since the 1st January 2016, the administrative region of Alsace has been part of the new Grand Est region along with Lorraine and Champagne-Ardenne.
Alsace, a land of castles
Alsace experiences a semi-continental climate characterized by distinct glitzbets casino registration seasons, with cold winters and warm summers. Apart from Strasbourg, other towns in Alsace, like Colmar and Mulhouse, host enchanting Christmas markets during the holiday season. Explore historic towns like Obernai, Mulhouse, and Sélestat, each with its unique character and heritage. The region’s diverse landscapes include forests, lakes, and rolling hills.From French Revolution to the Franco-Prussian War
Both Alsatian and Standard German were for a time banned from public life (including street and city names, official administration, and educational system). The Ministerial Memorandum of 21 June 1982, known as the Circulaire Savary, introduced financial support, over three years, for the teaching of regional languages in schools and universities. In 1951, Article 10 of the Deixonne Law (Loi Deixonne) on the teaching of local languages and dialects made provision for Breton, Basque, Catalan and old Provençal but not for Corsican, Dutch (West Flemish) or Alsatian in Alsace and Moselle. During the Lutheran Reform, the towns of Alsace were the first to adopt the German language as their official language instead of Latin. Although Alsace has been part of France multiple times in the past, the region had no direct connection with the French state for several centuries. As is customary for regional languages in France, neither Alsatian nor the Frankish dialects have any form of official status, although both are now recognized as languages of France and can be chosen as subjects in lycées.Alsasian language
The Alsace vineyards extend across the hills of the Vosges at between 200 and 400 metres high, over some 14,000 hectares of grapevines which produce an average of 150 million bottles of wine. From there, you can easily journey through the Route des Crêtes of the Vosges and the Wine Route. The capital, Strasbourg, is home to one of France’s most beautiful Gothic cathedrals, a pedestrian old town centre, and the country’s premier Christmas Market. However, if you want the flexibility to visit multiple wineries and explore the smaller, off-the-beaten-path villages along the wine route, renting a car may be more convenient. Trains and buses connect these cities to smaller towns and villages along the route. Alsace, known for its picturesque landscapes, charming villages, and rich culture, offers several tourist routes that allow visitors to explore the region’s diverse attractions and experiences. The region’s wine culture and strong emphasis on local ingredients contribute to its unique gastronomic identity. The region’s blend of natural beauty, historic charm, and culinary delights, including Alsatian cuisine and wines, make it a delightful destination for travelers. Unfortunately, English is not as widely spoken, but people are generally quite tolerant of English, and many locals will make an effort to communicate despite the language barrier. Landowners, who as "local lords" had the right to decide the religion that was allowed on their land, were eager to entice populations from the more attractive lowlands to settle and develop their property. It has regularly increased over time, except in wartime and shortly after the German annexation of 1871 (when many Alsatians who had opted to keep their French citizenship emigrated to France), by both natural growth and immigration. The city of Colmar has a sunny microclimate; it is the second driest city in France, with an annual precipitation of around 550 mm (22 in), making it ideal for vin d'Alsace (Alsatian wine). It is almost four times longer than it is wide, corresponding to a plain between the Rhine in the east and the Vosges mountains in the west. German is also taught as a foreign language in local kindergartens and schools.- "Alsatia", the Latin form of Alsace's name, entered the English language as "a lawless place" or "a place under no jurisdiction" prior to the 17th century as a reflection of the British perception of the region at that time.
- The position of Alsace within the Holy Roman Empire at the time of the Reformation further complicated the fragile political balance in the Upper Rhine region.
- Protected in Italy since 1976, the grey wolf has since entered France through the Maritime Alps.
- Territorial reform passed by the French Parliament in 2014 resulted in the merger of the Alsace administrative region with Champagne-Ardenne and Lorraine to form Grand Est.
- It is almost four times longer than it is wide, corresponding to a plain between the Rhine in the east and the Vosges mountains in the west.