Altwiller (French pronunciation: [altvilɛʁ] ; German: Altweiler) is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in the Grand Est region of northeastern France.
Geography
Altwiller is located some 20 km south of Sarreguemines on the German border and some 50 km north-east of Nancy. The commune is accessed by the D23 road running east from Vibersviller to the village then continuing east to Harskirchen. The D153 road also runs through the southern portion of the commune as it runs from the D39 road in the south-west north-east to Harskirchen. The western and northern borders of the commune are also the borders between the Bas-Rhin and Moselle departments. As well as Altwiller village there is also the hamlet of Chateau Bonnefontaine in the south of the commune.
The Canal des Houllietes de la Satre passes along the southern border of the commune. The Rose stream passes near the village flowing west from Moselle to the Albe river partly forming the northern border of the commune. The northern part of the commune is farmland while the southern part is mainly forested.
Neighbouring communes and villages
History
Fragments of vases and other Gallo-Roman pieces have been found at Bonnefontaine. The site is located on the salt route. In addition to the two annexes of Neuweyershof and the Bonnefontaine domain the village had in its vicinity a hamlet called Honkesen-Huntzen which has now disappeared.
Altwiller was deserted in the 15th century and rebuilt a little later in 1559 mainly by Huguenots from Lorraine. It was partially destroyed again in 1635 by the Croatians then became the property of Sarrewerden then of Nassau-Saarbrücken with the capital of the Bailiwick of Harskirchen. The village returned to France in 1793.
Heraldry
Administration
List of Successive Mayors of Altwiller
Demography
The inhabitants of the commune are known as Altwillerois or Altwilleroises in French.
Culture and heritage
Civil heritage
The commune has many buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
Religious heritage
The commune has several religious buildings and structures that are registered as historical monuments:
- The Protestant Church (1723). There are several items in the church that are registered as historical objects:
- The Organ (1868)
- The Furniture in the Church
- A Communion Ewer (18th century)
- A Baptismal Ewer (1894)
- The Protestant Presbytery (1730)
- The Lutheran Presbytery (16th century)
- The Cemetery at RD 23. (19th century) The movable items in the cemetery are registered as historical objects.
See also
- Communes of the Bas-Rhin department
References
External links
- Altwiller on the old National Geographic Institute website (in French)
- Altwiller on Géoportail, National Geographic Institute (IGN) website (in French)
- Aiweiller on the 1750 Cassini Map
