Fegersheim
Encyclopedia
Fegersheim is a commune
in the Bas-Rhin
department in Alsace
in north-eastern France
.
.
Between 1962 and 1999 the registered population increased from 2153 to 4533, reflecting economic growth in the Strasbourg
area.
The little town acquired its urban status in the eleventh century. At that time the Benedictine
monastery of nearby Eschau
owned a substantial property in Fegersheim. In the following centuries until 1789
Fegersheim and its conjoined settlement of Ohnheim would be held as an episcopal fiefdom, successively, by Ochsenstein, Hanau-Lichtenberg and Rathsamhausen
.
Fegersheim enjoyed a few days of prominence in 1680 when the court of Louis XIV, accompanied by Bishop Bossuet
(tutor to the Dauphin) and the king's mistress stayed here while awaiting the arrival of the Grand Dauphins's new bride. Five days of public celebrations ensued.
For centuries Fegersheim survived on a traditional agrarian economy, but industry appeared in 1933
in the form of the Cajofé toy factory. In 1962 the local council designated one of France's first formal industrial zones here in order to encourage the provision of local employment. The industrial zone benefits from excellent road connections and the proximity of Strasbourg: its story has been one of successful development, already for nearly half a century.
Communes of France
The commune is the lowest level of administrative division in the French Republic. French communes are roughly equivalent to incorporated municipalities or villages in the United States or Gemeinden in Germany...
in the Bas-Rhin
Bas-Rhin
Bas-Rhin is a department of France. The name means "Lower Rhine". It is the more populous and densely populated of the two departments of the Alsace region, with 1,079,013 inhabitants in 2006.- History :...
department in Alsace
Alsace
Alsace is the fifth-smallest of the 27 regions of France in land area , and the smallest in metropolitan France. It is also the seventh-most densely populated region in France and third most densely populated region in metropolitan France, with ca. 220 inhabitants per km²...
in north-eastern France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
.
Geography and Economics
Fegersheim is located 12 kilometres (7 mi) to the south of Strasbourg, between the Rivers Andlau, Scheer and IllIll (France)
The Ill is a river in Alsace, in north-eastern France. It is a left-side, or western tributary of the Rhine.It starts down from its source near the village of Winkel, in the Jura mountains, with a resurgence near Ligsdorf, turns around Ferrette on its east side, and then runs northward through...
.
Between 1962 and 1999 the registered population increased from 2153 to 4533, reflecting economic growth in the Strasbourg
Strasbourg
Strasbourg is the capital and principal city of the Alsace region in eastern France and is the official seat of the European Parliament. Located close to the border with Germany, it is the capital of the Bas-Rhin département. The city and the region of Alsace are historically German-speaking,...
area.
History
The discovery of tombs from the third century BC indicates that the site was occupied during the Celtic period.The little town acquired its urban status in the eleventh century. At that time the Benedictine
Benedictine
Benedictine refers to the spirituality and consecrated life in accordance with the Rule of St Benedict, written by Benedict of Nursia in the sixth century for the cenobitic communities he founded in central Italy. The most notable of these is Monte Cassino, the first monastery founded by Benedict...
monastery of nearby Eschau
Eschau, Bas-Rhin
Eschau is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It is situated 8 km south of Strasbourg.-References:*...
owned a substantial property in Fegersheim. In the following centuries until 1789
French Revolution
The French Revolution , sometimes distinguished as the 'Great French Revolution' , was a period of radical social and political upheaval in France and Europe. The absolute monarchy that had ruled France for centuries collapsed in three years...
Fegersheim and its conjoined settlement of Ohnheim would be held as an episcopal fiefdom, successively, by Ochsenstein, Hanau-Lichtenberg and Rathsamhausen
Château de Lutzelbourg
The Château de Lutzelbourg is a ruined medieval castle, above the town of Ottrott, in the Bas-Rhin department of eastern France .-History:The castles of Ottrott were built on the plateau of Elsberg about 500 metres in height...
.
Fegersheim enjoyed a few days of prominence in 1680 when the court of Louis XIV, accompanied by Bishop Bossuet
Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet
Jacques-Bénigne Bossuet was a French bishop and theologian, renowned for his sermons and other addresses. He has been considered by many to be one of the most brilliant orators of all time and a masterly French stylist....
(tutor to the Dauphin) and the king's mistress stayed here while awaiting the arrival of the Grand Dauphins's new bride. Five days of public celebrations ensued.
For centuries Fegersheim survived on a traditional agrarian economy, but industry appeared in 1933
in the form of the Cajofé toy factory. In 1962 the local council designated one of France's first formal industrial zones here in order to encourage the provision of local employment. The industrial zone benefits from excellent road connections and the proximity of Strasbourg: its story has been one of successful development, already for nearly half a century.