Munster, Haut-Rhin
Encyclopedia
Munster is a commune
in the Haut-Rhin
department in Alsace
in north-eastern France
.
It is located in a valley of the Vosges
mountains about 15 kilometres west of Colmar
on the D417 road to the Col de la Schlucht and Épinal
.
The town's inhabitants are known in French as munstériens.
The site of a 7th century abbey
or monastery
, which gave the place its name, is famous for its cheese (the Munster cheese).
In the nearby village of Gunsbach
, Albert Schweitzer
grew up in the late 19th century, when the region was known as Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) and was part of the German Empire
. The village was spelled "Günsbach". The town is home to the international Albert Schweitzer Association AISL.
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 Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin is a département of the Alsace region of France, named after the Rhine river. Its name means Upper Rhine. Haut-Rhin is the smaller and less populated of the two departements of Alsace, although is still densely populated compared to the rest of France.-Subdivisions:The department...
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...
.
It is located in a valley of the Vosges
Vosges
Vosges is a French department, named after the local mountain range. It contains the hometown of Joan of Arc, Domrémy.-History:The Vosges department is one of the original 83 departments of France, created on February 9, 1790 during the French Revolution. It was made of territories that had been...
mountains about 15 kilometres west of Colmar
Colmar
Colmar is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It is the capital of the department. Colmar is also the seat of the highest jurisdiction in Alsace, the appellate court....
on the D417 road to the Col de la Schlucht and Épinal
Épinal
Épinal is a commune in northeastern France and the capital of the Vosges department. Inhabitants are known as Spinaliens.-Geography:The commune has a land area of 59.24 km²...
.
The town's inhabitants are known in French as munstériens.
The site of a 7th century abbey
Abbey
An abbey is a Catholic monastery or convent, under the authority of an Abbot or an Abbess, who serves as the spiritual father or mother of the community.The term can also refer to an establishment which has long ceased to function as an abbey,...
or monastery
Monastery
Monastery denotes the building, or complex of buildings, that houses a room reserved for prayer as well as the domestic quarters and workplace of monastics, whether monks or nuns, and whether living in community or alone .Monasteries may vary greatly in size – a small dwelling accommodating only...
, which gave the place its name, is famous for its cheese (the Munster cheese).
In the nearby village of Gunsbach
Gunsbach
Gunsbach is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-People:Albert Schweitzer grew up here in the late 19th century, when the region had been incorporated to the German Empire. The town is home to the International Albert Schweitzer Association, with a small museum...
, Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer
Albert Schweitzer OM was a German theologian, organist, philosopher, physician, and medical missionary. He was born in Kaysersberg in the province of Alsace-Lorraine, at that time part of the German Empire...
grew up in the late 19th century, when the region was known as Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) and was part of the German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
. The village was spelled "Günsbach". The town is home to the international Albert Schweitzer Association AISL.