Buhl, Haut-Rhin
Encyclopedia
Buhl is a commune
in the Haut-Rhin
department in Alsace
in north-eastern France.
It inhabitants are called Buhlois (male) or Buhloises (female).
and the Grand Ballon
(1424 m) and surrounded by forests whose hills reach altitudes ranging from 395 to 860 metres. The village is crossed by the Lauch, a gentle stream with clear, limpid water, in the heart of the Florival valley, 3 km from Guebwiller
.
Buhl owes it name to its picturesque site on the Bühele hill, from which the village and church dominate a large part of the valley. The commune covers an area of 880 hectares and extends into two confluent valleys.
The commune is crossed by three water courses, the Lauch, the Murbach
and the Krebsbach. Buhl looks over several forested hills which border the village:
in Buhl is recorded since 1243.
Of the original 13th century church, all that remains is the tower, whose its two upper levels were remodelled in the 18th century (the date 1748 is visible). The nave and choir were also probably remodelled in the 18th century.
Following a large growth in population in the 19th century, a new church was built to replace the old shrine
. With a population of 2000, the municipality had decided that the old church was too small. It was replaced by a vast neo-Gothic
edifice. Between 1868 and 1870, the architect Langestein built a new nave perpendicular to the old one which served as a choir. The Franco-Prussian War
in 1870 interrupted construction, so it was not until 1877 that remainder of the old church was demolished and a new choir was built by the architect Hartmann.
The top of the original tower was demolished in 1899 amid fears that it could fall. It was replaced with an octagonal bell tower by the architect Kreyer.
consecrated to the Passion of Christ (open shutters) and to the Virgin Mary (closed shutters).
This masterpiece was taken to Colmar
during the French Revolution
when the convents were emptied of their furniture. After the Revolution, two inhabitants of Buhl brought the altarpiece back to the village hidden in a load of fodder
.
The altarpiece probably originated in a Dominican
convent, very probably that of the Catherinettes of Colmar. The style of the altarpiece suggests it is from the school of the Colmar artist, Martin Schongauer
(1448–1491).
From top to bottom, the picture shows the crown and thorns and the carrying of the cross.
.
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.
It inhabitants are called Buhlois (male) or Buhloises (female).
Geography
Buhl is situated in the valley of the Lauch, at the foot of the Vosges MountainsVosges mountains
For the department of France of the same name, see Vosges.The Vosges are a range of low mountains in eastern France, near its border with Germany. They extend along the west side of the Rhine valley in a northnortheast direction, mainly from Belfort to Saverne...
and the Grand Ballon
Grand Ballon
Le Grand Ballon is the apex of the Vosges Mountains, located 25 kilometres northwest of Mulhouse, France.Some still call it Ballon de Guebwiller, after the name of the closest city, Guebwiller, located 8 km to the east...
(1424 m) and surrounded by forests whose hills reach altitudes ranging from 395 to 860 metres. The village is crossed by the Lauch, a gentle stream with clear, limpid water, in the heart of the Florival valley, 3 km from Guebwiller
Guebwiller
Guebwiller is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.It is situated northwest of Mulhouse at the foot of the Vosges mountains...
.
Buhl owes it name to its picturesque site on the Bühele hill, from which the village and church dominate a large part of the valley. The commune covers an area of 880 hectares and extends into two confluent valleys.
The commune is crossed by three water courses, the Lauch, the Murbach
Murbach
Murbach is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.Murbach Abbey is located near Murbach.-References:*...
and the Krebsbach. Buhl looks over several forested hills which border the village:
- le Demberg (altitude 628 m)
- le Schimerg (582 m) whose steep sides are covered with vineVineA vine in the narrowest sense is the grapevine , but more generally it can refer to any plant with a growth habit of trailing or scandent, that is to say climbing, stems or runners...
s - le Geisskopf (735 m)
- l'Ebeneck (859 m)
- le Hochkopf (545 m) above the Château du HugsteinChâteau du HugsteinThe Château du Hugstein is a ruined castle on the borders of the communes of Buhl and Guebwiller in the Haut-Rhin département of France.- History :...
Coat of arms
Arms: red, with empty triangle in silverEglise Saint-Jean-Baptiste (Church of St John the Baptist)
The presence of a vicarVicar
In the broadest sense, a vicar is a representative, deputy or substitute; anyone acting "in the person of" or agent for a superior . In this sense, the title is comparable to lieutenant...
in Buhl is recorded since 1243.
Of the original 13th century church, all that remains is the tower, whose its two upper levels were remodelled in the 18th century (the date 1748 is visible). The nave and choir were also probably remodelled in the 18th century.
Following a large growth in population in the 19th century, a new church was built to replace the old shrine
Shrine
A shrine is a holy or sacred place, which is dedicated to a specific deity, ancestor, hero, martyr, saint, daemon or similar figure of awe and respect, at which they are venerated or worshipped. Shrines often contain idols, relics, or other such objects associated with the figure being venerated....
. With a population of 2000, the municipality had decided that the old church was too small. It was replaced by a vast neo-Gothic
Gothic Revival architecture
The Gothic Revival is an architectural movement that began in the 1740s in England...
edifice. Between 1868 and 1870, the architect Langestein built a new nave perpendicular to the old one which served as a choir. The Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
in 1870 interrupted construction, so it was not until 1877 that remainder of the old church was demolished and a new choir was built by the architect Hartmann.
The top of the original tower was demolished in 1899 amid fears that it could fall. It was replaced with an octagonal bell tower by the architect Kreyer.
Retable de la Crucifixion
The church houses a 15th century altarpieceAltarpiece
An altarpiece is a picture or relief representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the altar of a church. The altarpiece is often made up of two or more separate panels created using a technique known as panel painting. It is then called a diptych, triptych or polyptych for two,...
consecrated to the Passion of Christ (open shutters) and to the Virgin Mary (closed shutters).
This masterpiece was taken to 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....
during the French Revolution
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...
when the convents were emptied of their furniture. After the Revolution, two inhabitants of Buhl brought the altarpiece back to the village hidden in a load of fodder
Fodder
Fodder or animal feed is any agricultural foodstuff used specifically to feed domesticated livestock such as cattle, goats, sheep, horses, chickens and pigs. Most animal feed is from plants but some is of animal origin...
.
The altarpiece probably originated in a Dominican
Dominican Order
The Order of Preachers , after the 15th century more commonly known as the Dominican Order or Dominicans, is a Catholic religious order founded by Saint Dominic and approved by Pope Honorius III on 22 December 1216 in France...
convent, very probably that of the Catherinettes of Colmar. The style of the altarpiece suggests it is from the school of the Colmar artist, Martin Schongauer
Martin Schongauer
Martin Schongauer was a German engraver and painter. He was the most important German printmaker before Albrecht Dürer....
(1448–1491).
From top to bottom, the picture shows the crown and thorns and the carrying of the cross.
Château du Hugstein
The Château du Hugstein is a ruined 13th century castleCastle
A castle is a type of fortified structure built in Europe and the Middle East during the Middle Ages by European nobility. Scholars debate the scope of the word castle, but usually consider it to be the private fortified residence of a lord or noble...
.
Other sites
- Chapelle des Maquisards
- Chapelle Notre-Dame
- Calvaire du Rimlishof
- Chapelle du cimetière
- Chapelle Sainte Catherine
- Menhirs de l'Appenthal
Personalities linked to the commune
- Maurice KoechlinMaurice KoechlinMaurice Koechlin was a French-Swiss structural engineer.-Life:Born in Buhl, Haut-Rhin, he studied at the lycée in Mulhouse then at the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology under Carl Culmann....
: structural engineer, designer of Eiffel Tower, born in Buhl - Alexandre BidaAlexandre BidaF. Alexandre Bida was born in Toulouse, France in 1813 and was a painter of the Romantic period. He specialized in Orientalism and studied under Eugène Delacroix, but with an artist's eye for precision and perfection, he soon developed his own style. During Bida's youth, he traveled and worked in...
: 19th century painter, died in Buhl.