Kirchheim, Bas-Rhin
Encyclopedia
Kirchheim is a commune
in the Bas-Rhin
department in Alsace
in north-eastern France
.
plain where it meets the first foothills of the Vosges Mountains
. It is 22 kilometres (14 mi) to the west of Strasbourg
, 19 kilometres (12 mi) to the south-east of Saverne
and 13 kilometres (8 mi) to the north of Molsheim
. Adjacent communes are Marlenheim
to the north, Odratzheim
and Scharrachbergheim-Irmstett
to the south and Wangen
to the north-west.
The village lies within easy walking distance of the main road connecting Saverne to Strasbourg. The former railway line from Molsheim has been developed into a cycle path crossing the commune, but for non cyclists there is a bus service connecting with Strasbourg (route 207) and Molsheim (route 212), both services starting from Wasselonne
a short distance to the north-west.
The eastern boundary of the commune is provided by the little River Mossig which flows from north to south. A remarkable feature of the ecosystem here is the Riparian zone
which provides a biological corridor for the wild life. The commune's residents species include the Great Hamster of Alsace
: the animals are threatened with extinction and therefore protected.
Most of the surrounding land of grassland or cultivated: to the south-east and to a limited extent to the north-west there are vineyards
The agricultural sector, currently dominated by maize
cultivation, is also a significant player in the village economy. There are virtually no shops, but basic shopping is available from travelling van based businesses.
relics suggest the presence of a settlement in the Roman period. An early surviving reference dating from the seventh century gives the name of the village as "Chirichheim". There is evidence for a royal residence here during the later Merovingian period, frequently used by Charles the Fat
and the Empress Richarde
.
The village was owned by the Empire
and was a dependent of nearby Wasselonne
with which, as far as records of the time are concerned, it shared its history until it came under the control of Strasbourg
. The Convent of Haslach held a regional court (cour domaniale) there and held on to certain rights. There is evidence of some sort of a religious monastery or convent in the eleventh century, which later, in 1274, Rudolph
took under his protection.
The image on the village's coat of arms is of an open book and an ink pad, which is believed to indicate the presence of several printing
businesses in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries
In terms of ecclesiastical administration, Kirchheim came under the chapter of Molsheim
. The Kirchheim's church, in turn, was mother church to Marlenheim
and to Odratzheim
, an arrangement that continued until the start of the nineteenth 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
Kirchheim is positioned on the western edge of the AlsaceAlsace
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...
plain where it meets the first foothills of the Vosges Mountains
Vosges 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...
. It is 22 kilometres (14 mi) to the west of 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,...
, 19 kilometres (12 mi) to the south-east of Saverne
Saverne
Saverne is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. It is situated on the Rhine-Marne canal at the foot of a pass over the Vosges Mountains, and 45 km N.W...
and 13 kilometres (8 mi) to the north of Molsheim
Molsheim
Molsheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. The total population in 2006 was 9,382. Molsheim had been a very fast growing city between the French censuses of 1968 and 1999, passing from 5,739 to 9,331 inhabitants, but this increase came to a noticeable halt...
. Adjacent communes are Marlenheim
Marlenheim
Marlenheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
to the north, Odratzheim
Odratzheim
Odratzheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
and Scharrachbergheim-Irmstett
Scharrachbergheim-Irmstett
Scharrachbergheim-Irmstett is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
to the south and Wangen
Wangen
Wangen may refer to:* in Germany** Wangen im Allgäu, Ravensburg district, Baden-Württemberg** Wangen , Göppingen district, Baden-Württemberg...
to the north-west.
The village lies within easy walking distance of the main road connecting Saverne to Strasbourg. The former railway line from Molsheim has been developed into a cycle path crossing the commune, but for non cyclists there is a bus service connecting with Strasbourg (route 207) and Molsheim (route 212), both services starting from Wasselonne
Wasselonne
Wasselonne is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. In is in this city that we can see the oldest firm of unleavened bread in France: Etablissements René Neymann.- Monuments :...
a short distance to the north-west.
The eastern boundary of the commune is provided by the little River Mossig which flows from north to south. A remarkable feature of the ecosystem here is the Riparian zone
Riparian forest
A riparian forest is a forested area of land adjacent to a body of water such as a river, stream, pond, lake, marshland, estuary, canal, sink or reservoir. -Etymology:...
which provides a biological corridor for the wild life. The commune's residents species include the Great Hamster of Alsace
European Hamster
The European hamster, , also known as the black-bellied hamster or common hamster, is a hamster which is the only species of the genus Cricetus. It is native to a large global range, extending from western Europe, through central and eastern Europe, Russia, and Kazakhstan, reaching as far east as...
: the animals are threatened with extinction and therefore protected.
Most of the surrounding land of grassland or cultivated: to the south-east and to a limited extent to the north-west there are vineyards
Viticulture
Viticulture is the science, production and study of grapes which deals with the series of events that occur in the vineyard. When the grapes are used for winemaking, it is also known as viniculture...
Economy
Employment is dominated by a packaging firm which provides two thirds of the jobs in the village. There are several other enterprises, none providing more than a handful of jobs: in the early twenty-first century there are 80 employed positions in the commune.The agricultural sector, currently dominated by maize
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
cultivation, is also a significant player in the village economy. There are virtually no shops, but basic shopping is available from travelling van based businesses.
History
Local discoveries of RomanRoman Empire
The Roman Empire was the post-Republican period of the ancient Roman civilization, characterised by an autocratic form of government and large territorial holdings in Europe and around the Mediterranean....
relics suggest the presence of a settlement in the Roman period. An early surviving reference dating from the seventh century gives the name of the village as "Chirichheim". There is evidence for a royal residence here during the later Merovingian period, frequently used by Charles the Fat
Charles the Fat
Charles the Fat was the King of Alemannia from 876, King of Italy from 879, western Emperor from 881, King of East Francia from 882, and King of West Francia from 884. In 887, he was deposed in East Francia, Lotharingia, and possibly Italy, where the records are not clear...
and the Empress Richarde
Richardis
Saint Richardis, also known as Richgard and Richardis of Swabia , was the Holy Roman Empress as the wife of Charles the Fat. She was renowned for her piety.-Life:...
.
The village was owned by the Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
and was a dependent of nearby Wasselonne
Wasselonne
Wasselonne is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. In is in this city that we can see the oldest firm of unleavened bread in France: Etablissements René Neymann.- Monuments :...
with which, as far as records of the time are concerned, it shared its history until it came under the control of 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,...
. The Convent of Haslach held a regional court (cour domaniale) there and held on to certain rights. There is evidence of some sort of a religious monastery or convent in the eleventh century, which later, in 1274, Rudolph
Rudolph I of Germany
Rudolph I was King of the Romans from 1273 until his death. He played a vital role in raising the Habsburg dynasty to a leading position among the Imperial feudal dynasties...
took under his protection.
The image on the village's coat of arms is of an open book and an ink pad, which is believed to indicate the presence of several printing
Printing
Printing is a process for reproducing text and image, typically with ink on paper using a printing press. It is often carried out as a large-scale industrial process, and is an essential part of publishing and transaction printing....
businesses in the fifteenth and sixteenth centuries
In terms of ecclesiastical administration, Kirchheim came under the chapter of Molsheim
Molsheim
Molsheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. The total population in 2006 was 9,382. Molsheim had been a very fast growing city between the French censuses of 1968 and 1999, passing from 5,739 to 9,331 inhabitants, but this increase came to a noticeable halt...
. The Kirchheim's church, in turn, was mother church to Marlenheim
Marlenheim
Marlenheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
and to Odratzheim
Odratzheim
Odratzheim is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.-References:*...
, an arrangement that continued until the start of the nineteenth century.