Fouchy

Fouchy is a common French, located in the department of the the Low-Rhine and the area Alsace.

Geography

Located on left bank of the Giessen, Fouchy, known in the past under the name of Groba, then Grube extends on the northern slope from Guichat and Rougerain whose tops culminate with 623 meters and 650 meters. The village, vast surface of 787 ha, is stretched out of Right Bank of the river of Giessen which starts to be boxed appreciably after the confluence of the small valley of Lalaye. Giessen thus marks the limit of the round of applause on almost all its northern frontage. On the south the village is pressed on the peak which forms the dividing line of the rivers between the Valley of City (Giessen) and the Val of Lièpvre (the Liepvrette). This stops lengthens of is in west from 690 to 830 meters of altitude (Schnarupt) and dominates the hamlet of the Hingrie (common of Rombach-the-Franc). The watershed passes by the small valley of Noirceux and the collar of Fouchy (608 meters) which makes communicate these two valleys between them. Collected around the church whose bell-tower, visible by far, point like a turn of guet, the village radiates in all the directions; a part extends, at the bottom of the valley, along the road leading of Villé to Saint-Dié. Dispersed farms form some hamlets formerly more important: Combre, Berlicombelle, Noirceux, Rouhu, Schlingoutte, Schnarupt. Some join the bottom of Urbeis and Schnarupt. In the west, while skirting the secondary road the village of Urbeis is and with 3 km in the east the village of Villé. Grube, term old and Germanic is given in honor for the periods of annexation between 1871 - 1818 and 1940 - 1944. The inhabitants of Fouchy are called Fouchyssois or Fouchyssoises. Perhaps the origin of the name comes from the Germanic patois Fosche , ditch. The village is crossed by the Giessen of Urbeis.

Geology

The round of applause of the commune of Fouchy is interressant to study from the point of view of the Géologie and the Tectonique. The Finage is cut in two fields: the Fault Lièpvre - Lalaye which limits the Western edge of the basin of the ploughed up basin of Villé. This fracture, whose rejection (Dénivellation) is of more than 400 meters, delimits two sectors of unequal space importance thus:

In the east the Western periphery of the basin of collapse of City, filled partially by the Permian deposits of sat of Kohlbaechel, thick here of almost 300 Mr. It always acts of rubéfiés grounds (Arkose S, Conglomérat S, clay lenses). On the cold and wet ubacs, these formations were prone to frequent movements of solifluction which rebalanced the slopes (projecting ledge where the village settled). The Permian deposits are capped by the powerful layers of Vosgean Grès of the Trias which form the precipice of Guichat (150 to 200 m thickness). This top, at the favor of a small collapse, preserves even as of 600 m the layers of the Higher Conglomerate which appear in the solid mass of the Altenberg only starting from 800 m and which are absent with the Ungersberg (901 meters). It is to say the importance of the Affaissement undergone by this sector located in the vicinity immediate of three broad outlines of fracture.
a great Western part of fining is occupied by the crystalline base, represented here by the Granite of the Crête S and the Gneiss of the series of Urbeis. The granite of the peaks is itself affected by the passage of important the Faille of Retournemer - Sainte Marie-with-Mines which is translated on the ground by the presence of a fringe of Mylonite S (crushed rocks). The meeting of this fault with dislocation Lalaye- Lubine near, is besides certainly with the origiune of the collapse of the basin of City and the volcanic demonstrations which one finds the trace in the Permian deposits of sat of Meisenbuckel.

Population

The inhabitants of Fouchy are called " Fouchottes" in Welche (French fork) In French the inhabitants of Fouchy are called Fouchyssois or Fouchyssoises.

Variations and localities

Noirceux: (Is between the commune of Rombach-the-Franc (the Hingrie) and Fouchy)
Froidefontaine
Barrure
Rouhu
Schnarupt
Combre
Berlicombelle
Schlingoutte

Blasonnement

" Of fitted money of mouths, with the peak and hammer piquier of sand put in saltire stitching on the partition" . The inventors of the blazon of Fouchy undoubtedly were influenced by the lintel of the door gone back to 1569 and decorate with the tools with Mineur. However, this one probably comes from Lalaye. The current armoirie represents a hammer and a peak of minor, on bottom of the colors of the Great Chapter of the cathedral of Strasbourg, owner of the village of 1489 with 1789.

History

Origin of the name

Called formerly Groba, then Grube, the name of the village is francized after the thirty year old Guerre in Fouchy. This name could come from the local patois (Welche) Fosche meaning ditch . Schoepflin thinks that Fouchy comes from an old name, fossa which one finds a mention in a papal bubble of December 23rd 1182. In this document signed of the hand of the pope Luce III for the Abbaye of Baumgarten, it is known as that Mathieu Ier of Lorraine and Simon de Parreia gave to this monastery a barn located in Fossa . But the local historian Nartz who wrote the history of the Valley of City disputes this version and thinks rather than it is about a name which is elsewhere, on the side of the Hang. One finds a charter dated July 21st 1095 signed by the bishop of Strasbourg, Othon, which gives many goods to the church of Groba. It yields then the church with its Dîme S to the priory of Holy Foy with Sélestat, priory rested by his mother Hildegarde in 1094. Another charter of 1105 of Frederic de Hohenstaufen, duke of Souabe, mentions also the name of Groba. Groba is still mentioned towards 1170 and at the beginning of XIVe century. Canon A. Martin giving an account of his paid visit with Fouchy on June 21st 1894, note that on a tomb stone, discovered with the Holy church Foy of Sélestat, one found engraved in the stone the name of a monk Benedictine who would have served Groba between 1300 and 1309. The name of Grube also appears in a bubble of Clément V gone back to 1309. For certain historians, the Grube term could mean gallery of mine (Erzgrube). One is very inclined to admit this definition since the creators of the armorial bearings of Fouchy chose this explanation. The central part of their ecu is decorated by a peak and a hammer, tools of the minor (the enamels of the armorial bearings point out the Great Chapter of Strasbourg), owner of Fouchy between 1489 and 1789).

The village forms initially part of the goods of the priory of Holy Foy de Sélestat

It seems that the commune of Fouchy (Groba) was mentioned for the first time towards 1150 and belonged to the goods of the convent of Sainte Foy of Sélestat. In the beginning the village was undoubtedly installed in the middle of a clearing, the forest still surrounding the major part of the valley covered by some cultivable fields, being detached in the middle of wood. The membership of the village of Fouchy and its forests is an aubaine for the priory of Sainte Foy which brings to him a forest richness hardly started by the clearing, and especially of the transportation routes which make it possible to connect the Lorraine while passing by Villé and Urbeis. This road is also a very important axis for the trade, since it makes it possible to forward the salt of Lorraine to the Alsace, the other road passing by the collar of Steige. This axis of communication also made it possible to the priory of Holy Foy to require a right of toll for any goods entering by the aforementioned road. Until the Middle Ages, Fouchy from time immemorial knew an important mixing of populations coming from two different worlds: universe Gallo-Roman and the Germanic sphere of the other. This is why the valley was regularly delivered to turpitudes shaking the peaceful life of its inhabitants, whose certain events had European scales. But it is only starting from 1150, or can be slightly before a small colony of men cleared the forest and definitively settled there in what will be called Groba, today Fouchy. Until the medium of XIVe century much of applicants would be interested in Fouchy, probably because of its relative forest and land richness. Witness the lawsuit which opposes the priory of Holy Foy to the abbot of Honcourt and to the Huno priest of the village of Villé. The Abbey of Honcourt exemption religious teaching with the populations dependant on the priory Holy Foy which the abbot finds normal to obtain from the financial benefits between counterpart. However, the abbot of Honcourt and the priest of City are déboutés by a judgment of 1169 - 1170, the dîme of the church of Fouchy remaining fixed at the priory Sainte Foy. This judgment is confirmed by the pope Calixte III in 1170, since the church of Fouchy is regarded as making party of the goods of the priory Sainte Foy de Sélestat which exerts the " there; right of Dîme, Baptism and burial " . The Abbaye of Ebersmunster is also in relation to the village of Fouchy: in 1309, a bubble of Clement V requires of the abbot of Ebersmunster to make return the goods alienated in the church of Fouchy. Towards 1313, and especially between 1348 - 1349, the population of Fouchy was touched by terrible the Black Death which devastated Western Europe. It is also the time when the village sees passing from the armies and the hordes of plunderers which sow desolation and misery.

The castle of Weyersbourg

There existed at the first times of the existence of Fouchy a strong castle which was in the north of the village, to the site where will be built at the XXe century the Ottenwaelder sawmill. The name of this castle often changed: in 1337 one finds it under the denomination of Wiehersburg, in 1449 under the name of Wigersburg, towards 1550 under the name of Wyhrburg or Wyhrspurg, then Wygersburg in 1499, Weyrsburg in 1575, then Weyherspurg in 1665. Belonging to the Count-Round of applause, the castle is sold in 1358 with the bishop of Strasbourg, Jean II which gives it in episcopal stronghold to different vassal. Jacques de Lützelstein, owner of the Castle of Frankenbourg and Châtenois repurchased Weyersbourg in 1436. Then in 1449 the fields and the castle will pass between the hands of Hans von Uttenheim lord of Ramstein. Then in 1587 the manor house was sold with Sebastien Horn of Bulach. This powerful family remained Master of the places until in 1728, date on which it sold the whole with the châpitre cathedral of Strasbourg for 5000 Gulden. At the Revolution the manor house being dilapidated and practically in ruins, the goods of the châpitre were put at the biddings public with Benfeld on July 3rd 1793 which was allocated to a certain Joseph Schneider of Châtenois.

The count-round of applause of Frankenbourg takes possession of Fouchy

In 1359, Fouchy is attached to the Count-Round of applause while remaining until in 1503 under the ecclesiastical dependence of the convent of Sélestat. Then in 1489 the locality passes under the control of the chapter of the cathedral of Strasbourg. The influence of Holy Foy decreases more and more when Sélestat became a free city in 1217. It runs up then against the middle-class of the quoted young person. This one tears off little by little its privileges and possessions, and in 1358 " Grube and Breytenowe" (Fouchy and Breitenau) are yielded to the lord of Frankenbourg and belong to the Count-Round of applause. Fouchy shares thus the destinies of New-Church, Hirtzelbach, Dieffenbach-with-Valley, Neubois. The same year the Count-Round of applause is repurchased with the Château of Frankenbourg by Jean de Lichtenberg, bishop of Strasbourg. Fouchy thus becomes a episcopal possession, while continuing to depend, from the spiritual point of view of the priory of Holy Foy. During the XVe century, the priory of Holy Foy loses his spiritual power with the profit of the abbot of the Abbaye of Honcourt which installs a vice-chancellor in the village as of 1464. In 1594 the Abbaye of Honcourt passes under the dependence of the Abbaye of Andlau.

The terrible plague of the Black Death

Fouchy divides, like other villages of the valley the heurs and misfortunes. The village, though dependant on Holy-Foy, undoubtedly could escape the quarrel opposing the bishop Strasbourg and the town of Strasbourg in 1262. On the other hand the population of the Valley of City and Fouchy was particularly touched by the Black Death which devastated all the Western Europe starting from 1313 and especially between 1348 - 1349. Built at the edge of a very attended road, Fouchy saw passing the Armée S and the hordes with Pillard S sowing devastation on their passage. This plague which has affected all Europe between 1347 and 1350 was certainly not the first epidemic, but by its width it was described in a precise way by the chroniclers of the time. This terrible disease remade surface between 1353 and 1355. The consequences of this disease have for résulat a rise out of arrow of the foodstuffs due to the lack of labor in agriculture. The incomes of the ground crumble occasion consequently. One shows the Juif S, the other poplations and travelling entertainers known under the name of Cagots to be responsible for these misfortunes. One shows them to poison the wells and is pitilessly pursued and persecuted, in spite of the warning statements of the Pape Clément VI which tries to clear them. During two years, between 1336 and 1337 of the bands of peasants prevail in Alsace while attacking Juifs.En France, certain provinces lose until the 2/3 of their population. medicine pains to stop the Maladie. The Clergé organizes solemn Processions everywhere by beseeching God to protect the population. Others flee in wood for mettrent with the abrit epidemic S, but the evil follows those which try to flee. Some of them perish in the course of road, along the Chemin S, in Forêt or along the Rivière S. Following this terrible disease soon the famine succeeds involving a lack of labor which makes flame considerably the Salaire S. the population, in its emsemble is not more able to get the food products essential to their survival. One then attends scenes of famines.

Devastations of the Middle Ages

Built at the edge of a strategic road, Fouchy saw passing all kinds of hordes of plunderers and various armies. In 1444 - 1445 the Armagnacs and in 1470 Pierre de Hagenbach (1423 - 1474). This last, knight Burgundian orders the 9th company of the troops of Charles Bold the and is often regarded as a man with the brutal and canted character. It enters the Valley of City with 5000 riders while passing by the collar of Steige. He camps first during the day in Villé which he occupies with the castle of Ortenbourg, then the following day he establishes his general headquarter with Châtenois while making with the passage of many exactions on the population. Then it goes on Colmar which opposes a savage resistance and moves then on Brisach where it finds death. Charles Bold the finds itself death in Nancy. The Val of City knows then peace for a certain time before do not intervene of others turbid coming starting from 1493 this time from the interior. Peasants raise themselves starting from Sélestat, of Dambach, Stotzheim, Châtenois, Scherwiller, Dieffenthal. They are involved by Jean Uhlmann, former burgomaster of Sélestat. The others are Jacques Hanser of Blienschwiller and Nicolas Ziegler of Stotzheim. Jean Uhlman noting that the battle was lost in advance installs in Basle where it is stopped, judged then put at died and quartered. At the time to die, he declares in front of his judges: " early or late the alliance of the people triomphera". Nicola Zigler knows the same end with Sélestat. As for Jacques Hanser one does not know what it became. All the other protagonists having been made prisoners were punished; to the ones one cut the fingers to them, others were banished or put at the fine. The rising of the peasants misérablement had misérablement failed thanks to measurements that Maximilien had dictated since Colmar where it was ghost of Burgundy. The idea of independence and more than social justice near the ruined or dissatisfied peasants had not disappeared for antan. These ideas learnedly were orchestrated by preachers devoted to the reform who found a broad echo near the population pressed of all shares by the lords. The Guerre of the peasants burst (also called Guerre of the Bumpkins). In 1525 of the inhabitants of Fouchy undoubtedly take part in the rising of the peasants and several of them probably disappeared at the time of the battle of Scherwiller in 1525. Starting from 1633 the arrival of the Swedish mark the height of the horror. Whereas Fouchy counted 58 more families, after the war there remain nothing any more but 8 about it to which are added 14 Manant S and 2 widows. Twenty five houses remain still livable on the 58 which the commune counted.

The thirty year old war

Like many villages of the valley, Fouchy suffered much from the vicissitudes of the wars. The village being located on an main axis of communication, the inhabitants often had to flee in the forest because their houses all were almost destroyed during terrible the Guerre thirty year old. Fouchy sees the disappearance of fifty of the eighteen middle-class families families which the village counted then. Ruined economically the valley has much difficulty of being raised; populated of 1050 inhabitants before the thirty year old war, it counts of them nothing any more but 364 in 1660.

The repopulation of Fouchy

Louis XIV is worried then handing-over in value and repopulation of this devastated area. About November 1662, it makes publish an ordinance on the grounds which remain with the abandonment advising with their former owners to return in the villages while encouraging other inhabitants besides have been just established there. Only one condition is posed the abroads wanting to fix itself in the villages: to be of Catholic religion apostolic and Roman. It grants many advantages to the new arrivals, such as for example the exemption of any tax during five years. During the rebuilding of the village, many French-speaking immigrants families settle in Fouchy while bringing their dialect Welche. One sees arriving of Lorraine Humbert, Forchard, Verdun, of Switzerland the Brunette and the south-west of France Guiot. In 1723, Fouchy again counts 115 inhabitants and 696 in 1801. The village is rebuilt around the church flanked formerly body of guard. Thereafter the majority of the dwellings were transformed. Beautiful houses carrying year 17. are built and constituted nowadays dumb witnesses of this period of peace and development. It for the majority of the house-blocks is lengthened, of Vosgean type; on a side one finds the other and dwelling house the cattle shed, the two parts being separated by a Grange. A long corridor carries out towards the kitchen to the back. The old houses are built out of sandstone, the materials of the area and covered with a rough coat.

The Revolution

The Paroisse of Fouchy is at the beginning of the Révolution very little worried and its continuous cure to manage the inhabitants. Cleaned S Navert, then Simon Seck try not to show himself too much undertaking. Thus they cross the revolutionary upheaval without damage thanks to the trick of the inhabitants. To escape the " rapacité" " patriotes" , the Presbytery, beautiful building of the XVIIIe century is converted into Auberge and even into room of dance. Révolutionnaire S fanatics are caught some however with rural crosses by breaking old the Croix of Guichat and that which drew up with the site of the Chapelle of Noirceux rebuilt in 1840.

Fouchy enters XIXe and the XXe century

Fouchy crosses XIXe and the XXe century without knowing particular events compared to the remainder of the valley of which it shares the fate. The Surpopulation (1029 inhabitants in 1866) causes a strong emigration. Those which leave towards America seldom find the richness and many are those which return from there. It was the case of Ernest Baty born in 1873 in Fouchy and which lived during 7 years with the Canada where he exerted various trades, of which that of servant of Ferme. Returned in Fouchy it sets up a cross in 1907 in Noirceux, in recognition for its happy return. But all does not occur as well. In 1882, a destroyed big fire of many houses with Fouchy around the church, it is--to say in the district of the High of the Hearth . The school and the town hall which had also been devastated by fire will be rebuilt in 1884. The village then knows a more serene animation until the beginning of the First World War.

Periods of war

The First World War

The proximity of the face leads the German authorities to build " the road of Allemands" and " Londonbahn" who allow more quickly to convey soldiers and supply with the first lines. Between 1914 and 1918 Fouchy loses 16 people.

The second world war

Between 1940 and 1945 Fouchy loses 22 people. Many young people people are enlisted of force in the Wehrmacht. After the war, in thanks for the return to the hearth of enlisted wire, of the crosses are set up: it is the case of the Entzmann crosses and Brunette built in 1922 and 1923.

Old dwellings

After the Guerre thirty year old of many dwellings were rebuilt around the church of the village. The houses for the majority are lengthened, of Vosgean type. One finds on a side the habitat and other the cattle shed, the two parts being separated by a barn. A long corridor carries out towards the kitchen located at the back. There still exists of many houses of the XVIIIe century whose cellar is dug under the dwelling house. One reaches this cellar by a staircase. One undoubtedly preserved the products of harvest at it and perhaps also the wine which was bought elsewhere, because Fouchy did not have vines because too exposed towards north. However, it is extremely possible which the inhabitants of Fouchy had a few vines as it is the case currently with Bassemberg or in other villages of the valley. In addition, the cellar was also used to store the barrels containing the fruits to be distilled and as noted it the abbot Nartz one distilled the Cerisier formerly there, and the Kirsch which were famous even beyond the Alsace. Certain old houses still nowadays have a baker's oven. The old houses are built out of sandstone - the material of the area - and covered with a rough coat. The houses of easy people, were generally reinforced by chains of angles out of stone of size. The others less solid, fall quickly in ruins under the bad weather, fault of regular talks. It is thus the case of several Ferme S in Rouhu of which there remain only some sections of wall. Only one half-timbered house remains still visible in Combre, in N°105. Certain houses, formerly covered with tiles punts, had, thereafter, of the industrial tiles, those being more practical, since not requiring shingles. The roof as the remainder of the house, needs divine protection against all forms of disasters and to prevent the malefic forces from penetrating in the residence. From where the habit, formerly, to pose a tile decorated on the roof. These old houses also had the aerators, openings of the frontage making it possible to make pass from the air in the attic or the barn and to give light under the roof. These aerators often have very variable forms. Some are round, others more, are presented under the features of two hearts facing. Others still evoke a star with four or six branches. The framings of the windows and the doors are out of sandstone of the the Vosges. Generally, this material comes from Guichat, top which dominates the village. Only some houses of the XXe century are built, partly, out of sandstone of Champenay, stone " who does not drink the Eau ". The framing of the main doors of the houses is often interesting and rich in information: the jambs and the lintel are generally right, seldom as it is the case for the house n°136. The lintels of door are often decorated, in low-relief of the date of construction of the house, initial of the names of the owners or signs or other symbols: tools, reasons, plants, etc. Although the stone mason does not sign his work, one can find the author of certain lintels thanks to the similarity of invoice. For the dating of the old houses, there is necessary to remain careful. Often the year is engraved on the lintel of the main door, on the key of arcade of the door of the barn or that of the cellar. But it is also necessary to observe the general shape of the framing and the size of the windows to be able to confirm the dating. Many stones are often recovered and re-used in the recent construction industries. Since the XXe century the houses underwent many modifications, especially since about fifty years: barns and cattle sheds were transformed into dwellings. A sign of times, the culture and the breeding do not make it possible any more to people to live. Like the majority of the villages of the valley, Fouchy knows a strong rural migration which already started at the end of the XXe century.

The oldest house would be " the house of the mineurs" i.e. the n°12 which is located in the main street. But this residence was so often modified that one is in right to wonder whether the lintel of the door, decorated with a blazon of minor and carrying the date 1569 does not come from a stone which was recovered. One can doubt it because with the back of the house one discovers a very beautiful blazing lintel of Gothic style which is used as lintel of window. For the date certain figures are reversed. In the medium, a blazon representing the tools of marécahl-shoeing: iron with Horse, clippers, hammer.

Mining with Noirceux

The geological map, for the commune of Fouchy, shows the presence with Noirceux of a band of ground made of Gneiss to Grenat and Sillimanite, similar to that which one meets in the valley of Sainte Marie-with-Mines. It is in this rock that are located the metalliferous lodgings which formerly made the richness of this city. In Noirceux, this band of ground contains seams of Cuivre and Barytine which one also discovers with Rombach-the-Franc on the other side of the slope of the mountain. There existed formerly in Noirceux, two galleries which were built during the construction of the road of the collar of Fouchy in 1904. The date of the first work is not known. Only, Hammer in 1826 quotes the name of Fouchy, at the same time as that of Urbeis, Lalaye and Triembach-with-Valley. Ungemach speaks about research undertaken on old work. Towards 1900 the concession of these mines still belonged to the " Weilertaler Bergwerke" . In the gallery has, work followed a fault, broad by places of 30 cm, where one can still see traces of seams of Chalcopyrite (iron and copper sulfide) with Malachite like product of oxidation, in a quartz gangue. The fault is prolonged then with a filling of Calcite, then disappears. The Halde (cuts of mines) is downwards, between the road and the brook. One very little knows things about the second gallery whose entry is blown in and inaccessible. The exploitation of the Barytine (barium sulfate) is rather recent. It took place towards 1922, with open sky. A gutter in boards allowed the evacuation of the ore to the road, a little higher. Directed by Mr Hazemann, former mayor of Ranrupt, work occupied ten workmen. They were abandoned rather quickly, because of the little of profitability. Today pre recovers the old excavations. But the walker can still discover, with the skirt of forest, some samples of a white barytine, which seems particularly pure. It thus remains little of traces visible of old mining work in Noirceux.

Economy

Agriculture

Primarily mountainous commune, Fouchy saw melting the number of its farmers with the passing of years. Some double credits and the owners of common neighbors divide a S.A.U of 44 ha out of grass (pre basic of valley, glacis towards Bassemberg, pastures dsu small valley of Noirceux. Fouchy and its hamlets were formerly famous for their kirsch and wild alcohols of bays. The village counts 50 more stills (the highest number of the valley). The forest covers an important surface, 571,17 ha including 99,97 ha of national forest, 271,65 of communal forest and 199,55 ha of private forest.

Industry - Trade - Craft industry

Fouchy has as of before 1914 a deposit of the factory Amos de Wasselonne, distributing to the local population of the Chausson S to furnish (until in 1947). The village is then also very active in the Artisanat of the Bois (several Sabotier S, Perceurs of pipes, sale of prop of Vigne). Old the Tissage of Fouchy, built by F.T.V in 1913 is victim of the crisis of 1956, like the majority of the factories of this group. The activity is taken again by a local contractor, Mr. Fréchin until his permanent closure in 1981. The buildings shelter today two artisanal companies of manufacture of staircases out of wooden and photographic filters. Put besides some craftsmen (garage) and a slope family Sawmill in the course of closing, the village on the spot does not have others enplois industrial.

Fouchy counts two Restaurant S and a store of general food, managed by the commune which ensures the daily supply of the inhabitants. Presence of a banking counter and an post office.

The village has courts of Tennis (local association), a ground of Football and a parochial hearth used, inter alia by the theatrical group of the village. Beautiful a pond of fishing was arranged close to the old weaving between Fouchy and Lalaye. It is managed by the association of inter-commune fishing Fouchy- Lalaye - Urbeis.

The old convalescent home of F.T.V., beautiful stone building of size, is used today as Summer camp with the commune of Soufflenheim.

Fouchy was made known by its Hill climb Automobile, which every year in June, borrows the laces of the Collar of Fouchy until Rombach-the-Franc and which attracts the French elite of the discipline and many a public.

The forest

The Forêt was during strong a long time the main wealth of the commune of Fouchy, as well by the resources as it could get as by the use which was made by it: right of Marling, Pasture, Glandée. To these different use came to be grafted the clandestine clearing of the forest which the population apart from any legal framework could practice. The lords (dukes and counts) were actually the true owners of the forests: they belonged to the Franc-freehold that they held. The dukes or counts generally yielded their goods in strongholds to the vassal ones to reward them for their fidelity. The vassal ones allotted thus the royalties or Cens. Before the Xe century the family of the duke Attic was thus the great landowner of the forests of the valley, then their heirs-at-law. Thereafter the forests spent three centuries after to the bishops of Strasbourg, the count of Ortenbourg, then the Landgrave S of Werde and became thus a Forêt seigneuriale. The group dominating was initially starting from XIe century the Count-Round of applause which allotted the forest fields between the Château of Frankenbourg and the Altenberg. The field more moved back extended from the Koltsbach until worms Urbeis, then until Virst (first, peaks) and went down again until the Val of Lièpvre, including part of the round of applause of Rombach-the-Franc, thus forming the round of applause of Holy-Foy that the Hohenstaufen had allotted to them according to an act of the year 1095.

Climate

The village of Fouchy knows temperatures lower than those of the plain of Alsace. The average temperature of this village of medium mountains shows, 1,2° of less than in plain. This difference is explained partly by the difference in altitude (150 m with Strasbourg - Entzheim, 260 m with Villé, 300 m with Fouchy). The autumnal and winter situation definitely more complex and is often influenced by the phenomenon of temperature inversion which occurs by stable anticyclonic situation. It often happens that the plain of Alsace is drowned in the fog or under the low clouds whereas the sun is shining in mountain.

Administration

Demography

provisional population for 2005: 605

In its Fouchy history exceeded twice the bar of the 1000 inhabitants: in 1836:1017 inhabitants and 1866 1029 inhabitants before depopulating itself gradually.

Places and monuments

Martyrdoms of Fouchy

Church Jean-Baptiste Saint

It is probable that Fouchy had a parish as of 1095 and a church dedicated to Saint Jean-Baptiste. In 1170 " the church of Groba with the Dîme S, the rights of baptism and all dépendances" is quoted in an unquestionable way. Indeed one finds on this date, the antipape Calixte III confirming the possession of this Holy-Foy parish with , thus déboutant the abbot of Honcourt. This last had not appreciated that the Hohenstaufen offered this parish to the priory of Sélestat and had carried the different one in front of the religious authorities. This parish is of modest size and includes only Fouchy and Breitenau. At the time (towards 1494) the priest is elected by the notable ones and not named, which is not very current. The priory of Holy-Foy deals with the management of this community by delegating some monks who reside at Fouchy. The oral tradition evokes a " couvent" but there does not exist any written document which confirms it. Perhaps that the " couvent" was only one simple dwellings of monks. These monks come in general from the south-west of the France (the priory of Holy-Foy of Sélestat is a dependence of the Abbaye of Conches) were unaware of generally the language of the country. The inhabitants of Fouchy thus preferred asresser with the monks of Honcourt and Ebersmunster, which explains why these abbots sought to get financial advantages n the other hand. The influence of Holy Foy decreases more and more, especially starting from the XIIIe century, when Sélestat manages itself. The priory sells then its goods of Fouchy, but continuous to exert its spiritual supervision on the parish. In 1712 under the priesthood of the priest Auger, a papal bubble founds a " brotherhood under the invocation of the glorious Saint-Joseph ". With the Revolution, Fouchy, which is since 1489 a possession of the Great Chapter of the Cathédrale of Strasbourg sees its religious goods put at the biddings. But the parish is worried little at the beginning of the Revolution. Fouchy thus continues to keep its cure and its forests. The parish is managed by the Navert priests then by Simon Seck who crosses the revolutionary upheaval without damage thanks to the complicity of the inhabitants. The beautiful presbytery built with the XVIIIe century was converted into inn and even into room of dance. Fanatic revolutionists were however caught some with rural crosses and broke the old martyrdom of Guichat and that which drew up with the site of the vault of Noirceux built again in 1840. As for the church which existed with the XIe century, the scarcity of the documents makes this study historical lacunar good. The nave was increased with the XVIIIe century, the bell-tower, at least its base, aired Romance and Gothic windows is old and goes back to the Middle Ages. The roof is replaced in 1865 by a roof in bulb. To the same time the cemetery become too small is transferred in-outside agglomeration. It still contains beautiful tomb wrought iron crosses.

Old sawmill

Towards the Collar of Fouchy

Martyrdom of the bottom of Urbeis

It goes back to 1806 and is between the exit of the village of Fouchy and the entry of Urbeis. It is about the oldest cross of Fouchy.

Vault of Noirceux

This vault was built in 1875 by the inhabitants of Noirceux and Froidefontaine in the place of a small oratory builds in 1845 which was increased thereafter. The vault of Noirceux was built at the place even where this oratory rose which was destroyed at the time of the Revolution. It did not remain at the time any more but the stone forming base. One tells that around 1830 - 1840, an inhabitant of the country, name of Joseph Heckly who returned from Saint Maurice, where it made shoes, and which moved towards Fouchy was dazzles by an intense light. Clearness came from the place where an old martyrdom rose formerly and of which there remained nothing any more but the base. Each time it approached some, that at once it disappeared. Another time, according to the legend, it seen a light even sharper surrounded by a reddish halation with at its sides another person of the parish named Joseph Mariotte who lived in Froidefontaine. This last known as to see, suddenly, a cross in front of him. After having exceeded it, Mariotte requires of his/her colleague: “Did you see the cross “? “Not” Heckly answers him. They reconsidered their steps and both then distinctly transfer to shine a cross with the site of that which had been destroyed during the Révolution. It is following these events which were interpreted as an exhortation that was built in the current of the year 1845 an oratory which took account of the indications provided by our two men. Fifteen years later, of the time of the Pernot abbot, a bell was added. The vault of Noirceux became thus an appendix of the parish of Fouchy. Its successor, the priest Jean Baptiste Mehl made make work of enlarging by adding the chorus to it and a pinnacle. In 1875 were installed three bells and the vault dedicated to Notre Dame Auxiliatrice. In April 1917, Kreisdirection seized the bells of the vault to be molten. April 19th, 1917, the military police chief requisitioned the bells of Noirceux followed soon by those of the church of Fouchy. The vault of Noirceux remained quiet until in 1926. The Guidat priest pressed by the population undertook a collection with Noirceux, Rouhu, Froidefontaine and Barrure. Thanks to the generosity of the population a rather important sum was collected which made it possible to order three new bells with Mr. Robert of Nancy. The inaugural ceremony of the new bells took place on June 13rd, 1926 under the vicariate of Mr. the priest Speid, senior of Villé, assisted priests of Fouchy, Breitenau and of Erlenbach. RP To give, Rédemptoriste, gave the sermon of circumstance. The ceremony was done in the open air, on the pre contiguous one to the vault which had been placed at the disposal of the population by Eugene Jacquel, marguillier of the factory of the church of Fouchy. In 1944 the German occupant tore off the bells brutally. After the release they were recovered in station of Sélestat. But because of war, the bell had been damaged. Also the fabric committee decided to entrust its recasting to the house Causard-Dury de Colmar. The installation of the new bells took place on August 13rd 1950 in the presence of a very important crowd.

Inheritance

Ways of the inheritance

The village of Fouchy counts five forest paths devoted to the inheritance of the valley, the last inaugurated on September 7th, 2007. The selected topic is " A forest in country welche". Thanks to the support of the community of the communes of the valley of City and with the support of the general advice and regional, Fouchy lays out from now on a path devoted to material prevailing of its history and its inheritance: wood. Six panels color detailing the excursions were designed for this purpose by the permanent center of initiatives for the environment = CPIE), the House of nature and were illustrated by Claude Delamarre. They are the result of a common work between the Company of history of the valley of City, the House of the valley, the Vosgean club, natural Alsace and the tourist office.

Lintels of the windows and doors of the old houses

The village of Fouchy still has many old houses built out of sandstone of the Vosges and covered with a rough coat. These houses are generally characterized by framings from the windows and doors whose material comes from Guichat, a top which dominates the village. The framing of the main doors of the houses is often interesting and rich person of lesson: the jambs and the lintel are generally right, seldom as it is the case for the house n°136. This entry was raised in order to have a transom, being used for lighting of the corridor. The lintels of door are often decorated, in low relief of the date of construction of the house, of initial of the names of the owners and the representative signs: tools, reasons, plants, etc. Although the stone mason does not sign his work, one can find the author of certain lintels thanks to the similarity of invoice. For the dating of the houses, there is necessary to remain careful. Often the year engraved on the lintel is only one stone which was recovered and re-used on more recent constructions. Houses having undergone many modifications, especially since about fifty years; barns and cattle sheds were transformed into dwelling. One often meets in the middle of the lintels of door of small crosses with the monogram of Christ (IHS) or a Svastika with 6 branches above the door of the cattle shed. The windows of the cattle sheds - generally small - and the ventilators of the cellars are sometimes " protégés" by a " brush of sorcière" or " Haxabasa ", seal vertically or horizontally. One thus thought of protecting the cattle and of preserving the wine, by preventing the witch from penetrating in the cattle shed or the cellar. One often showed the witch to make turn the wine!.

Sources

Whole or part of this article is extracted with authorization from the directory 1976 from the Company from history from the Valley from City and the work: the Valley of City: a country, men, a history. The article could be modified since.

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