Geispolsheim

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

Geography

Geispolsheim is located at 12 kilometers in the south of Strasbourg.

The construction of the railway Strasbourg Mulhouse, at the XIXe century, involved the opening of a station to approximately 3 kilometers in the east of the traditional borough, and the development of a distinct agglomeration (but always depending on the commune), called Geispolsheim-Station. The traditional borough is often called, by convenience but in an “official” way not, Geispolsheim-Village. The two parts of the commune are connected by the secondary road 84 out of 3 kilometers.

Included today in the Urban community of Strasbourg, Geispolsheim profits from an establishment favorable to a future expansion; the commune includes/understands in particular industrial and artisanal parks.

PHYSICAL ENVIRONMENT

Topography The round of applause of Geispolsheim is entirely in the plain of Alsace. In spite of weak altimetric differences, one distinguishes several topographic units:

sector of relief mollement corrugated, located at the North of a35 highway and of which the high parts are of altitude higher than 150 m (culminating point of the round of applause 154 m, with the Kingersten locality).

It ends in a rectilinear slope, of orientation S-SW/N-NE, which puts it in contact with the following topographic subset:

a very plane zone, leant with the hill of Gloekersberg (common of Blaesheim) and inclining gently West in Is, passing from the dimension 150 m (Oberfels) at an altitude of 145 m in the South of Geispolsheim-Station.

left Is, corresponding to the bottom of valley of Ill. It is the sector low of the commune, with the altitudes ranging between 143 m towards the Old people's home Elisa and 141 m towards the Wiesel pond.

a vast Southern sector, limited by the courses of Ehn and Ergenselbach and pertaining to the depressed zone of Ried of Andlau, whose altitudes decrease slowly of South-west towards the North-East, between 150 m (Schulmastermatt, in the South-west of the commune) and 143 m with the Mill of the Stones.

Climate (Source: French Central Meteorological Office - Station of Entzheim)

The local climate belongs to a little accentuated semi-continental type. Precipitations annual averages rise to 585 mm, spread out over 169 days. The pluviometric mode is marked enough, the strong rains concentrating in summer, often in the form of storms (2 to 6 days of storms per month, from May to August), weak precipitations characterizing rather the winter (28 days of snow). Thus, the principal maximum is in June (75 mm) and the principal minimum is in December (33 mm). The average temperature of the hottest month reached 18,9°c (July), that of the coldest month 0,8°c (January). The median number of days of cold is assembled to 79 per annum. The annual sunning represents on average 1.599 hours. With a 69 days average of fog per annum, the frequency of the phenomenon of inversion of temperature, is a worsening factor of atmospheric pollution. The climatic factor having the most influence on quality of life is the wind, because the level of atmospheric pollution depends on it closely. The weakness of the airstreams also penalizes the quality of the air. The prevalence of the winds of Southern/South-western sector, along the major axis of the plain of Alsace, supports the renewal of the atmosphere. On the other hand, flows of air coming from North-eastern North/bring back pollutants of the basin of the Ruhr and Central Europe. Relatively rare, they do not contribute about it less to the local increase in atmospheric pollution. The strongest winds come from the North-western and Western sector, with speeds of about 50 m/s.

Geology

The surface formations constituting the substrate of the communal territory are distributed between wind and fluviatile deposits and correspond appreciably to the topographic units described above.

loess like Formations

Loess putting back on the terrace rissienne Beetle: Along the North-western limit of the round of applause of Geispolsheim loesses level, recovering the stony alluvia of the terrace of the Beetle (dated from Riss), probably highlighted by a supposed fault, which appears in the landscape by a slope (Kingersten). This fault undoubtedly represents the prolongation towards the East of the tectonic structure of the horst of Griesheim-Blaesheim (compartment raised between two sagging sectors) materialized by the hill of Gloekelsberg.

Loess of the terrace of Erstein: Typical loesses recover most of the commune. They are silts limestones, thick from 3 to 5 m, color often clear, beige, yellow or brown. Their deposit is explained by the cold climatic conditions of the Quaternary one which allowed the taking away of fine particles by strong winds, blowing mainly of Is in West on great spreadings of sands and gravel of the Rhine. This loess like cover rests on the Rhenish alluvia forming the substrate of Bruch of Andlau. In the North of Ehn, it forms a vast sector of only one holding (“terrace of Geispolsheim”). In the South of this river, the layer of loess was split up by Ehn and Ergelsenbach which, outgoing of Ried of Andlau, notch the terrace würmienne to join the plain of Ill and the Rhine. This sector slightly dominating (1 to 2 m) the ried of Ill was described as “low higher terrace” or “terrace of Erstein”. Being given that the subjacent Rhenish gravels are with the same altitude that in the remainder of the ello-Rhenish plain, it is to better speak about “Ackerland d' Erstein” that of terrace. This thin loess like layer, whose horizontal surface uniform and is improved little, date of recent Würm. Nevertheless, one meets some small valleys in cradle there, little boxed in the terrace and without flow. These small valleys are papered by the loess deposits altered by streaming: The streaming involved the loess on the edge of the terrace or at the bottom of the small valleys. These deposits are a very variable thickness. The process exists always at the present time, because of the agricultural activities (ploughings). Such an embanked small valley can be observed in the North of A35, “hill” of Kirstenfeld and opening towards the zone of activities of Geispolsheim-North.

fluviatile Formations

Silts and gravel of the Beetle An old course of the Beetle which extends between Entzheim and the Forlen farm occupies the extreme North of the communal round of applause. It notched the loess like terraces, separating that from Lingolsheim (in North) of that of Erstein (in the South) and deposited a low thickness of silts of overflow, more or less continuous, on the Rhenish gravels würmiens (Schwobenfeld, Sondseck).

Alluvia of Ill

The bottom of valley of Ill, representing the edge Is communal round of applause, consists of silts of overflow or gravels covered by these same silts, alluvia of historical time, installation by flood of the zones most depressed before the construction of dams. Sands and rollers observed come from materials altered of the Rhenish terraces and mixed with 20 30% of material of Vosgean origin. Stony and sandy Rhenish alluvia A scrap of Rhenish alluvia, lengthened in the East-West direction, represents the substrate of Geispolsheim-Station, along the RD 84. Another residual small island of a terrace split up by old arms of Ill is observed near the lake Achard. Set up at the end of Würm, these gravels are composed to 60% of rollers of an intermediate size of 4 to 8 cm and are covered with a more or less thick muddy layer.

Gravel of Ehn

The substrate of the depression of Bruch of Andlau is represented by the gravels würmiens, slightly altered on the surface. A thin layer of silts of overflow (10-20 cm thickness) very fine on the surface, deposited until a recent date by the rivers (Ehn, Ergelsenbach), recovers them. Silts of the old dead arms of the Rhine In the West of the electric station of Graffenstaden exists an old channel of the Rhine, deep from 3 to 4 m and filled by not very thick limono-argillaceous materials, of historical age to sub-current. It can be periodically flooded by increase of the ground water.

Hydrology

The most important river in the commune of Geispolsheim is Ill, this one being in edge Is round of applause. In fact, Ehn represents the principal river crossing the communal territory. It is accompanied by several affluents, as well as ditches of drainage, resulting from the wet depression of Bruch of Andlau.

This river, most important of the plain of Alsace from which it constitutes the axis up to the level of Strasbourg, takes its source to approximately 600 m of altitude on the Northern slope of Glaserberg (the Jura Alsatian), close to Winkel. Draining a total basin-slope of approximately 4.765 km, Ill joins the Rhine with the immediate upstream of the dam Gambsheim, after a course of 217 km, whose average slope is of 2,2°/°°. It has mode of a rain-oceanic type (high waters in winter, frequent maximum in February, low waters in summer or end of summer) in particular because of its affluents going down from the Vosges. A little upstream Strasbourg, the annual medium flow of the river, of approximately 45 m3/s, is completely influenced by hydraulic installations starting from Erstein. Indeed, construction in 1891 of the outfall channel of Ill, recently recalibré to evacuate flows of 1.000 m3/s in the compensating reservoir of Plobsheim, put the agglomeration of Strasbourg at the shelter of believed of Ill more the devastators. This river reached Strasbourg only at the time history. Indeed, to judge some according to their width, the large meanders of Ill forming the common limit of the banns of Illkirch-Graffenstaden and Ostwald represent actually the traces of an old course of the Rhine. Ill was classified in 1835 “inland and floatable waterway” between Colmar and Strasbourg, then “river domanial”, accessible to the fishermen and the yachtmen. A decree of 1962 maintains in attributions of the Ministry for Agriculture, the management and the police force of water for the section of Ill, lain between Colmar and the bridge of the Strasbourg-Kehl railway on arrival of Ill in Strasbourg.

This small river is born to 920 m from altitude, in the meadows of Soutte, located at the foot of Rothlach (massive of the Field of Fire). Emerging in the plain of Alsace with Ottrott, it joins Ill in the South-east of Geispolsheim-Station, after a course of forty kilometers, draining a basin-slope of 165 km. Its hydrological mode, as for the major part of the rivers resulting from the Vosges, is of rain-oceanic type. The high waters occur in winter, centered in general over the lowest water, February while the low water levels are in summer, being usually observed in September. The only measuring site is in Niedernai, enough far upstream from Geispolsheim, and gives an annual medium flow of 0,55 m3/s.

Ergelsenbach

Lengthily marking the Southern limit of the round of applause of Geispolsheim, it is the principal affluent of Ehn, which it joined approximately 1 km before its outlet in Ill. It is about a short phreatic river of Bruch of Andlau, collecting water of the sector drained artificially between Krautergersheim, Blaesheim and Hindisheim.

Water quality (Domestic network of Rhine-Meuse Basin)

In France, the quality of the rivers is studied since 1974. The Domestic network of Basin (RNB) lays out on the Rhine-Meuse basin of a monthly site measuring and taking away every 25 km of river. It is the densest the inspection network of France, even if the small rivers remain little followed. The System of Water quality (SQE) includes/understands a grid of general quality gathering several criteria and makes it possible to allot to water a “note” of physicochemical quality (1A, 1B, 2 or 3). The thresholds adopted for the various levels of quality must be respected as often as possible (at least during 90% of time for the majority from the criteria and 100% for the oxygen content). This tolerance makes it possible to take account of the various exceptional conditions (risings, dryness, unfavourable natural context…). Among the whole of the analyzed criteria, it is more penalizing which downgrades water and determines some physicochemical quality.

The water quality of Ill classified in level 1b (good) in 2000, at the station of Geispolsheim. The qualitative aims are respected, although the factor of downgrading related to the total nitrogen rate is to be taken into account.

The studies of quality of the rivers show that water of Ehn is of quality 2 (poor) since 1990. The factors downgrading are the total nitrogen rate and the nitrate rate. This is explained by the fact that Ehn receives downstream from Obernai of the organic effluents, coming from local agribusiness industries (brewery, choucrouteries), in addition to the domestic rejections of the bordering communes. Moreover, the oxygenation of water being done badly because of the low flows, the capacity of self-purification of the river is not enough to eliminate this polluting load naturally.

Ground water

Occupying 3.000 km in Alsace, the ello-Rhenish tablecloth represents a total volume of water estimated at approximately 60 billion m3, of which 1,4 billion m3 is renewed annually. Representing a considerable resource for the water provision, it provides approximately 400 million m3/an (in 1978) taken to ensure the needs for the population and industries of all the area. Quasi levelling in period of believed in certain sectors, the ground water is visible permanently, in particular in the old gravel pits of the lake Achard and the Wiesel pond. The roof of the tablecloth is all the more close to the ground which one moves towards the South-west of the communal round of applause. Indeed, the level of high waters of the tablecloth varies according to this axis of dimensions 140 to 149 m, while the altimetry of the corresponding ground goes from 143 to 150 Mr. the weakest variation, about 1 m, is thus in the wet triangle of the South-west of the commune, part of Bruch of Andlau. The periodic increase of water is not however more sufficient there to guarantee the perenniality of the marsh which occupied the places. The loess covering of the grounds in the neighborhoods of Geispolsheim, ensures a weak protection of the tablecloth. In the ried of Andlau and the plain of Ill, the tablecloth is very close to the surface and stripped of any natural protection. Consequently, it can be easily and quickly reached by pollution of any nature. Floodplains Geispolsheim presents localized risks of flood: in Bruch of Andlau by the increase of tablecloth related to the Beetle and Ill, and the immersions related to Ehn, in the east of the communal round of applause by the increase of tablecloth and immersions related to Ill. In period of decennial rising, the tablecloth invades the cellars of Geispolsheim-Station and the totality of the part concerned with the increase of tablecloth is of 8 ha. At the time of a centennial rising, the phenomenon extends to the zone from activity from Geispolsheim-Station along the RD222, like with the Western edge of Geispolsheim-Village and, beyond, in direction of the South. The same applies in edge of the Southern limit of the commune, along Ehn after its junction with Ergelsenbach. This zone, where Geispolsheim-station was established, in addition presents a very strong vulnerability of the tablecloth, which encourages with very an great attention with respect to the management of rain water. This appears all the more important because of presence of a drinking water collecting.

Source: Local plan of TOWN PLANNING _ report _ introductory 2007

History

Origin of the name of the village

Into Alsatian, Geispolsheim says " Geispitze". This name would originate in the oldest denomination known, namely " Geisbodesheim" who would come from the Celt: " Djeis-Bodina" meaning " beside a borne". At the time of the Roman occupation this terminal was placed on a road connecting Strasbourg to Entzheim and Blaesheim. The village was established with exactly a Celtic mile of this reference mark. Thereafter, when Alsace germanisa after the fall of the Roman Empire and the arrival of Alamans in Ve century, Djeis transformed itself into Geis, and Bodina in Boden, Poten then Polten, which will give Geisboden, Geispolten then Geispoltzheim with the arrival of the Francs and finally Geispolsheim, heim meaning village. The blazon of Geispolsheim represents a black goat on a yellow bottom ( Ecu of gold to the goat of sand lampassée of mouths ). This goat does not have any relationship with the origin of the name of the village, in fact it acts itself of a translation of German of " Geis" , which was made at the XVIIe century. However Geispolsheimois are in spite of very proud having a goat like mascot of the village and while making ravel a goat at the head procession of the festival of sauerkraut does not fail to show it!

Geispolsheim with the Middle Ages

Geispolsheim was quoted the first time into 871 in a mentioning document of the grounds belonging to the Bishop of Strasbourg. As of this time, the Chapter of the Cathedral of Strasbourg exploited a court colongère (Dinghof) in the village. Geispolsheim passed then in various hands of which the noble family of Beger which had there an imposing castle close to the mill of Hattisheim (disappeared today). From 1404 with the Revolution of 1789, the village was the property of Évêché of Strasbourg.

In XIVe century, Geispolsheim became a strengthened city. The village was surrounded by a broad ditch (Dorfgraben) supplied with the Ehn river. Spoil of this ditch as well as a palisade made it possible to build ramparts. Protection was reinforced by the addition of a quickset hedge (shrubs with the interlaced branches provided with spines) along the fortifications. Four doors hones some (demolished in 1832) gave access to the village: thehigh one, thelow one, the door of Hattisheim and the door of Filsen. Alerted by the guetteurs of the 4 doors, the village was thus safe from a surprised attack and had time to organize its defense. It is because of these fortifications (disappeared today) which enclosed the village and of the lack of place available which resulted from it, that the traditional habitat with Geispolsheim is particularly dense (quite visible on the current air sights).

In spite of an effective defense system, the village was not saved by the many wars of the Middle Ages: the invasion of the English in 1365, of the Armagnacs in 1439 and 1444, of Lorraine in 1587 during the War of the bishops, the troops of Mansfeld and the Swedes at the time of the Guerre Thirty Year old (1618-1648) reduced the village many times of ashes and caused many human losses. Several close villages did not resist these devastations and disappeared, such Hattisheim, Strassheim, Schwobenheim and Sundhausen. Geispolsheim recovered the banns of these villages, from where its current extent of 2200 ha.

The French revolution

November 6th, 1789, 7 inhabitants of Geispolsheim - of which the mayor - were guillotines on the Kléber place in Strasbourg. They had been denounced by the public prosecutor of the revolutionary tribunal, Euloge Schneider. This last reproached them for being a anti-revolutionist and for having hidden not sworn in priests. These victims of revolutionary Terror have in fact acts only in the name of their faith as a God. During their execution, the 7 martyrs aloud requested the chain until the last second. The mayor held a crucifix which it launched to inhabitants of Geispolsheim, this cross is still currently preserved by the descendants of the mayor. Here names of the victims: François-Jacques NUSS (mayor), François-Joseph MULLER, Materne RITTER, Marcel BODEMER, Jean KUNTZ, Jean-Michel RAUCH, Jean-Michel NUSS and Andre HEITZ (off-set in Guyana). A commemorative plaque was inaugurated on the native house of the mayor François-Jacques NUSS in 1989, at the time of the bicentenary of the French revolution.

Fires of XIXe and XXe century

Although the village was on several occasions devastated by plunderings and the fires of the various wars and invasions, the damage caused by fires of accidental origin was also considerable. Indeed, the gathered provision of the dwellings and the overlap of the various buildings of a farm one in another facilitate the propagation of the fires. The thatched roofs, lighting with the candle and the fermentation of the hay stored before drying in badly ventilated places were also risk factors.

January 3rd, 1868, a large fire destroyed the major part of the street Charles de Wendel, as well as the district of the street Ziegler. The traces of this fire are still visible today: the half-timbered houses are absent there and new constructions present a whole a cartouche gone back to 1868 in medium of frontage. Freezing complicated the extinction of fire. A call to gifts was launched by the bishop.

May 9th, 1896, another considerable fire reduced in ashes the district located between the street of the hedge and the street of the republic. 15 large farms were destroyed and of many animals perished. Fire was propagated quickly because of a very strong wind and many barns with hay. 15 fire pumps were used. The legend tells that only one house would have been saved thanks to the wine of the cellar which would have been used to extinguish fire there!

January 2nd, 1907, a fire was declared in a manufacture of eyelets located at the center of the village. An overheated stove would have put fire at waste of celluloid. 22 young people asphyxiated by pollutant gases perished in this fire which put all the village in agitation. The unhappy victims were buried in a tomb commune located at the bottom of the cemetery of the village.

Birth of Geispolsheim-Station

It is into 1839 that the construction of one of the first railway of Alsace was decided. It is about the Strasbourg-Basle line which had in particular to pass near Geispolsheim, to the locality: the " Kratz" (name still used today). Kratz would come from Latin " crates" meaning undergrowth. Indeed, at this place was a way bordered on the two sides by a hedge made up of sloes and hawthorns. This way made it possible to lead easily the cattle to the pasture the night.

At the beginning, the villagers were opposed to the creation of a railway: they thought that this project was going to carry damage to agriculture and would be used only with industry and the trade. The station was built in 1841 (demolished in 1992) and supported the development of a new agglomeration. The railwaymen were the first inhabitants of this district. The population increased very quickly between the two wars (2700 inhabitants in 1930). It is at that time indeed that the Catholic church Co.-Therese (1934) was set up. The restaurant " With the goods amis" is today the oldest house of the district (1843). An important industrial park was built there after the 2nd world war.

The cohabitation with the village was not always easy. She knew periods of tension due to conflicts of interests between people of different origins: the villagers were for the majority farmers, whereas many inhabitants of the Station came rather from the city. But since the demographic development of the end of the XXe century, the separation of the Village and the Station in two different communes is not any more topicality. Today, bringing together between two districts is symbolized by construction recent of new center sporting into 2000 which profits with all the inhabitants and also by the hyphen formed by the cycle track, which is not any more bordered by the undergrowth thorny of Kratzweg, but enlightened by pretty standard lamps installed at the time of the passage to the year 2000!

Administration

Demography

Structure and cultural heritage

The Holy-Marguerite Church

Geispolsheim has one of the most remarkable churches the baroques built at the XVIIIe century in Alsace. The Co.-Marguerite church was set up in 1771. The characteristic of this building is that it presents an imposing side bell-tower coming from the old medieval church which rests against the nave. The frontage of the nave includes/understands two stages separated by a cornice in strong projection: the stage lower separate in three spans delimited by partition chainings, while the upper floor is reduced to a median span with ondoyant pediment, is supported by two decorated curved ailerons of volutes. The vast nave hidden behind the frontage is broad of 18m, high of 13m and long of 35m, with 6 spans. In withdrawal with the back of the nave the chorus of polygonal form is. The bell-tower, high of 54m, includes/understands 5 stages with chainings of irregular angles with small openings in loopholes. The upper floor, bored vast rectangular bays and sheltering the bells, is surmounted by a slim arrow covered with slate.

The interior of this church baroque is characterized by its harmony, its balance and its unit of style. The three furnace bridges out of marbled wooden, the pulpit and the stalls were carried out by the sculptor François-Antoine Ketterer de Colmar. The high altar, richly carved, is surmounted by a baldachin resting on four columns. Above the gate vault out of wooden of gilded oak, is large and splendid fabric painted by Monique Tanisch. She represents Co.-Marguerite pressing with the feet the dragon, crowned and blessed by Christ. The side furnace bridge of left represents the Co.-Virgin holding the Child-Jesus in his arms; that of right-hand side the St-Sebastien martyr at the time of his torment. The pulpit, of the same style than the furnace bridges is surmounted by a lamb holding the standard of Easter. The bench of communion, out of wrought iron without welding, was made by a craftsman of the village. The 4 medallions decorating the ceiling represent the 4 Evangelists. One can also admire the statue of Co.-Marguerite, of the Sacred Heart, a piéta coming from the vault of Hattisheim, the baptismal font carved in 1899 by Klem and the way of cross of the same time.

The bell-tower shelters 4 bells. " Co.-Marguerite" (1717) and " St-Sébastien" (1884) are oldest. Two bells confiscated at the time of the 1st world war in 1917 could not be recovered, they were replaced in 1933 by " Crowned Heart of Jésus" and " Immaculate Heart of Marie". The organ of the church was carried out in 1898 per Martin Rinckenbach d' Ammerschwihr. It is about the only Rinckenbach organ preserved in Alsace such as it left with the hands of this great organ builder, the various restorations having preserved its qualities of origin to him.

The vault of Hattisheim

In the south of the village, in the forest of Bruch of Andlau, the vault of Hattisheim is dedicated to Notre-Dame of the Seven Pains. This place of pilgrimage would date from XIVe century: the Virgin Mary would have appeared with a young person of the village of Hattisheim which kept horses in the meadows of the commune. The shepherd decided to build a modest oratory on the place of the appearance. The site attracted many pilgrims quickly, in particular guards of herds. The vault was on several occasions destroyed: by the Armagnacs in 1444 at the same time as the village of Hattisheim (located at 2km), during the Thirty Year old war, at the time of the battle of Entzheim, by a fire in 1833; but it was each time rebuilt thanks to the attachment of the population of Geispolsheim. During the French revolution, the vault sheltered refractory priests - supported by the inhabitants - who celebrated clandestine masses. In the vault a housing was which was occupied by hermits devoting themselves to the prayer and keeping the places.

The access to the vault is done while passing under a surmounted porch of a niche sheltering a stone piéta of 1970. The latter replaces another piéta carved in wood, of the XVIIe century and which was transferred inside the Co.-Marguerite church after her restoration in 1969. On the main door is a metal plate perforated representing initial " Our Père" in Latin. Inside the vault, a statue representing Our-Lady-of-Seven-Pains throne on the high altar of style baroque. It was carved in wood of lime by Pierre Nuss in 1973. The gate vault contains a small monstrance protecting a small relic from the Co.-Cross. On the side furnace bridges, one can see the statues of the secondary owners of the vault: St-Wendelin venerated by the shepherds for the protection of the pets and Co.-Apolline, owner of the dentists, called upon against the tooth aches.

Nowadays, the site of the vault of Hattisheim is still extremely appreciated by the walkers and the pilgrims, attracted by the calm one of surrounding nature, favourable with the relaxation and the meditation.

half-timbered houses

Geispolsheim is a picturesque city which preserved the aspect of a large rural borough with whole streets bordered of large farms at wood sides. These houses date for the majority from XVIIIe and XIXe century and are characteristic of the architecture of the plain of Ried d' Erstein.

Like many villages of Alsace, Geispolsheim is a " village-masse": contrary to the village-streets, the habitat is very gathered, enclosed in the old fortifications. The village forms a half-circle; the main streets make the turn of it: street of Gall de Gaulle (" Gràdstross") and streets Co.-Jeanne-with Arc and Badly Leclerc (" Krùmstross").

Following the many fires and wars, one finds few dwellings built before the XVIIIe century. However, with 19 rue des monks, one of the oldest houses of the plain of Alsace could be preserved (XVe century). According to the technique of the time, the four posts of angle of this house go from only one feature of the base to the roof. The 17 and 32 rue du Gal de Gaulle, as well as the 17 rue de la République (Richgass) of 1624 and the 19 rue Ste-Jeanne- of Arc are remarkable specimens beautiful farms of small size having been built at the XVIIe century.

In the street of the Evil Leclerc and especially in the street Co.-Jeanne-with Arc, one can observe beautiful alignments of houses of 18th and XIXe century. The characteristic of these farms is that they have the wall-pinion turned towards the street at side of which imposing it gate of entry surmounted of a hood is. Because of the lack of space, the majority of the properties have the shape of a lengthened rectangle: the farm buildings are built in the prolongation of the dwelling house and the bottom of a narrow court, a barn gives access the kitchen garden and the orchard.

These houses have a stone base on which a framework is laid out with wood courts: each stage is independent and has its four corner posts. Spaces between the beams are stopped by cob (clay and straw), covered with a painted lime mortar. The frontages are often protected from the rain by hoods. The steeply sloping roof comprises a flap as well as a small croup on the pinion; it in the beginning is covered with tiles punts. The frontage side court has a balcony or a coursière with slats which was used formerly for drying of the tobacco. Lastly, in Geispolsheim more than elsewhere, the corner posts are decorated of an inscription mentioning the names of the owners, often their symbolized trade, the year of construction, to which are added decorative reasons.

The procession of the Corpus Christi

Every year, a great procession takes place in the village the day of the Corpus Christi. It is about the one of the last great religious processions traditional of Alsace. Guard-Switzerland opens walk, followed by the little girls in costume of shepherdess white and green with a lily or a lamb in the hands, and launching petals of flowers. The procession is then composed of the municipal music, of the choral society Co.-Cecile, young men and young women in traditional costume (Geispolsheim is the only commune of Alsace where the women carry a red cap) carrying the statues of the Church. The firemen surround the priest of the village which moves under the platform. The course of the procession is marked out of 4 resting places out of wood richly decorated and surrounded by carpet of flowers. The inhabitants take part in the decoration of the village: the French flags and of the Church are deployed with the frontages of the half-timbered houses and the streets are covered with foliages and petals of flowers.

The festival of sauerkraut

: 50000 tons of sauerkraut are produced per annum in France, of which two thirds in Alsace. The principal area of the culture of cabbage and the manufacture of sauerkraut is at the south-west of Strasbourg, around Geispolsheim and Krautergersheim.

In 1966, a great festival of sauerkraut is installation by the priest of Geispolsheim in order to join together funds for the restoration of the Co.-Marguerite church, then for the construction of a village hall. Still today, each year last Sunday of August, associations of the village are mobilized in order to make a success of this festival which attracts nearly 10000 visitors.

Thus, the public is invited to taste sauerkraut furnished local at midday or the evening. More than 1000 meals are been useful, that is to say sauerkraut 800kg and meat 400kg! But the day starts as of the morning at 6 a.m. with a large flea market which takes place in the main streets of the village. One can visit also there an exposure of craftsmen and artists before listening to concert-aperitif of the municipal music. Several courses of farms are open and present the old trades, the animals of the farm, the arboriculture or of works of artists. The great moment of this festival is the large procession on the topic “Geispolsheim formerly” with the participation of folk groups, musics, sumptuous tanks and attachments and the inhabitants in their traditional costume. The festival continues with animations in the streets and possibly ends in a sauerkraut!

Personalities originating in the commune

Freyd Nickel silver, born in Geispolsheim on January 2nd, 1819 and deceased in Rome on March 6th, 1875. Missionary, one of the first collaborators of the Libermann father.
Bernard Freyd, actor.

External bonds

Official site of the commune of Geispolsheim
Geispolsheim on the site of the national geographical Institute
Geispolsheim on the site of INSEE
Geispolsheim on the site of Quid
Localization of Geispolsheim on a chart of France and communes bordering
Plane on Geispolsheim on Mapquest

Random links: