Vancelle

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

Geography

Vancelle ( Wanzel in German) is a village of mountain which niche in the middle of a Forêt of Sapin S. It is blotti on the southern slope of the solid mass which separates the Val from Lièpvre and the Val of City. The village is to 13 km in the east of Sélestat and to 3 km in the west of Lièpvre, which is the locality nearest. The majority of the dwelling houses are perched on a height which dominates in the west the solid mass of the Chalmont and to the east the solid mass of the Altenberg to 855 Mr. Vancelle is well exposed to the sun and particularly protected from the winds of north. The Chalmont puts it at the shelter winds of west. Built on an inclined ground, the most recent houses open in the south on the vast panorama of the tops located on Right Bank of the Liepvrette. The slope is stiff as of the exit of the village in skirt of forest. This one consists of coniferous tree (woodland Pin) but also of Feuillu S. On the slope haut-rhinois in direction of Chalmont it is populated of Hêtre S. the inhabitants of Vancelle are called Vancellois and Vancelloises.

Access

To reach this village, while coming from has 35, to leave to the junction n°17 direction Sainte Marie-with-Mines, Saint-Dié, Nancy, then to borrow the Trunk road 59 while passing by Châtenois, by leaving the Valley of City and to penetrate the Val of Lièpvre (indicated today by Money valley). For the Vancelle-station, it is necessary to leave the road Trunk road 59 or RN 459 and to cross the railway and to cross the hamlet of Hurst. A narrow road (the MINOR ROAD 167) in full forest brings us after the forest house of Brand, very close to the village. The panorama which extends makes us on the left discover the Hahnenberg, the Haut-Koenigsbourg and the solid mass of the Taennchel. If space is very open towards the south, it is not the same towards north and the west. Indeed one can see on the line, the Schlossberg with the Château of Frankenbourg, the Rocher of the Cuckoo dominated by the hertzian pylon of Télédiffusion of France, the long wall of the peak and finally with the west the Chalmont. While coming from Saint-Dié to take the Trunk road 59 until Lièpvre and from there move towards the camp-site of the Haut-Koenigsbourg then to cross the hamlet of Schirel and to continue the road during 2 km which emerge until Vancelle. To note that the Vancelle-station is an appendix of the commune of Kintzheim.

Variations and localities

Heiryseik
Hintereck
Schirel
Hurst

Rivers

Rösselbach
Faulbach
Chalmont

Blazon

The blazon is represented by three waves of color blue symbolizing the three brooks which cross the commune.

History

Origins of Vancelle

It is under the denomination of “Vanzell” that the village is indicated for the first time in a charter of Charlemagne of the year 774 granting grounds to the abbot Fulrad. In this diploma the brook which runs in the village is mentioned under the name of " Aetsinisbach". The village itself would have appeared in 794 with the arrival of populations coming from the other pouring of the the Vosges consecutive to the existence of the priory of Lièpvre near. Fulrad, abbot of Saint-Denis is a character rather important and little known of the Alsatian ones. He belongs to the dynasty of the Pépinides, i.e. same family as Pépin the Brief, Carloman or Charlemagne. This is why all these characters will entrust important diplomatic missions of order to him. Pépin the Brief in agreement with the pope Etienne II will name it abbot of Saint-Denis. The influence of the Fulrad abbot in the area will be considerable. It will have in particular a determining role in the accession of the Carolingiens to the royalty. It is thanks to him that Pépin the Brief will be crowned king of the Francs on July 28th 754. All grounds around the Alsace average, whose Vancelle, probably made parts of the goods of the Etichonides which were dispossessed by Pépin the Brief and were redistributed later with the friends close to the Pépinides, of which in particular parents of Fulrad.

Vanzell belonged to the territories which surrounded Lièpvre where the Fulrad abbot had founded in 770 a monastery. Mo Vanzell comes from the name “Zell” which evokes a cell of monks (of Latin concealed). As for the name " “Van” one does not know from where it comes.

It is thought that the village was built with the site of an old hermitage which was to be in the Wood hamlet the Abbess forming part today of the commune of Lièpvre. It would be a hermit known under the name of Bobolinus which would have created a concealed from where initially the name of Bobolinocella. Bobolinocella is mentioned in the charter of Charlemagne of 774. This character recorded a deposition of certain Genechselo gone back to Esherico (Echéry?) the sixteenth year of the reign of Sigebert III, king of Austrasie (fine beginning 648 650). This Genechselo acknowledges to have took part in a brawl having involved died of man. At the time the hamlet of Echéry belonged to the Etichonides. One of the descendants of this family, the count Hugues III will yield this portion of ground to his/her own daughter, Ermengarde which Maria on October 15th 821 with Lothaire Ier. This marriage will proceed with Thionville in the presence of Louis the Piles, the father of Lothaire, and highest the Prélat S and dignitaries of the time. Later these grounds are yielded to the Abbaye of Gorze (the Moselle) and some monks of this abbey will settle there of which Blidulphe in 938 which will make build a monastery known at the beginning under the name of monastery of Belmont then of Echéry.

From XIIe century the village passes to the hands of several owners

With the XIIe century Vancelle makes party of the goods of évêché of Strasbourg. Towards 1350 the village as well as the Wood hamlet the Abbess and Saint-Maurice just as a mill with Châtenois are yielded in stronghold by évêché of Strasbourg to the Lords of Echéry whose castle is with the Petit Rombach on the commune of Sainte Cross-with-Mines. Most powerful of them, Jean d' Echéry is assassinated towards 1284 by his/her own cousins. The lord of Hohenstein, Landvog of Alsace which was its main ally decides to avenge his death. He makes besiege the castle of Echéry of which he will become Master in little time and drives out the unworthy cousins. But the castle will be allocated three years later again to the cousins. Their family is powerful and important and is divided into several branches of which one takes the name of Waffler or Waffeler.Ils are also known like imperial Schultheiss of the town of Sélestat of 1299 with 1352. In 1297 the bishop of Strasbourg gives in stronghold part of the Château of Châtenois to Heinrich Waffler von Eckerich. In 1331, the Echéry join to the duke Lorraine to devastate the grounds of the chapter of Saint-Dié. He are in war against the Duc of Bar. They occupy Bertrimoutier, Provenchères-on-Fave, Sainte Marguerite and attract in an ambush the canons, Jean Toulon, Geoffroy d' Herberviller and Nicolas de Porche who order the troops of the chapter. They are made prisoners and locked up in the keep of the castle of Echéry for which they ask for a ransom of 750 pounds tournaments. In 1338 the imperial cities are in war against the bishop of Strasbourg, Berthold de Bucheck. Eckerich order the troops of Sélestat. As a sign of reprisals, the bishop joint with the landvogt of Alsace to devastate the grounds belonging to Echery. Lièpvre, Rombach-the-Franc and Vancelle is partially burnt. Towards 1365, the village is attacked in its turn by mercenaries more commonly called the Routiers whose chief is not other than Arnaud de Cervole (1300 - 1366) known as the archpriest, a famous adventurer of the Grandes companies of XIVe century. With the disappearance of the last of the Echéry, in 1381 they are the lords Zum Strubel who take possession of the village, then he turns over to the bishop of Strasbourg. In 1490 the locality is sold by the bishop of Strasbourg, in the Chapter of the cathedral of Strasbourg which remains owner of the places until the Révolution. During the Revolution, the goods of the chapter of Strasbourg are seized and sold under bidding.

The inhabitants take refuge in the forest

During two periods, in 1439 and 1444, the inhabitants of Vancelle take refuge in the forest to escape the exactions from the Armagnacs. The same one except-which-can reproduces in 1632 whereas the inhabitants of the village will take refuge in the northern part of the mountain in Hintereck, to escape plunderings from the Swedish troops which devastate the valley. The inhabitants take refuge in the forest and get busy with the production of the resin and the Charcoal. The village is located at the time close to Wood the Abbess, on the slope of the " Schirel" until worms 1444. It is at this time there that the village is rebuilt a little more in north. The francized denomination of Vancelle appears only in 1517.

During the Revolution Vancelle is plain in Châtenois

In 1789, the Révolution confiscates the goods of the chapter of Strasbourg and Vancelle is plain with the commune of Châtenois. The Wood hamlet the Abbess is plain with the commune of Lièpvre. However the inhabitants complain about what the commune-mother occupies very few them. In 1824 the common one counts 400 hearts. A Paroisse is created in 1857 and a church sees the day in 1860. The following year, Châtenois buys an old house in the borough to install there the school of Vancelle which will accommodate 60 pupils in 1900. There exists indeed of many big families in the Village primarily made up of Bûcheron S, Tisserand S and Journalier S.

Vancelle becomes autonomous

Vancelle which is an appendix of the commune of Châtenois becomes independent in 1927 while being attached to the department of the the Low-Rhine. The territory extends at the time on 793 hectares of which the greatest part is consisted Forêt S which do not belong to him. Those are national forests of the State, even if, to several places, panels indicate: national forest of Vancelle. Let us add that the locality of Hurst, located close to old the Gare today at the abandonment, on left bank of the Liepvrette, belonged to the new commune. It includes/understands a dozen houses as well as a Auberge and a Ferme. The locality “the Vancelle-station” forms today part of the commune of Kintzheim.

Three Great Wars

The Alsace-Moselle, has a quite particular past in the French history. Indeed, 74 years during, the Alsace and the the Moselle are successively French, then German then again French and German. After the war of 1870, Alsace and the Moselle become an area of the German Empire, and they remain it until the end of the First World War in 1918. In 1939, second world war, after 20 years of rehabilitation in France, they are again annexed by Germany until in 1945. Because of these constant changes, Alsace and the Moselle, must fight at the time of the two world wars in the rows of the German army until in 1945. All the Alsatian cities and all villages and natives of the Moselle region saw leaving good number of their young people of which much did not return. Vancelle, Alsatian small village nested in the middle of a Forest of Fir tree S, also paid him a heavy tribute and like all the cities after the war, set up a monument with the memory of its dead soldiers to the combat.

Maquis of Vancelle

During the Second world war, the area of the Chalmont was used as hiding-places with many fugitive and built-in ones of forces wanting to withdraw itself from the German army. It is into 1943 that two built-in of force decides not to join their unit at the conclusion of a permission. They hide in the mountain under a rock of the cornice, not far from the Chalmont, known today under the name of rock of refractories. A few weeks later the circle increases and other young people come to join them. The place starts to miss, and it is necessary to change hiding-place. One finds shelter under an immense rock on the solid mass of the Altenberg. An old stove-cooker is transported from the village which makes it possible to prepare hot meals, but it can be useful only during the night. Very smoked being visible the day and thus likely to betray the presence of these men. The supply is difficult, since it is always necessary to hide. However, the fugitive ones find near the population of the neighborhoods what to provide for their need. The prisoners manage after a fashion. One exchanges game took in the traps against the wine the bread and other food products brought seals some by some devoted villagers (among them, it is necessary to quote Mrs Sipp). The life that these clandestine carry out is very hard, because it is necessary for them unceasingly to remain on the defensive. The winter 1943 - 1944 is particularly testing. The days appear particularly long. End 1944, a dozen Russian prisoners, escaped from the workshops installed in the tunnel of Sainte Marie-with-Mines want to join the Alsatian ones. Because they are too numerous, one cannot deal with them. They find other hiding-places, as with Rombach-the-Franc and particularly with the locality of Grandgoutte or the old baryta mines. They will be supplied in the farms of Grandgoutte and Prérébois. The area is also joined by other French workmen defectors of the S.T.O (Service of Obligatory Work) which comes to take refuge in the solid mass of the Altenberg. At the end of November 1944, the men of the maquis were enhardissent. Vêtus of the uniform of the Wehrmacht, four of them invest the forest house and put by surprised the hand on quantities of weapons and ammunition. From now on they will have the possibility of being defended in the event of need, more especially as the German patrols make their appearance in the area. Shots are exchanged and there are casualties. One of them makes captive, is off-set with Dachau from where fortunately, it will return alive. But the events will precipitate and the Maquis of Vancelle does not have any more reason to exist because the German troops are withdrawn definitively.

The privileged situation of the commune

In 1958, part of Neubois is attached with Vancelle.Village of mountain, the locality developed much with the construction of second home, houses of holidays and the appearance of tourism of mass. At the beginning of the century, easy families build there villas and hotels settle there. Currently, during the good season, the second home fills so much so that the population passes from 300 to 600 people.

Randonnés starting from Vancelle

The paths which traverse the village are appropriate perfectly to the people who cannot climb any more. The course is interesting. In the passing one discovers there Framboisier S and rather abundant Mûrier S. The most interesting discovery is the Château of Frankenbourg which is not very far from Vancelle. One can also go to the rock of the cuckoo, Stangenplatz, the rock of the Rocks and the rock of the Fairies, without forgetting the Chalmont with his summit rock from where the sight extends on all the valley of the Liepvrette. The rock of the cuckoo is recognizable by far, thanks to its pylon of antennas of Télédiffusion of France which points with the top of the top. On one as of his buttresses one finds the ruins of the Château of Frankenbourg. The rise towards the Rocher of the cuckoo proceeds on a rather sloping path strewn with blocks of pink sandstone rocks of various sizes. The top of the rock of the cuckoo is a vast table in pink sandstone from where one sees the surroundings of Sélestat and of the black Forêt.

To live with Vancelle

Associations

Small rural village, Vancelle has few cultural activities. However since the Sixties thanks to their inhabitants a youth club and arts center (MJC) were set up.

House of youth and the culture

Administration

Demography

provisional population for 2005: 410

Places and monuments

Saint-Louis church

Vancelle not having any place of worship until in 1860, the inhabitants of this village of mountain go to Lièpvre for the offices of Sunday. After the construction of the church which is completed in 1860 the parish becomes a subsidiary company of Châtenois, of which it shares the fate until in 1927. Set up in branch by imperial decree in July 1860, the church of Vancelle existed in fact since 1857, year of its dedication. This modest sanctuary of mountain does not reveal of them less some remarkable elements, in particular the ceiling of the nave, painted by the artist of origin villoise Rene Kuder, in 1929. The composition, very luminous, represents Saint Louis, owner of the parish, and Sainte Therese de Lisieux with the feet of the Virgin, protecting the village which seems to emerge from the mountain. At the bottom of the nave, in a niche of a green freshness, is installed a piéta very rustic pace. This polychrome wood sculpture dated from the XVIII century, work of an unknown artist, decorated formerly the small vault at the entry of the village (Notre Dame of the forest). It was renovated in 1972. The organ, small and without claim, is adapted however perfectly to the space which is reserved for him. It goes back to 1886, and is the work of the Verschneider factor, Puttelange. Deprived of many its pipes requisitioned in 1917 for the industry of war, it found its voice in 1928, thanks to Rinckenbach manufacture. A revision and harmonization supplement were undertaken in 1972, and made it possible the instrument to give all its sound measurement. The bell-tower finally, strict minimum by its dimensions, shelters three bells giving the semi one respectively, the ground and C. This agreement suggests, in the good order, the Salve Regina .

Baptismal Funds

The church of Vancelle has baptismal funds carrying the year 1501 which were located before at the church Saint-Georges of Châtenois.

War memorial

Description of the monument

The war memorial was high at the place where in 1904 fell a block from Silex. The base of the monument is in Marbre and measures two meters length on one meter height and a meter eighty of width. The top of the monument continues in the shape of staircase. It is surrounded on both sides of greenery and in its center is the statue of Sainte Therese de Lisieux. On each side of the statue two angels are requesting, the eyes towards the sky. The statue, deposited in a small cave probably dug in the block of flint fallen in 1904 is protected by a small roof. In the center of the base where the names of the dead soldiers to the combat are registered, are two branches of intersected bay-trees, symbol of peace as well as a engraved gold cross. It is registered in the center: “Vancelle with his/her children victims of the Great Wars”.

Medieval castle of Frankenbourg

Several paths in the north of the commune make it possible to go to foot the Château of Frankenbourg. Although this castle does not form part of the commune of Vancelle (it is located on the territory of Neubois) it makes it possible to go by car approximately ten minutes to foot of the Château. This way is however open only Sundays from March to October and is located in the hamlet of Schirel between Lièpvre and Vancelle.

Martyrdoms

Vancelle has three rural crosses. Oldest is in the center of the village beside a small oratory which goes back to 1755. It is opens it of a local sculptor. Another cross is located in the appendix of Hurst in edge of the secondary road 167 established on a slope which overhangs the road. It does not have an apparent pedestal. Carved in a pink sandstone, this cross at the ends potentés with the massive pace is the work of a local craftsman. On the Croix one finds the “five wounds” of the Christ carved in flat part as well as the symbol of the Trinité. At the top of the pole, letters engraved IN with top IH. On each arm of the cross-piece, a bored hand. With the intersection, a rectangle with in its center a triangle with symbols of the Trinity. Just in lower part in a cartouche, an extreme heart. Lastly, with the foot of the pole in another cartridge, two feet bored. On the base is engraved the year 1837 just in top letters JSO on the following line the letters KH. This cross is in an excellent state of conservation.

Martyrdom of Hurst

This martyrdom is in the hamlet of Hurst, in edge of the secondary road 167. It is established on a slope which overhangs the road and does not have a pedestal. This martyrdom was set up following an accident which occurred at the 19th century.

Vault of Notre Dame of wood

August 1st

Personalities related to the commune

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