History and jobs of the past

A small village with a population of 1300 inhabitants, dating from the prehistoric time.

There are at least three churches in Valff. A synagogue existed on the 1st floor of a private house on the main street. Then the house was sold to a farmer and is now used as a farm storage room. The village also has an old mill and a well.

In the centre of the village, is located the 'Peter's House' that used to be a bakery from the 17th to the 19th century. it is still in use today for special occasions.

Right behind, there is an old wine-press dating from 1669. One can also admire the six wells scattered around the village that used to serve as trough for cattle, two of them are dating from the 16th century.

The crafts of the villagers used to focus around woodwork, tannery, clogs making and bookbinding. 

There used to be a harbour in Zellwiller on the banks of the Andlau River, where wine barrels were loaded to be taken to Strasbourg.

The inhabitants lived on agriculture and breeding. Lords used to hunt there.

There are six wayside crosses in the village, as well as two churches and a chapel. Five crosses are located in the centre and one in the vineyards. They were built between the 18th and the 20th centuries.

At the entrance of the Eichhoffen, there is an old wash house. One of the two churches of the village, the Saint Jean Baptiste still has bullet impacts on its walls from WWII.

The village is Matthias Ringmann's place of birth a famous humanist born in 1482. he is the man that gave his name to America newly discovered by Christopher Columbus then rediscovered by Amerigo Vespucci. Ringmann also lived in the nearby village called Reichsfeld.

Bernardvillé is a hilly village located between mountain and vineyards was built by shepherds hired by monks. An Abbey which was built in 1125 has since disappeared. Though a chapel dating from 1530 is located nearby. Also, the church of the village has a Stiehr-Mockers organ.

Until the French Revolution, Blienschwiller formed one town together with the village of Nothalten and the village of Zell which has now disappeared. Nothalten and Zell were a roman settlement where wine was produced as soon as the Middle Age.

A tilery existed in the 18th century, as well as a coal mine. A little workshop making silk gloves also existed until the 19th century.

Reichsfeld is a small village located in the small Schernetz valley, far from main roads. Houses are built on a hilly ground. The arms of the Patron Saint Urbain, the Patron of wine makers, mark the evidence of the early interest of the commune in wine making. the commune is located at the feet of the Ungersberg.

The first time the name Reichsfeld was heard was in 1323. The village was owned by the noblemen of Andlau from the 15th century to the revolution.