History
Obernai, formerly called " Ehnheim " grew up around a royal villa, residence as of the 7th century of the dukes of Alsace and in particular of Adalric, father of " Sainte Odile ", who was born there.
Obernai, joined in 1354 the " Decapolis ", held on when attacked by the" Armagnac " in 1444, but was taken at the 17th century by Mansfeld, then by the Swedes of Bernard of Saxony-Weimar.
Attached to France by King Louis XIV within the frame of the treaty of Westphalia, the city kept certain privileges.
The wine business contributed largely to make the wealth of the city.
Sightseeing
This beautiful village can rightly be proud of having an historical inheritance of an exceptional richness.
In the small garden beside the catholic church, are Gallo-Roman burials and Merovingian sarcophagi.
A ancient sword of bronze was found.
Obernai was surely a point of passage of Roman way and undoubtedly even a Roman agglomeration.
Old ramparts of the 13th to the 16th century, double fortified town walls and towers.
The Town Hall, by Hans Jüngling, of the 16th century, extended during the 19th with its beautiful carved stone balcony and bow window, its beautiful Council room with mural paintings of the 17th century.
The " Halle aux Blés " former Corn Exchange (1554), old butcheries of local Renaissance style of the 16th century.
A belfry of 13th and 16th centuries.
The exquisite " Puits aux 6 Seaux ", or " 6 buckets Well " of 16th century Renaissance style, 1579, surmounted by a baldaquin resting on columns, crowned by a weather cock.
The old " Maison des Bains " of the 16th century. Domainial Yard of the " Rathsamhausen ", at number 8, on Pilgers'street, of the 13th to the 16th centuries, at the same time in Romance, Gothic and Renaissance styles.
Obernai is a picturesque city with the many old stone-built and half-timbered houses, corbelled constructions, balconies and box windows, including those at number 3, on Cross' street ; at number 1 and 28, on Dietrich' street ; at number 7, Star square ; at numbers 61, 68-70 and 145, on General-Gouraud street ; at number 20, Market square ; at number 5, Sainte-Odile street dating from the 16th and 17th centuries.
Some houses of the 18th century, in particular " Place de l'Etoile " or Star square and at number 7, on Selestat street known as being old " Niedermunster abbey's yard ".
The castle of Oberkirch of the 19th century with the yardgate of the 18th century, the bases of 3 towers of the medieval castle of the 15th century.
Gail's castle about 1828, of neo-classic style, which eastern wing shelters partly the Freppel's secondary school.
Truttenhausen's castle of the 18th n century.
The church Saints Pierre and Paul of neo-gothic style of the 19th century with its 2 spire towers; its Holy Sepulchre of the 16th century, its canopies of the 15th century, its frescos of the 19th century by Martin Feuerstein and the 20th century by Rene Kuder.
The old church of the Vault known as " Kapelkirch " with turn belfry of the 13th to the 16th centuries, and choir of the 15th century.
The old church of the Capuchins of the 17th century.
The chapel of the " Mount of Olives " and a Mount of Olives of the 16th century in the cemetery.
The ruins of the vault of Oberkirch's castle with nave of the 11th century, Roman bell-tower of the 13th century, its choir has disappeared.
Lutheran church of the beginning of the 20th century.
Synagogue dating from the end of the 19th century.
The Jewish and Protestant cemeteries.
Miscellaneous Informations
Altitude 195 m. 10460 inhabitants. Flower decked village** 2003.
Summer health resort.
Site of the city at the foot of the " National Mount ", at 4 kilometers of the foot of the Vosges Mount " Sainte Odile ".
Walks in the forest of Urlosenholz and on banks of the river Ehn.
The property of the " Leonardsau " , natural heritage .
Historical Museum with its religious imagery, popular arts and traditions, history.
Vine : Route des Vins d'Alsace, co-operative cellar.
Brewery, distilleries.
Production of cabbages for sauerkraut, orchards, mixed-farming.
Patron's festival on June 29th.
Festival " Hans im Schnogaloch " the 3rd week-end of July : over 300 actors.
Wine Festival from the 11th to the 15th August.
Fair on the Thursday following the Sunday after August 15th .
Market on Thursdays, since 1302.
Grape harvest celebration with folk procession the 3rd Sunday of October.
The newly made Wine flows out of " Sainte-Odile's " fountain.
Folk group " Les Obernois ".
Significant community life: many events and festivals all over the year (sporting, socio- cultural, leisure)
Hunting, fishing, horse ridding.
Pedestrian excursions (paths marked out by Club Vosgien).
Section of the Club Vosgien
Camp-site, VVF. Equipment and sporting complex.
Cottage industry.
Antique dealers.
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