Grand Cru : [ Vorbourg ]
History
A significant vicus Roman was on the site of the city, precisely under the southern half. Occupied at the Roman time, its name " Rubeaquum " or " Red water " referring to its high iron content still testify to it.
Royal field at the Frankish time it was, according to the tradition, offered to the bishop of Strasbourg by " King Dagobert ".
Rouffach then became a church town of the episcopal seigniory of the " Mundat " or " Immunity ".
The bishop of Strasbourg who already during the 7th century owned there the castle of " Isenbourg ", fortified Rouffach during the 11th and 12th centuries.
Rouffach will remain until the 13th century the only fortified city of the High Rhine.
In 1106, the future emperor Henri V resided at the castle and the inhabitants were roughed up by his people.
The inhabitants revolted, expelled him and confiscated his royal badges. But, angry, he came back and set fire to the city.
Legend has it that it was the women who took the weapons and drove out the King, because the men did not have the courage.
Since this act of bravery the women occupy the pews on the right-hand side in the church (and not those of left like elsewhere in Alsace).
The city and the castle which were devastated in 1198 by King " Philippe of Swabia", against whom the bishop of Strasbourg had revolted, were extended during the 13th century.
In the 14th century, Rouffach knew persecutions against the Jews, then was plundered by the " Armagnac " in 1444 and completely depopulated by the Thirty Years' War.
In 1663, the bishop of Strasbourg recognized the sovereignty of France over Rouffach and Mundat.
Rouffach is also the birthplace of the marshal " Lefèbvre ", marshal of Napoleon 1st .
Sightseeing
Vestiges of late and middle Neolithic housing on the place called " Gallbühl ".
Presence of burials of the Bronze and Iron Ages. Recent excavations, Church's square, made it possible to find vestiges of the Roman time: an " hypocauste " a kind of underground oven, remainders of frescos (beautiful sculptures, signs) dating from the 1st and 3rd centuries.
Also remainders of a Merovingian cemetery. The whole town is picturesque.
The " Castle of Isenbourg " dating from the 19th century, currently a luxury hotel, was built on the site of a Merovingian palace, afterwards occupied by the bishops of Strasbourg; only one cellar of the 14th century of the castle remains today.
Beautiful houses " Poincaré's street ": a former " teutonic Knights " commander's house of 1718;
at number 11 a beautiful frontage with oriel window;
at number 17 an other oriel window of 1584;
at number 18 and 22 houses of the 16th century;
at number 23 a house with oriel window of 1620 with sculpture; the old inn of the " Demi Lune " with its ceiling of Renaissance style; at number 65 an oriel window at an angle to pinnacle of 1671; the houses of the Market, the number 2 and its gate of 1616, the numbers 5 and 9 for their frontage, the number 3 " Ris's street ", a house with Virgo of the end 13th century; houses of the " Poterne's street " :
at number 1, the native house of the " Marshal of Empire Lefèbvre "; the frontage at numbers 2 and 4, still at numbers 2 and 4 old stoves of the Butchers' corporations (number 2) and elephant (number 4), the houses at numbers 24 and 25.
The corn exchange of 1544.
The " Witches' tower " dating from 13th to the 15th centuries.
The former town hall of Renaissance style of 1581 and 1720.
The old house of the charitable institution " Our Lady " dated 1490. A gate of 1600 Republic's square. Houses " Gendarmerie's street " :
at number 2 : the frontages, the oriel window, the turret of staircase,
at number 11: the
frontage with low relief appearing Saint Urbain of 1773;
at number 36, the former " Teutonic Knights commander's house " which will be transferred to " Poincare's street " during the 18th century) with oriel window from 16th and 17th centuries.
Two houses at numbers 8 and 10 on Rettich street. One at number 2, of Renaissance style. House of 1575, at number 7, " Marshal Joffre's street ".
The fountain known as " Stockbrunnen " of 1534 with its statue of the Virgo.
Vestiges of the old synagogue of the 13th century at number 8, " Ullin's street ".
Houses of Gothic style at numbers 11, 15 and 16, " Marshal Lefebvre's street ".
An other house at number 1, " Butchers' street " going back to 1663, with its angle box window.
The "Our-Lady's church " built of 11th at the 19th centuries: its choir of about 1300 with carved consoles; its Roman transept of the 11th century, and the beginning of the 13th , a Gothic nave also from the 13th century, still with Roman side gates; the western frontage from the end of the 13th century to the beginning of the14th century, with remains of unfinished rose window (sculptures unfortunately destroyed during the French Revolution); frontage tower about 1870; remainders of the rood screen towards 1300; tabernacle of the 15th century in the choir, gate vault of the 15th century, stalls of the 16th century; lantern of the Virgo, towards 1500; baptismal font of 1492; tombstone of a knight, towards 1330.
The church of Franciscans from the end of the 15th century: Gothic stalls, tombstones, external stone pulpit.
Miscellaneous Informations
Valley of the Lauch river.
Forest. Sand.
Vine: Route des Vins d'Alsace. Grand Crus wines " Vorbourg ".
Seedbeds, cereals, orchards, nurseries.
Breeding of cattle and pigs.
Agricultural cooperative.
Industries: car heating systems, car AC's, tile works.
Witches'Fete: The 3rd saturday of July.
Musicalta : from the 20th of July untill the 8th August.
Rouffach's fete or S'Ruffacherfàscht.
Patron's and communal festival on August 15th .
Wine exhibition the last week-end of november at the Lycee Agricole et Viticole.
Weekly "BIO" market on Wednesdays from 17:00 till 19:00 hours, some "BIO" products : Breads, dairy,vegetables,, fruits, sirups, marmelades .
Fair each 2nd Saturday of the month.
Fishing. Camp-site.
Agricultural and wine growing college.
School of winter agriculture.
Club Vosgien.
Society of history and archaeology.
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