Metzeral

Population: 1109 (source INSEE 2006)
Surface area: 3043 ha

Mentioned as early as 817, Metzeral is the oldest village in the Grande Vallée. The name Metzeral probably comes from the Latin "maceriolae", meaning small dry-stone wall.

A former possession of Munster Abbey, Metzeral became part of the community of the Val et Ville de Munster in 1287. It became one of six large villages, with a provost (Schultheiss), a member of the community council.

The French Revolution gave autonomy to each commune in the valley, with its own mayor and municipal council. Metzeral did not gain its independence until 1801. The forests were communally owned, and in 1833 the first steps were taken towards their division, which was completed in 1847. The village grew in the 19th century thanks to the textile industry. At its peak in 1861, Metzeral had 1801 inhabitants.

In 1893, on the initiative of the Hartmann industrialists from Munster, the railroad line, opened between Colmar and Munster in 1868, was extended to Metzeral, which became a center for excursions and tourism. Originally part of Metzeral, Mittlach became a commune on April 1, 1908.
During the First World War, Metzeral was the scene of a battle (June 15-21, 1915) which resulted in a decisive French victory. As for the commune, it was reduced to a heap of ruins. Most of the village was rebuilt after the armistice, under the leadership of Mayor Jacques Immer.
Spared during the Second World War, the village was liberated on February 5, 1945.

The commune is famous for its "Valon" mountain spring water bottling plant.

WHAT TO SEE - WHAT TO DO

TOWN HALL

The plans for this elegant town hall-school were drawn up in March 1923 by the architect Voelkel-Wolff. The inauguration took place on May 2, 1926.

THE CHURCH OF EMM

Emm church in Metzeral

Atop the hill of Emm (named after the legend of Emma, Charlemagne's niece, and Roland de Roncevaux, who met and fell in love there) overlooking Metzeral and the upper Fecht valley, stands the Church of Emm, "Monument de Reconnaissance du Souvenir Alsacien".

the work of priest-builder Martin Béhé, this edifice is dedicated to the dead of the 1914-18 war in the Vosges, and in particular to those who fell in the deadly battle of Metzeral in June 1915. The Emm church is also the parish church of Metzeral-Sondernach, and an age-old place of pilgrimage dedicated to the Virgin Mary.

PROTESTANT CHURCH

In 1895, the commune decided to build a Protestant church, which was inaugurated on October 24, 1897. Completely destroyed during the Battle of Metzeral in June 1915, it was rebuilt in 1929.

THE CHÊNE MILLET MILITARY CEMETERY

Metzeral, like other communes in the Munster valley, was hard hit by the fighting in the First World War. Just outside the village towards Mittlach, the "Chêne Millet" national cemetery, where 2,632 soldiers are buried, is a reminder of this.

The cemetery was named after the famous painter Jean-François Millet (1814-1875), who visited Frédéric Hartmann (industrialist and mayor of Munster) in 1868. Sketches show his particular fondness for a group of oak trees near the current cemetery.

HIKING

Situated at the confluence of the two Fechts, at the foot of the Hohneck massif on the Alsatian side, the "Bourg Centre" of the Grande Vallée is the starting point for numerous hikes to the crests, and in particular to the emblematic sites of the Wormsa Valley (listed site), the Hohneck massif (listed site), the alpine crests of the Spitzkoepfe, the Fischboedle, Schiessrothried and Altenweiher lakes...

DATAtourisme France