Guebwiller
" Gebunvillare " is mentioned early 774.
In the 12th century Murbach's abbey,owner of the village built the parochial church, and helped the inhabitants to build a fortified surrounding wall towards 1270. In 1450 the abbot " Barthélemy of Andlau "abolished the privileges of the city. In 1633 Guebwiller was invaded by the Swedes and suffered a lot from their occupation. In 1759 the noble Chapter (the former abbey) of Murbach came there to settle : thanks to the latter the reconstruction of the " Neuenburg's abbatial castle " as well as the construction of canonical houses and the " Our Lady's church were begun.
It is then that Guebwiller became the capital of a small state including the valleys of the Thur and Lauch rivers.
The textile industry was established there from the end of the 18th century.
Ancient village, Guebwiller is rich of numerous vestiges and buildings, witnesses of its rich history:
- The fortified sites of " Oberlinger " or " Castelberg " and " Unterlinger " situated in the northern part of the city, with indistinct previous history: roman or medieval ?
- The vestiges of the fortifications dating about 1270.
The City Hall of 1514, with its façade with oriel window and its stair.
An ancient canonical house of 1765, at number 1, on 4th of February's street (currently Museum of Florival).
The other canonical houses of the years 1766 to 1775 at number 4, on Ratsamhausen's street, and of 1788 at number 2, on Ratsamhausen's street. A house of 1585, at number 2 rue des Blés.
An other house of 1611 at number 45 on Republic's street with a statue of the Virgin on the façade.
House of 1628 at number 3 " rue de la Monnaie ".
House at number 12 Soultz's street: with arches at the entrance of the park, squared porch of ceramic painted by Théodore Deck and A. Lamère at the end of the 19th century.
" Modern style " houses of 1903 at number 104 and 69 Republic's street.
Wells: of " Saint Léger " of 1775 in the public garden of the Marseillaise, itself of 1578, in the public garden " Sansboeuf " of 1604.
The vestiges of the castle of " Burgstall " of the 13th to the 15th centuries.
The former castle of " Neuenburg " of 1720 very restored in 1850 (sheltering today the " IUFM " or teachers training college).
Religious buildings: the parochial church " Saint Léger " of the 12th - 13th centuries with the Roman hall surmounted by 2 towers, with the tympanum representing the Christ between the Virgo and " Saint Léger " and a Gothic choir and apse, sides aisles of 1580; and inside, military assault ladders that were abandoned by the" Armagnac " in 1445.
The " Our Lady's chruch " former collegiate church, of neo classic style was started by Beuque in 1765 and continued 1768 by Ritter till 1785, with a tower of 1845, with neo classical furniture and a stucco decoration of 1784, realized by Sporrer.
The former Dominican Monastery, dating the beginning of the 14th century, with the choir; the former " Museum of Florival " separated from the nave (today well known " Les Dominicains " concert centre) by a rood screen; with remains of frescoes of the 14th and 15th centuries in the nave.
Gothic monastic buildings today Musical Centre of the Dominicans.
The chapel " Our Lady of Saering " of 1618 sheltering pictures of the 18th century.
In the " Axwald " forest, a cross dating 1773, an other one of the 17th century, on Bergholtz's road; the others from 1520 to the 19th century, on the road to Colmar; another one of the 18th century street of the " General Lebouc ".
Summer health resort, on the Route Romane d'Alsace, as well as Murbach's abbey.
Museum of Florival : religious art of the 14th and 18th centuries, craft, local history, Theodore DECK's famous ceramic.
Valley of the Lauch river.
Municipal forest with the " Felsele's oaks ".
National forest of spruces and beeches. Forestry development.
Vineyard: , Grands Crus wines: " Kessler, Kitterlé, Saering and Spiegel". Orchards.
Mechanical engineering.
Fair of Holy André, (on the Monday following the Saint André's day).
Wine fair : on Ascension Thursday, august 15th.
The Dominicans of Alsace : numerous concerts of classical music and others .
Phone : + 33 3 89 74 94 64 - Fax : + 33 3 89 74 19 92 .
Notre Dame Church : guided visits : Inquiries at the Tourist Information Office.
Saint Léger Church : guided visits : Inquiries at the Tourist Information Office.
Horse riding.
Ski in the close by Vosges mountains : Markstein, etc....
Antiques dealers.
Traditional craft.
Music society.
Tourist Information Office : Phone : + 33 3 89 76 10 63 - Fax :+ 33 3 89 76 52 72.
Christmas and Year-end festivities :
Please see http://www.alsace-noel.com