Birkenwald

Coordinates: 48°39′34″N 7°20′43″E / 48.6594°N 7.3453°E / 48.6594; 7.3453
Source: Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
Birkenwald
Bírikewàld
Part of Sommerau
Town hall
Town hall
Coat of arms of Birkenwald
Location of Birkenwald
Map
Birkenwald is located in France
Birkenwald
Birkenwald
Birkenwald is located in Grand Est
Birkenwald
Birkenwald
Coordinates: 48°39′34″N 7°20′43″E / 48.6594°N 7.3453°E / 48.6594; 7.3453
CountryFrance
RegionGrand Est
DepartmentBas-Rhin
ArrondissementSaverne
CantonSaverne
CommuneSommerau
Area
1
5.12 km2 (1.98 sq mi)
Population
 (2019)[1]
318
 • Density62/km2 (160/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
Postal code
67440
Elevation258–432 m (846–1,417 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Birkenwald (Alsatian: Bìrikewàld) is a former commune in the Bas-Rhin department in northeastern France.[2] On 1 January 2016, it was merged into the new commune Sommerau.[3]

Geography

Birkenwald is located at the foot of

Vosges Mountains, in the small valley formed by Sommerau river, that feeds the Mossig. It limits with Dimbsthal and Salenthal at northeast, Allenwiller at east, Wangenbourg-Engenthal at southwest and Hengwiller
at northeast. The landscape in the south of the commune is mostly dominated by forests. Other areas surrounding it are covered by meadows and fruit trees, located in an inhabited area.

The National Route 4 is 2.5 miles away, connecting the town to Strasbourg and Saverne. The communal road 229 connects the town with Dimbsthal and Obersteigen. The public transportation of Birkenwald is managed by Low-Rhine 67 network, line 404.[4]

History

The commune was established on 17 February 843. The village probably was formerly located on the hillside where a vault was found which dated from 1751. Château de Birkenwald was built in 1562 in the Renaissance style.[5] I

Population

Historical population
YearPop.±%
1962225—    
1968232+3.1%
1975217−6.5%
1982208−4.1%
1990228+9.6%
1999253+11.0%
2006289+14.2%
2009291+0.7%

Gallery

  • Notre-Dame Chapel (1751)
    Notre-Dame Chapel (1751)
  • Saint-Louis church
    Saint-Louis church
  • Church bell detail
  • Mission Cruise (1758)
    Mission Cruise (1758)
  • Birkenwald Castle
    Birkenwald Castle
  • Castle Detail
    Castle Detail
  • Bas-relief
    Bas-relief
  • Bas-relief
    Bas-relief
  • Ornamentations
    Ornamentations
  • Ornamentations
    Ornamentations

See also

References