Saverne

French commune
nomcommune=Saverne
in Saverne
région=Alsace
département=Bas-Rhin ("sous-préfecture")
arrondissement=Saverne
canton=Saverne (chief town)
insee=67437
cp=67700
maire=Emile Blessig
mandat=2008-
intercomm=Communauté de communes
de la région de Saverne
longitude=7.362777
latitude=48.742222
alt moy=200 m|alt mini=177 m|alt maxi=463 m
hectares=2,601
km²=26.01
sans=11,300
date-sans=2005
dens=434.4
date-dens=2005

Saverne ( _fr. Saverne, pronounced|savɛʁn; Alsatian: "Zawere", pronounced IPA| [ˈd̥sɐːvəʁə] ; _de. Zabern) is a town and commune of France in the "région" of Alsace, situated on the Rhine-Marne canal at the foot of a pass over the Vosges Mountains, and 45 km (27 m.) N.W. of Strasbourg. It is a "sous-préfecture" of the Bas-Rhin "département". Population (2005): 11,300

History

Saverne ("Tres Tabernae Cesaris" (Caesar's three taverns, so called because in the older days there were three taverns on the way to the Lorraine plateau where they would change oxen due to the steep incline) was an important place in the time of the Roman Empire, and, after being destroyed by the Alamanni, was rebuilt by the emperor Julian.

During the Peasants' War the town was occupied, in 1525, by the insurgents, who were driven out in their turn by Duke Anton of Lorraine. It suffered much from the ravages of the Thirty Years' War, but the episcopal palace, then destroyed, was subsequently rebuilt, and in 1852 was converted by Louis Napoleon into a place of residence for widows of knights of the Legion of Honour.

Saverne was conquered by Imperial Germany after the Franco-Prussian War. It was returned to French control after World War I.

In 1913, the city was the theater of the infamous "Saverne Affair". This event gave rise to the term "Zabernism" (from the German name of the town), meaning abuse of military authority, or unwarranted aggression.

ights

The emblem of the town is a unicorn. Legend has it that a unicorn's horn was found in one of the nearby castles in ruins. It is more likely that a narwhal's tooth was discovered and mistaken for a unicorn's horn.

Its principal building, the Rohan Castle ("Château des Rohan"), is the former residence of the bishops of Strasbourg, rebuilt by Cardinal de Rohan in 1779, it was used by the Germans as barracks. It now houses the city museum with its large archeological collection of Roman and Celtic artifacts, a hostel, a small arts and crafts museum as well as the collection of 20th century and ethnological art donated by feminist journalist and politician Louise Weiss.

Other sights include the 15th century former castle ("Château vieux") and the adjacent 15th century Roman Catholic church with fine stained glass and sculptures; a gothic former Franciscan, than Récollets monastery with a church and a cloister ornated by 17th century frescoes; as well as several old house, among which the heavily decorated "Maison Katz" stands out.

In the vicinity are the ruined castles of Haut-Barr, Grand Geroldseck, Ochsenstein and Greifenstein. Hence a beautiful road, immortalized by Goethe in "Dichtung und Wahrheit", leads across the Vosges to Pfalzburg. The mountain pass (Col de Saverne) contains a vast botanical garden, the Jardin botanique du col de Saverne.

Saverne is also known for its famous Rose Garden, locally known as "La roseraie". It is also the host of the International Contest of New Roses every year. The Garden itself blesses visitors with over 550 varieties of roses. [http://www.ot-saverne.fr/ot_saverne/default.asp?rub=1&ssrub=2&nf=221001653]

Famous Residents

* Venerable Francis Libermann, the son of the Chief Rabbi of Saverne, was born in 1802. He converted to Catholicism in 1826 and later became known as "The Second Founder of The Holy Ghost Fathers.

Geography

Neighboring communes: Altenheim - Dettwiller - Eckartswiller - Ernolsheim-lès-Saverne - Friedolsheim – Furchhausen – Gottenhouse – Gottesheim – Haegen – Hattmatt – Landersheim – Lupstein– Maennolsheim – Monswiller – Ottersthal – Otterswiller – Printzheim – Reinhardsmunster – Saessolsheim – Saint-Jean-Saverne – Steinbourg – Thal-Marmoutier – Waldolwisheim – Westhouse-Marmoutier – Wolschheim - Marmoutier

External links

* [http://www.mairie-saverne.fr/ Official website] fr icon