According to a 2022 study, 46% of the population of Alsace still describe themselves as dialect-speakers. Like all regional languages in France, however, the transmission of Alsatian is on the decline. The survey counted 548,000 adult speakers of Alsatian in France, making it the second most-spoken regional language in the country (after Occitan). Although the French government signed the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages in 1992, it never ratified the treaty and therefore no legal basis exists for any of the regional languages in France. However, Alsatian, along with other regional languages, are recognized by the French government in the official list of languages of France. However, while French is the major language of the region, the Alsatian dialect of French is heavily influenced by German and other languages such as Yiddish in phonology and vocabulary.
- With its splendiferous cathedral and irresistible backdrop of old half-timbered houses and canals, the city of Strasbourg sets the tone.
- With the purpose of “Francizing” the region, the Rot-un-Wiss has not been recognized by Paris.
- Most major car journeys are made on the A35 autoroute, which links Saint-Louis on the Swiss border to Lauterbourg on the German border.
- It doesn’t rain much in the area because of the protection offered by the Vosges mountains.
- But by the 2010s, Alsace had entered a new period of slow demographic growth, though the Strasbourg area had become one of France’s fastest growing regions.
- Epic Guides provide inspiration and first-person stories for a lifetime of unforgettable travel experiences.
Alsasian language
The backstreets are punctuated by impeccably restored half-timbered houses in sugared-almond shades, many ablaze with geraniums in summer. If you see just one thing in Colmar, make it the Petite Venise (Little Venice) quarter, at the southern edge of the old city. Maison Pfister, Maison des Têtes and the Ancienne Douane are all worth stopping for.
Strasbourg began to grow to become the most populous and commercially important town in the region. Frederick II designated the Bishop of Strasbourg to administer Alsace, but the authority of the bishop was challenged by Count Rudolf of Habsburg, who received his rights from Frederick II's son Conrad IV. At about this time, the surrounding areas experienced recurring fragmentation and reincorporations among a number of feudal secular and ecclesiastical lordships, a common process in the Holy Roman Empire. Alsace formed part of the Middle Francia, which was ruled by the eldest grandson Lothar I.
French lost ground to such an extent that it has been estimated that only 2% of the population spoke French fluently, and only 8% had some knowledge of it (Maugue, 1970). Between 1870 and 1918, Alsace was annexed by the German Empire in the form of an imperial province or Reichsland, and the mandatory official language, especially in schools, became High German. The French language never really managed, however, to win over the masses, the vast majority of whom continued to speak their German dialects and write in German (which we would now call "standard German").citation needed From the annexation of Alsace by France in the 17th century and the language policy of the French Revolution up to 1870, knowledge of French in Alsace increased considerably. Although German dialects were spoken in Alsace for most of its history, the dominant language in Alsace today is French.
The Vosges Mountains provide opportunities for hiking, skiing, and enjoying the natural beauty of the region. Alsace is dotted with beautiful castles and châteaux, including the Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle, which offers panoramic views of the region. Alsace is renowned for its vineyards, and the Wine Route takes you through picturesque villages and vineyard-covered hills. As the capital of Alsace and a UNESCO World Heritage site, Strasbourg is a must-visit destination. In some parts of the city, as well as in Strasbourg, road signs are written in French, with Alsatian German underneath. Alsatian is a minority language that is currently endangered, with fewer speakers among the younger generations.
- The friendly white storks, the iconic emblem of Alsace, are found in large numbers throughout the region.
- For travelers on a short trip that want to make the most of their time exploring.
- Nestled in the heart of Europe, Alsace is a captivating region in northeastern France that seamlessly blends French and German influences.
- Landowners, who as “local lords” had the right to decide the religion that was allowed on their land, were eager to entice populations from the more attractive lowlands to settle and develop their property.
- The Alsace region is also known for the richness of its gastronomy.
- However, visitors to Alsace can see indications of renewed political and cultural interest in the language – in Alsatian signs appearing on hoardings and in car windows, as well as in new official bilingual street signs in Strasbourg and Mulhouse.
Sister regions
There is now a population of about 900 chamois in the Vosges, particularly in the high ridges of the valley of Munster above 800 metres. Today, the mountain range provides a habitat for about 30 lynxes. With an annual recorded rainfall of 530mm, Colmar and its region take advantage of one of France’s driest climates, making it ideal for vines to grow on the southern slopes. From Colmar, next to the foothills and at the base of the Vosges mountains, clouds arriving from the West are forced to rise and fall as precipitation over the high summits, hence protecting the lower area from rain. The topography of Alsace, the Vosges and the Black Forest in Germany all play a major role in the local climate. In the South-West, the Gate of Burgundy opens Alsace to Franche-Comté, while the crest of the Vosges mountains serves as a natural border with Lorraine.
However, because of its small size compared to the average French region, Alsace ranks 20th for the number of tourists who spend at least one night in the region (11.7 million in 2011). It is estimated that 28,000 jobs are generated by tourism in Alsace, which represents 3.5% of the regional workforce in summer. As in most French regions, the service sector is growing rapidly at the expense of the first two sectors.
Notable people
Alsace has a strong tradition of pottery making, and nowhere is that clearer than in the villages of Betschdorf and Soufflenheim, about 49km (31 miles) north of Strasbourg. If you’re seeking a unique experience, consider spending a few hours at Chemin des Cimes, which offers an immersion in a remote spot of the Vosges forests, near Drachenbronn- Birlenbach. An hour’s drive northwest of Strasbourg takes you to the Parc Naturel Régional des Vosges du Nord.
Alsace travel guide
The end of the Second World War signalled that it was time for the reconstruction and reconciliation of the peoples of Europe. Alsace had changed hands four times within 75 years between France and Germany. Cultural life was, in part, suppressed by linguistic pressure from French authorities confronted by regional culture. Many Alsatians campaigned to obtain some recognition of their local status concerning local administration and dialect. In 1354, an alliance of ten prosperous merchant towns of Alsace, the Décapole, was agreed upon, with imperial protection. In addition to these three dynasties, the region was divided into many territories meshed with each other, operating under the authority of little lords, laymen or clergymen.
This enchanting land is renowned for its picturesque villages with half-timbered houses, rolling vineyards producing world-class wines, and a rich cultural heritage that spans centuries. At the southernmost tip of Alsace, about an hour’s drive south of Colmar, towards the Swiss border, this little morsel of paradise feels light years away from the rest of the region. One of Alsace’s best-kept secrets, the Sundgau offers a wonderful bucolic atmosphere, rolling pasturelands interspersed with ponds and time-forgotten villages. Unlike villages on the Route des Vins, you won’t find any colorful façades here, for the natural white of lime was cheaper.
Unlock the secrets of the cathedral of strasbourg
The traditional language of the région is Alsatian, an Alemannic dialect of Upper German spoken on both sides of the Rhine and closely related to Swiss German. Since the 17th century, the region has passed between German and French control numerous times, resulting in a cultural blend. Alsace became one of the French regions boasting a thriving Jewish community and the only region with a noticeable Anabaptist population. Multiconfessional villages appeared, particularly in the region of Alsace bossue.
The area was conquered by the Roman legions of Julius Caesar in the 1st century bce and had been profoundly Romanized by the time of the invasion of the Alemanni in the 5th century ce. A network of motorways traverses Alsace, and a regional airport is located in Strasbourg. Riesling, Gewürztraminer, Sylvaner, Auxerrois, and Pinot Blanc are among the notable white wines produced.
A stop on the Paris-Vienna-Orient trade route, as well as a port on the Rhine route linking southern Germany and Switzerland to the Netherlands, England and Scandinavia, it became the political and economic center of the region. Part of the province of Germania Superior in the Roman Empire, the area went on to become a diffuse border region between the French and the German cultures and languages. Regarding the Alsace Wine Route, it’s quite feasible to explore it using public transportation, especially if you’re staying in one of the larger towns like Strasbourg or Colmar.
These villages are gems of the wine country and often comprise old medieval ramparts, winding alleyways that bloom with magnificent geraniums, winstubs, half-timbered houses and medieval churches. The position of Alsace within the Holy Roman Empire at the time of the Reformation further complicated the fragile political balance in the Upper Rhine region. This is due to the region having belonged to the Holy Roman Empire until the 17th century, and also to the fact glitzbets casino registration that the region has passed between German and French control four times between 1870 and 1945. In addition to the AOC, the notes “Late Harvest” (Récoltes Tardives) and “Selection of Noble Grains” (Sélection des Grains Nobles) designate rare wines, which are most often the most mellow or syrupy. Since 1972, it has been compulsory for wine to be bottled in the region where it is produced.
