the territory of the Vosges du
Nord, located between Alsace and Lorraine, on the sandy
part of the Vosges, was sometimes called Wasgau, ground
of North. The first known human traces are paleolithic
tools going back to 8000 front. J.-C. The man, from the
"Lorraine" plate where the east side of Vosges,
occupies little by little all the solid mass. The Gallic
people like Médiomatriques and Trévires
are joined in Ist century. front J.-C. by the Germanic
tribes, Triboques and Némètes. Towards 58
front. J.-C., the Romans colonize the area, developing
the agriculture and the routes transportation. This period
prospers until the medium of Vth century when the Germanic
tribes invade the area, fighting between them to annex
these grounds; finally the French won. In the VIIth century
monasteries start to settle which evangelize the area
and become owners of great fields. The Vosges of North
form part of the Saint Roman Germanic Empire at the time
of its foundation, by Otton I st, into 962. since that
time, a multitude of fields belonging to religious orders
make up the territory. In the XIIth century, many castles
are built on the sandstone pegs of the area. Industries
of glass and iron develop starting from the XVIth century.
They afford a living to an important population, from
the coalman to the glass-blower, and they transform the
landscapes notably. In the first half of the XVIth century,
the Reform is established in this Rhenish area, inaugurating
one period of disorders. In 1555, the peace of Augsburg
grants the freedom of worship to the Protestants, according
to the principle "With such prince, such religion":
the population does not choose its religion but adopts
that of its sovereign. The Vosges of North mainly become
Protestant.
The uprising of peasants, toughly repressed in 1525, then
the war of Thirty Years (1618-1648) covers the area with
bloodshed and mark the end of its prosperity. Via the
treaty of Münster, in 1648, a part of Alsace becomes
French, but it is Louis XIV who will join together the
whole of the territory to France about 1680. Fights of
the French-German war of 1870 scorch the region, and following
the French defeat, Alsace and Lorraine, and thus the Vosges
of North, become again German grounds. The region will
know more changes of national adherence: the First and
especially the Second World war will bring their destiny
of misfortunes and destruction. Today, the forests, the
villages and the orchards found their serenity. The stake
for this rural zone is to take up the economic challenge
while respecting its cultural and natural richnesses.
Card of identity |
| Created in 1975
|
|
on the departments of Bas-Rhin
(Alsace) et de la Moselle (Lorraine). |
| Nbr of townships
: 102 |
| Surface : 122
000 ha |
| Nbr of inhabitants
: 76 000 |
|
|
Vosges du Nord
Maison du Parc - BP 24 - 67290 La Petite Pierre
Tél. 03 88 01 49 59 - Fax. 03 88 01 49 60
Recherche
