A little bit of history

“Ehenheim” is mentioned for the first time in 778 and called Oberehnheim (lit. upper Ehn). Up to the 12th century the town was supposed to belong to the dukes of Alsace and to the Hohenbourg (now Mt Ste Odile) and Niedermunster nunneries founded by Ste Odile and her father.
Towards 1240, Obernai became however a “city” erecting its own city walls ; owing to its autonomous organization it could have its own market and fairs. in 1354, Obernai and the other 9 imperial cities of Alsace set up a mutual help league, the “Decapole”.

After the Revolution

The history of Obernai and that of Alsace merge into one.
After a prosperous XVIIIth century, the urban landscape changed during the XIXth century : the city gates were removed and the roads and railways network developed.
Obernai was annexed by Germany in 1871.

During the twentieth century Obernai became modernized

Being spared by the Second World war destructions, the city could boast an economic and touristic boom from the sixties on. Its population doubled in 20 years and the city became an attractive centre for jobs.

In the 16 th century

Obernai prospered thanks to its flourishing arts and crafts and wine growing industry and exports.
The Renaissance left its architectural mark on several beautiful public buildings. After the Thirty Years’ War that devastated the region and following the treaty of Westphalia in 1648, Louis XIV finally annexed the imperial City of Obernai.

The legend of Sainte Odile, Patron Saint of Alsace

Odile, the daughter of Etichon (or Adalric), the Duke of Alsace was said to be born blind. Rejected by her father, she found protection in a Burgundy monastery where she recovered her eyesight on the day of her baptism. As she came back home, Etichon wanted her to be married to a young prince, but she escaped her pursuers. Etichon finally gave in and founded on the mountain the convent of Hohenbourg whose first prioress Odile was to become.

Mercredi 17 Mars 2010