# Blienschwiller

> commune in Bas-Rhin, France

**Wikidata**: [Q21436](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21436)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blienschwiller)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/blienschwiller

## Summary

Blienschwiller is a commune located in the Bas-Rhin department in the Alsace region of northeastern France. The small municipality sits at coordinates 48.341666666667°N latitude and 7.4183333333333°E longitude, situated within the arrondissement of Sélestat-Erstein. As part of the historical region of Unterelsaß (Lower Alsace), the commune represents the cultural and administrative fabric of this border area between France and Germany.

## Key Facts

- **Official Name**: Blienschwiller (also spelled Blienschweiler)
- **Country**: France
- **Administrative Region**: Alsace (European Collectivity of Alsace)
- **Department**: Bas-Rhin
- **Arrondissement**: Sélestat-Erstein
- **Historical Region**: Unterelsaß (Lower Alsace) — part of Imperial Alsace-Lorraine in the German Empire from 1871 to 1918
- **Coordinates**: 48.341666666667°N, 7.4183333333333°E
- **Website**: http://www.blienschwiller.fr
- **Population**: 329, 328, 338, 321, 317, 313, 310, 308, 305, 300 (various census years)
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Bas-Rhin, France
- **Wikipedia Title**: Blienschwiller
- **Sitelink Count**: 47
- **Commune Status**: Subdivision of France (territorial unit established 1789)

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is Blienschwiller?**

Blienschwiller is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. The French commune system dates back to 1789 and serves as the fundamental unit of local administration in the country.

**Which department and region is Blienschwiller located in?**

Blienschwiller is located in the Bas-Rhin department, which is part of the European Collectivity of Alsace in northeastern France. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Sélestat-Erstein for administrative purposes.

**What is the historical context of Blienschwiller's region?**

Blienschwiller lies in Unterelsaß (Lower Alsace), which was part of the imperial territory of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) within the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. This historical period shaped the bilingual cultural heritage of the region, which remains evident in local place names and traditions.

**What are the geographical coordinates of Blienschwiller?**

Blienschwiller is situated at latitude 48.341666666667°N and longitude 7.4183333333333°E, placing it in the Rhine valley area of Alsace, not far from the German border.

**How can I find more information about Blienschwiller?**

The official municipal website is available at http://www.blienschwiller.fr, providing local information about the commune and its services.

## Why It Matters

Blienschwiller matters as a representative of the small rural communes that form the backbone of French local administration. Located in the historically contested region of Alsace, the commune embodies the unique cultural synthesis of French and Germanic influences that characterizes this border region. The commune system in France, to which Blienschwiller belongs, is fundamental to the country's democratic structure, providing local governance and maintaining civic identity for communities as small as a few hundred residents. As part of Bas-Rhin, one of the most economically dynamic departments in France due to its proximity to Germany and Switzerland, Blienschwiller participates in the broader economic and cultural life of the Upper Rhine region. The preservation of small communes like Blienschwiller is essential to maintaining France's decentralized administrative structure and the cultural diversity of its territories.

## Notable For

- **Historical Location**: Situated in Unterelsaß (Lower Alsace), part of Alsace-Lorraine during German imperial rule (1871-1918)
- **Administrative Classification**: Part of the arrondissement of Sélestat-Erstein, one of the administrative divisions of Bas-Rhin
- **Regional Identity**: Located in the European Collectivity of Alsace, a region with distinct cultural and linguistic heritage
- **Local Governance**: Serves as a commune, the fundamental unit of municipal organization in France since 1789

## Body

### Geography and Location

Blienschwiller is positioned in the Alsace region of northeastern France, specifically within the Bas-Rhin department. The commune's geographical coordinates place it at 48.341666666667°N latitude and 7.4183333333333°E longitude. This location situates the municipality in the Rhine valley, a fertile plain bordered by the Vosges mountains to the west and the Rhine River to the east, which also marks the border with Germany. The area benefits from a continental climate with influences from both French and German weather patterns, characterized by cold winters and warm summers typical of eastern France.

### Administrative Structure

As a French commune, Blienschwiller operates as the lowest level of territorial administration in France. The commune system was established during the French Revolution in 1789 and serves approximately 36,000 municipalities across the country. Blienschwiller falls under the administrative hierarchy of Bas-Rhin department, which is itself part of the European Collectivity of Alsace. For electoral and administrative purposes, the commune is included in the arrondissement of Sélestat-Erstein, which coordinates sub-departmental services and administration. The municipal government handles local affairs including urban planning, civil registration, and local taxation within the framework of French decentralized administration.

### Historical Context

The region of Alsace, including Blienschwiller, has a complex historical background marked by shifting national boundaries between France and Germany. The commune is located in what is historically known as Unterelsaß (Lower Alsace), which formed part of the imperial territory of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) within the German Empire from 1871 to 1918. This period began following the Franco-Prussian War and the Treaty of Frankfurt, which resulted in France ceding Alsace and parts of Lorraine to the newly formed German Empire. The region returned to French control after World War I through the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, and again after World War II in 1945. This history has resulted in a distinctive bilingual cultural heritage in the region, with both French and German influences visible in local architecture, dialect, and place names.

### Demographics and Population

Blienschwiller maintains a small population typical of rural communes in the Alsace region. The population figures recorded in various census years show numbers ranging from 300 to 338 residents, reflecting the modest scale of the municipality. These population figures are consistent with the many small villages and towns that dot the Alsatian countryside, where agricultural communities have maintained their character despite proximity to larger urban centers like Strasbourg and Colmar. The commune contributes to the demographic fabric of rural Alsace, where aging populations and youth emigration to larger cities present ongoing challenges for small municipalities.

### Regional Connections

Blienschwiller is connected to the broader Alsace region through its membership in the European Collectivity of Alsace, a territorial collectivity established to preserve the cultural and linguistic identity of the region. The commune's location within Bas-Rhin places it in the most populous department of Alsace, which serves as an economic hub due to its position at the crossroads of Western Europe. The arrondissement of Sélestat-Erstein, to which Blienschwiller belongs, encompasses a mix of rural communes and smaller towns that benefit from proximity to the Rhine River corridor, a major axis of European trade and transportation. The historical connection to Unterelsaß links Blienschwiller to the imperial history of Alsace-Lorraine, a region that has been the subject of numerous historical studies and remains important for understanding European border regions.

### Local Infrastructure and Services

As a functioning commune, Blienschwiller provides basic municipal services to its residents, including civil registration, local governance, and administrative coordination. The commune maintains a website at http://www.blienschwiller.fr, reflecting the digital modernization of local government services in France. The municipal administration works in conjunction with departmental and regional authorities to deliver public services, maintain local infrastructure, and implement national policies at the local level. The commune participates in the French system of intercommunal cooperation, where municipalities pool resources for functions such as waste management, public transportation, and economic development that benefit from regional coordination.

## References

1. Virtual International Authority File
2. BnF authorities
3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018
4. INSEE code
5. [Source](https://lingualibre.org/wiki/Q781141)
6. répertoire géographique des communes
7. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013
8. Annuaire de service-public.fr
9. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017
10. Populations légales 2016
11. Populations légales 2017
12. Populations légales 2018
13. Populations légales 2019
14. Populations légales 2020
15. Populations légales 2021
16. Populations de référence 2022
17. Populations de référence 2023
18. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419)
19. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies
20. GeoNames
21. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z)
22. [2016](https://data.geopf.fr/telechargement/download/GEOFLA/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28/GEOFLA_2-2_COMMUNE_SHP_LAMB93_FXX_2016-06-28.7z)
23. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)
24. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File