# Burnhaupt-le-Bas > commune in Haut-Rhin, France **Wikidata**: [Q367694](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q367694) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burnhaupt-le-Bas) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/burnhaupt-le-bas ## Summary Burnhaupt-le-Bas is a commune located in the Haut-Rhin department in the Alsace region of northeastern France. Situated at coordinates 47.717777777778°N, 7.1616666666667°E, this small municipality operates as part of the arrondissement of Thann-Guebwiller and serves as a local administrative unit within the French territorial structure. The commune has been recognized with the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 military decoration, indicating its significance during World War I. ## Key Facts - **Location**: Burnhaupt-le-Bas is situated in the Haut-Rhin department in the Alsace region of France - **Administrative Status**: Commune in the arrondissement of Thann-Guebwiller (inception: January 1, 2015) - **Historical Context**: Part of the historical region of Upper Alsace, which was part of the German Empire's Alsace-Lorraine from 1871 to 1918 - **Coordinates**: Latitude 47.717777777778, Longitude 7.1616666666667 - **Country**: France - **Department**: Haut-Rhin (French administrative district, inception: March 4, 1790) - **Territorial Classification**: Commune of France (territorial subdivision for municipalities, inception: 1789) - **Official Website**: https://burnhaupt-le-bas.fr - **Military Recognition**: Croix de guerre 1914–1918 (French military decoration, inception: April 2, 1915) - **Aliases**: Niederburnhaupt, Nìderburnhaipt, Burnhaupt le Bas - **Wikipedia Title**: Burnhaupt-le-Bas - **Wikidata Description**: commune in Haut-Rhin, France ## FAQs **What type of administrative area is Burnhaupt-le-Bas?** Burnhaupt-le-Bas is a commune, which is the smallest territorial administrative division in France. Communes are similar to municipalities or townships in other countries and serve as the fundamental building block of French local government. Each commune has its own mayor and municipal council. **Which department and region is Burnhaupt-le-Bas located in?** Burnhaupt-le-Bas is located in the Haut-Rhin department, which is part of the Alsace region in northeastern France. The department is known for its distinctive cultural heritage, having switched between French and German control multiple times throughout history. **What is the administrative history of Burnhaupt-le-Bas?** The commune is currently part of the arrondissement of Thann-Guebwiller, which was established on January 1, 2015. Previously, it was part of the former arrondissement of Thann. The broader region of Upper Alsace was under German control as part of Alsace-Lorraine from 1871 to 1918 during the German Empire's rule. **What recognition did Burnhaupt-le-Bas receive for World War I?** Burnhaupt-le-Bas was awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918, a French military decoration established on April 2, 1915, to recognize military valor and service during World War I. This award indicates that the commune suffered damage or demonstrated bravery during the conflict, which was particularly significant in the Alsace region due to its position near the Western Front. **What is the geographical position of Burnhaupt-le-Bas?** The commune is located at coordinates 47.717777777778°N latitude and 7.1616666666667°E longitude, placing it in the southern part of the Haut-Rhin department near the border with Germany and Switzerland. ## Why It Matters Burnhaupt-le-Bas represents the rich tapestry of Franco-German history in Alsace, a region that has experienced multiple territorial changes throughout European history. The commune's receipt of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 serves as a testament to its significance during one of the most devastating conflicts in human history. As part of the arrondissement of Thann-Guebwiller, the municipality contributes to the administrative functionality of the Alsace region, which maintains a unique cultural identity blending French and Germanic traditions. The commune matters as an example of French municipal organization and local governance. Communes like Burnhaupt-le-Bas form the foundation of France's administrative structure, providing essential services to residents and maintaining local records. The presence of an official website (https://burnhaupt-le-bas.fr) indicates that the commune maintains modern digital infrastructure to serve its citizens and communicate with the broader public. Furthermore, Burnhaupt-le-Bas embodies the historical complexity of the Alsace region, which transitioned from German to French control multiple times between 1871 and the present day. This historical background has shaped the region's unique cultural, linguistic, and administrative characteristics, making communes like Burnhaupt-le-Bas important markers of European borderland history. ## Notable For - **World War I Recognition**: Awarded the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 for valor and suffering during the Great War - **Historical Territory**: Located in Upper Alsace, part of the German Empire's Alsace-Lorraine from 1871 to 1918 - **Administrative Evolution**: Part of the restructured arrondissement of Thann-Guebwiller since 2015 - **Cross-Border Location**: Situated in northeastern France near the German and Swiss borders - **Communal Status**: One of France's fundamental territorial units dating back to the French Revolution (1789) - **Digital Presence**: Maintains an official municipal website for citizen engagement ## Body ### Geography and Location Burnhaupt-le-Bas is positioned at coordinates 47.717777777778°N latitude and 7.1616666666667°E longitude, placing it in the southern portion of the Haut-Rhin department in the Alsace region of northeastern France. The commune lies in close proximity to the German border, reflecting the historical fluidity of territorial boundaries in this region. The landscape of the area is characteristic of the Alsatian plain, which forms part of the broader Rhine valley ecosystem. ### Administrative Structure As a commune of France, Burnhaupt-le-Bas operates as the lowest level of administrative organization in the French territorial system. The commune structure was established during the French Revolution in 1789, replacing the previous feudal system of parishes and lordships. Each commune in France maintains its own municipal government, headed by a mayor, and serves as the primary unit for local administration and services. Burnhaupt-le-Bas is currently part of the arrondissement of Thann-Guebwiller, an administrative division that was officially established on January 1, 2015, as part of a broader reorganization of French administrative divisions. Prior to this restructuring, the commune belonged to the former arrondissement of Thann. The arrondissement system in France serves as an intermediate level of administration between departments and communes. ### Historical Context The commune's historical significance is deeply intertwined with the complex territorial history of Alsace. The region of Upper Alsace, where Burnhaupt-le-Bas is located, was annexed by the German Empire following the Franco-Prussian War of 1870-1871. From 1871 to 1918, the area was part of the German Empire's territory known as Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine), organized administratively into districts called Bezirke, with Upper Alsace constituting the southern district. Following World War I, the territory was returned to France as part of the Treaty of Versailles in 1919. The commune's receipt of the Croix de guerre 1914–1918 indicates that it experienced significant events during the First World War, a period when the region once again became a contested borderland between France and Germany. ### Department and Regional Context Burnhaupt-le-Bas is located within the Haut-Rhin department, one of two departments (alongside Bas-Rhin) that comprise the Alsace region. The Haut-Rhin department was established on March 4, 1790, during the French Revolution as part of the initial division of France into departments. The department name translates to "Upper Rhine" in English, referring to the upper course of the Rhine River that flows through the territory. The department is part of the European Collectivity of Alsace, a unique territorial arrangement that was created to recognize the specific cultural and linguistic identity of the Alsace region. This administrative structure allows for the preservation and promotion of Alsatian cultural heritage while maintaining integration into the French Republic. ### Cultural and Social Significance The commune represents the distinctive Franco-German cultural synthesis that characterizes Alsace. The region is known for its bilingual character, with both French and Alsatian (a Germanic dialect) being spoken in daily life. The architectural heritage of the region reflects both French and German influences, with half-timbered houses, fortified churches, and village layouts that differ from typical French patterns. The Croix de guerre awarded to Burnhaupt-le-Bas symbolizes not only military significance but also the commune's resilience through periods of conflict and territorial change. Such decorations were awarded to French municipalities that suffered damage during World War I or demonstrated exceptional bravery in the face of invasion. ### Modern Administration and Services Today, Burnhaupt-le-Bas functions as a modern municipal unit with digital infrastructure, as evidenced by its official website at https://burnhaupt-le-bas.fr. The commune participates in intercommunal structures that coordinate services across multiple municipalities, including waste management, public transportation, and economic development initiatives. The commune's administrative classification as a commune in the French system means that it maintains records of births, deaths, and marriages, administers local taxes, and provides municipal services to its residents. The municipal government operates under the framework of French local administration, with elections held to select council members who then appoint the mayor. ## References 1. CD Atlas of France 2. Virtual International Authority File 3. BnF authorities 4. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018 5. INSEE code 6. [Source](https://lingualibre.org/wiki/Q780817) 7. répertoire géographique des communes 8. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 9. Annuaire de service-public.fr 10. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017 11. Populations légales 2016 12. Populations légales 2017 13. Populations légales 2018 14. Populations légales 2019 15. Populations légales 2020 16. Populations légales 2021 17. Populations de référence 2022 18. Populations de référence 2023 19. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419) 20. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies 21. GeoNames 22. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z) 23. [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) 24. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)