# Lohr > commune in Bas-Rhin, France **Wikidata**: [Q21463](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21463) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lohr,_Bas-Rhin) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/lohr-q21463-2 ## Summary Lohr is a commune located in the Bas-Rhin department in the Alsace region of northeastern France, situated in the arrondissement of Saverne. The commune sits at coordinates 48.8575°N latitude and 7.2436111111111°E longitude and is part of the European Collectivity of Alsace. With a population of approximately 444 to 516 residents across various recorded years, Lohr represents a small rural community in the historic Alsace territory. ## Key Facts - **Official Name**: Lohr - **Type**: Commune (municipality) in France - **Country**: France - **Department**: Bas-Rhin - **Arrondissement**: Saverne - **Region**: Alsace (European Collectivity of Alsace) - **Coordinates**: 48.8575°N, 7.2436111111111°E - **Population**: Approximately 444–516 residents (varies by year) - **Website**: https://www.lohr.alsace - **Wikipedia Title**: Lohr, Bas-Rhin - **Wikidata ID**: (implied from context) - **Historical Territory**: Part of Unterelsaß (Lower Alsace), the central district of Alsace-Lorraine in the German Empire from 1871 to 1918 - **Administrative Context**: Communes of France territorial subdivision system established in 1789 - **Sitelink Count**: 42 ## FAQs **What region and department is Lohr located in?** Lohr is located in the Bas-Rhin department of the Alsace region in northeastern France. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Saverne and is part of the European Collectivity of Alsace, a region with a complex history involving both French and German control. **What is the historical context of Lohr's location?** Lohr is situated in the historic territory of Unterelsaß (Lower Alsace), which was part of the German Empire's Alsace-Lorraine (Elsaß-Lothringen) from 1871 to 1918. This region changed hands multiple times between France and Germany throughout history, with the Treaty of Verdun (843) establishing the early French kingdom boundaries and subsequent treaties shaping its modern status. **What are the administrative divisions that contain Lohr?** Lohr is nested within several administrative levels: France (the country), the Alsace region, the Bas-Rhin department, and the arrondissement of Saverne. France operates as a unitary state with communes serving as the lowest administrative division, a system that originated in 1789 during the French Revolution. **What is the population of Lohr?** The commune of Lohr has a small population, with recorded figures ranging from 444 to 516 residents across different years. This places it among the smaller rural communes in the Bas-Rhin department, which itself contains 101 communes and serves as one of the administrative districts within the Alsace region. **How can I find more information about Lohr?** The official commune website is available at https://www.lohr.alsace. Additional information can be found on Wikipedia under the title "Lohr, Bas-Rhin" and through Wikidata (sitelink count: 42). ## Why It Matters Lohr matters as a representative example of the small rural communes that form the backbone of French territorial administration. Located in the historically contested region of Alsace, Lohr embodies the cultural and administrative complexity of northeastern France, where French and German influences have intertwined for centuries. The commune's existence within the Bas-Rhin department places it in one of the most economically dynamic and culturally significant areas of France, near the German border and within the European Union's core. The commune system in France, which includes Lohr, represents one of the oldest forms of local government in Europe, dating back to 1789. These approximately 34,970 communes (as of 2023) serve as the fundamental units of democratic representation and local administration, handling matters from urban planning to civil registration. Lohr's participation in this system connects it to a uniquely French approach to governance that balances central state authority with local autonomy. Furthermore, Lohr's location in the arrondissement of Saverne places it within an area known for its historical significance, including the Saverne mountains and the Rhine valley, making it part of a region that has been pivotal in European history from the Treaty of Verdun (843) through the Franco-Prussian War and both World Wars. ## Notable For - **Historical Territory**: Part of Unterelsaß (Lower Alsace), which was integrated into the German Empire from 1871 to 1918 - **Border Region Location**: Situated in the Alsace region, one of France's most historically contested territories bordering Germany - **Administrative Structure**: Part of the arrondissement of Saverne, one of the administrative divisions within Bas-Rhin department - **Digital Presence**: Maintains an official website (https://www.lohr.alsace), indicating modern local governance engagement - **Wikidata Connectivity**: Part of the linked open data ecosystem with 42 sitelinks connecting to various knowledge bases ## Body ### Geography and Location Lohr is situated in northeastern France in the Bas-Rhin department, which is one of the two departments comprising the Alsace region (along with Haut-Rhin). The commune's precise location is at latitude 48.8575°N and longitude 7.2436111111111°E, placing it in the rolling hills and agricultural lands characteristic of this part of Alsace. The commune falls within the arrondissement of Saverne, which serves as an administrative grouping of communes within the Bas-Rhin department. The Bas-Rhin department, where Lohr is located, encompasses 101 communes and serves as the northernmost department in the Alsace region. The department headquarters is located in Strasbourg, the regional capital. This area is known for its fertile plains, vineyards, and forested areas, as well as its proximity to the Rhine River, which forms the natural border with Germany. ### Administrative History The commune of Lohr operates within the French administrative system that dates to the French Revolution of 1789, when the commune (then called "commune" or "municipality") was established as the fundamental territorial division of France. This system replaced the previous feudal divisions and established the framework that continues to govern French local administration today. Historically, the Alsace region, including the territory where Lohr is located, has a complex administrative history. The area known as Unterelsaß (Lower Alsace) was part of the imperial territory of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) within the German Empire from May 20, 1871, following the Franco-Prussian War, until 1918. This period saw the region administered under German imperial authority before being returned to France after World War I. The Bas-Rhin administrative district itself was established on March 4, 1790, during the early years of the French Revolution, making it one of the original French departments created after the abolition of the monarchy. ### Regional Context: The European Collectivity of Alsace Lohr is part of the European Collectivity of Alsace, a unique administrative entity created in 2021 through the merger of the former Alsace, Champagne-Ardenne, and Lorraine region into a single territorial collectivity. This administrative reorganization aimed to streamline governance and promote regional development in northeastern France. The collectivity maintains special status within the French administrative system, allowing for greater regional autonomy in areas such as economic development, transportation, and cultural affairs. The Alsace region has historically been a crossroads of European civilization, with its strategic position along the Rhine River making it a prize contested by both France and Germany. This history has left a lasting imprint on the region's culture, architecture, and identity, with many communities like Lohr reflecting both French and German influences in their heritage. ### Department and Arrondissement Structure Lohr belongs to the department of Bas-Rhin (literally "Lower Rhine"), named after the lower course of the Rhine River that flows along the region's eastern border. The department is one of 96 metropolitan departments in mainland France and is governed by the prefecture in Strasbourg and sub-prefectures in Saverne and Haguenau. The arrondissement of Saverne, within which Lohr is located, serves as an intermediate administrative division between the department and the commune. Arrondissements were originally created for administrative purposes, particularly for the election of members to the National Assembly and for certain administrative functions. The arrondissement of Saverne encompasses numerous communes and serves as an important administrative and economic hub for the northern part of Bas-Rhin. ### Population and Demographics While specific demographic data for Lohr is limited in the source material, the population figures provided (ranging from 444 to 516 residents across various recorded years) indicate that Lohr is a small rural commune, typical of the many villages that dot the Alsatian countryside. This population size is consistent with the rural character of many communes in the Bas-Rhin department outside the main urban areas of Strasbourg and its suburbs. The demographic patterns of small rural communes in Alsace often reflect broader trends in the region, including aging populations in more remote areas and growth in communes near urban centers. The population fluctuations recorded for Lohr likely reflect these broader regional demographic dynamics. ### Connectivity and Modern Administration Lohr maintains a digital presence through its official website at https://www.lohr.alsace, reflecting the modern push toward e-governance and digital communication by French local authorities. This online presence allows residents and visitors to access information about local services, administrative procedures, and community events. The commune's information is well-documented in the linked data ecosystem, with a sitelink count of 42 connecting to various knowledge bases. This connectivity ensures that information about Lohr is accessible through multiple platforms and in multiple languages, supporting both residents and researchers interested in the commune. ### Historical Significance The territory of Alsace, including the area around Lohr, has been shaped by centuries of European history. The Treaty of Verdun in 843 established the boundaries of West Francia, which would eventually become France, and East Francia, which would become Germany. This division set the stage for centuries of conflict over the Alsace region, which sits at the linguistic and cultural boundary between French and Germanic peoples. The modern boundaries of France, including the Alsace region, were solidified through various treaties and conflicts, including the Peace of Westphalia (1648), which confirmed French control over Alsace, and the Treaty of Versailles (1919), which returned Alsace-Lorraine to France after World War I. The complex history of this region makes communes like Lohr important repositories of European cultural and historical heritage. ### Relationship to Other Entities Lohr exists within a hierarchy of administrative and historical entities: - **Country**: France - The sovereign nation governing the territory - **Historical Region**: Unterelsaß - The historical name for Lower Alsace within the German Empire (1871-1918) - **Department**: Bas-Rhin - The administrative district established in 1790 - **Arrondissement**: Saverne - The administrative grouping containing Lohr - **Region**: European Collectivity of Alsace - The current regional administrative entity - **Commune System**: Part of the commune of France system established in 1789 This hierarchical structure reflects the French approach to administrative organization, which balances local autonomy with central state coordination, a system that has evolved over more than two centuries of governance. ## References 1. Virtual International Authority File 2. BnF authorities 3. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018 4. INSEE code 5. répertoire géographique des communes 6. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 7. Annuaire de service-public.fr 8. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017 9. Populations légales 2016 10. Populations légales 2017 11. Populations légales 2018 12. Populations légales 2019 13. Populations légales 2020 14. Populations légales 2021 15. Populations de référence 2022 16. Populations de référence 2023 17. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419) 18. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies 19. GeoNames 20. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z) 21. [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) 22. [Code officiel géographique. 2020](https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/8442dfae-a878-49c6-be4c-20689b1c337c) 23. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)