# Neuwiller-lès-Saverne

> commune in Bas-Rhin, France

**Wikidata**: [Q21417](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21417)  
**Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neuwiller-lès-Saverne)  
**Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/neuwiller-l-s-saverne

## Summary

Neuwiller-lès-Saverne is a commune located in the Bas-Rhin department in the Alsace region of northeastern France. The municipality sits at coordinates 48.823°N latitude and 7.401°E longitude and is part of the arrondissement of Saverne. It features notable historical landmarks including the former abbey church of St. Peter and St. Paul (dating to 1773) and the ruins of Château de Herrenstein (dating to 1200).

## Key Facts

- **Entity Type**: Commune in Bas-Rhin, France
- **Region**: Alsace (Unterelsaß historically)
- **Administrative Division**: Part of the arrondissement of Saverne
- **Country**: France
- **Coordinates**: 48.823055556°N latitude, 7.401111111111°E longitude
- **Alias**: Neuweiler bei Zabern
- **Wikipedia Title**: Neuwiller-lès-Saverne
- **Wikidata Description**: commune in Bas-Rhin, France
- **Sitelink Count**: 45
- **Population**: Approximately 1,100-1,140 residents (various census years: 1126, 1120, 1140, 1113, 1108, 1102, 1107, 1105, 1099, 1079)
- **Historical Church**: St. Peter and St. Paul's Church — former abbey church, established 1773
- **Historical Castle**: Château de Herrenstein — ruined castle, established 1200
- **Historical Region Context**: Unterelsaß was the central district of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) in the German Empire from 1871 to 1918
- **Department Creation**: Bas-Rhin established March 4, 1790
- **Commune of France**: Established 1789 as part of France's territorial subdivisions

## FAQs

**What type of administrative area is Neuwiller-lès-Saverne?**

Neuwiller-lès-Saverne is a commune, which is the smallest territorial subdivision for municipalities in France. It is located in the Bas-Rhin department within the Alsace region and belongs to the arrondissement of Saverne.

**What historical landmarks can be found in Neuwiller-lès-Saverne?**

The commune contains two significant historical structures: St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, a former abbey church dating to 1773, and the Château de Herrenstein, a ruined castle originally established around 1200.

**What is the geographical location of Neuwiller-lès-Saverne?**

Neuwiller-lès-Saverne is situated at coordinates 48.823°N latitude and 7.401°E longitude in northeastern France, specifically in the Bas-Rhin department of the Alsace region.

**What is the population of Neuwiller-lès-Saverne?**

The commune has a population of approximately 1,100 to 1,140 residents according to various census records, with numbers ranging from 1,079 to 1,140 across different years.

**What historical regional context applies to Neuwiller-lès-Saverne?**

The commune is situated in what was historically known as Unterelsaß, the central district of the imperial territory of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) when it was part of the German Empire from 1871 to 1918.

## Why It Matters

Neuwiller-lès-Saverne represents a small but historically significant commune in the Alsace region, an area that has undergone numerous political and territorial changes throughout European history. The presence of the Château de Herrenstein, dating to 1200, places this commune within the medieval castle network of Alsace, a region that served as a contested borderland between France and German-speaking territories for centuries. The former abbey church of St. Peter and St. Paul, established in 1773, reflects the religious and architectural heritage of the region during the pre-revolutionary period.

The commune's location within Bas-Rhin places it at the heart of one of France's most distinctive regions, where French and German cultural influences have intertwined for generations. Alsace's unique status, having switched between French and German sovereignty multiple times (notably between 1871 and 1918 under German rule, and again after World War I), makes every commune in the region a testament to the complex history of European borderlands. Neuwiller-lès-Saverne, with its historical structures and strategic position within the arrondissement of Saverne, contributes to understanding this rich regional heritage.

## Notable For

- **Medieval Architecture**: Home to Château de Herrenstein, a ruined castle dating to 1200, representing medieval fortification in the Alsace region
- **Religious Heritage**: Features St. Peter and St. Paul's Church, a former abbey church established in 1773
- **Historical Territory**: Situated in Unterelsaß, which served as a central district of Alsace-Lorraine during German imperial rule (1871-1918)
- **Administrative Location**: Part of the arrondissement of Saverne in the Bas-Rhin department
- **Cross-Border History**: Located in a region that has experienced multiple sovereignty changes between France and Germany

## Body

### Geography and Location

Neuwiller-lès-Saverne is positioned at coordinates 48.823055556°N latitude and 7.401111111111°E longitude in the northeastern part of France. The commune lies within the Bas-Rhin department, which is part of the Alsace region in the European Collectivity of Alsace. The municipality falls under the administrative jurisdiction of the arrondissement of Saverne, a sub-division of the department that organizes local government services for the surrounding communes.

### Historical Context

The commune's territory sits within what was historically known as Unterelsaß (Lower Alsace), which formed the central district of the imperial territory of Elsaß-Lothringen (Alsace-Lorraine) when this region belonged to the German Empire from May 20, 1871, until the end of World War I in 1918. This historical period left lasting administrative and cultural influences on the region, though the area had previously belonged to France since the 17th century.

The establishment of the commune system in France dates to 1789 during the French Revolution, when the traditional provincial divisions were replaced with a uniform system of departments, arrondissements, and communes. Bas-Rhin as an administrative district was created on March 4, 1790, placing Neuwiller-lès-Saverne within this framework from its inception.

### Historical Landmarks

**Château de Herrenstein**: This ruined castle represents the medieval architectural heritage of the region. Originally constructed around 1200, the castle served as a fortified residence for local nobility during the medieval period. Its ruins today provide insight into medieval military architecture and the feudal history of Alsace. The castle's establishment in the 13th century places it among the older structures in the region, predating many of the political changes that would shape Alsace's future.

**St. Peter and St. Paul's Church**: The former abbey church in Neuwiller-lès-Saverne was established in 1773, during the final decades of the Ancien Régime. This neoclassical-period religious structure represents the Catholic ecclesiastical presence in the commune before the French Revolution would dramatically alter the religious landscape of France. The church's status as a former abbey church indicates its importance within the local religious hierarchy and its connection to monastic communities that historically played significant roles in Alsatian society.

### Demographics and Population

The commune maintains a modest population of approximately 1,100 to 1,140 residents across various census periods. Population figures recorded include 1,126; 1,120; 1,140; 1,113; 1,108; 1,102; 1,107; 1,105; 1,099; and 1,079 residents at different points in time. This population size is typical for rural communes in the less densely populated areas of Bas-Rhin, where agriculture and small-scale rural economy have traditionally characterized community life.

### Administrative Relationships

Neuwiller-lès-Saverne exists within a hierarchy of French administrative divisions. As a commune, it represents the lowest level of territorial organization in France, serving as the fundamental unit for local governance. The commune belongs to the arrondissement of Saverne, which provides intermediate administrative functions between the commune and the department level. Bas-Rhin department encompasses the northern portion of the Alsace region and is one of the two departments (along with Haut-Rhin) that comprise the historical region of Alsace.

The commune's connection to the broader French territorial system dates to the revolutionary reforms of 1789, which created the commune as the basic unit for local administration. This system replaced the previous feudal and provincial structures that had governed French territory under the monarchy.

### Regional Significance

The commune's position within the Alsace region places it in one of France's most distinctive cultural and linguistic areas. Alsace maintains a unique identity characterized by its bilingual (French and German/Alsatian) character, its half-timbered houses, its culinary traditions (including flammekueche and baeckeoffe), and its wine production. The region has served as a crossroads between Germanic and Romance cultures for centuries, and this influence is evident in the local architecture, place names, and traditions of communes like Neuwiller-lès-Saverne.

The arrondissement of Saverne, to which Neuwiller-lès-Saverne belongs, encompasses a portion of Alsace that includes both agricultural lowland areas and the foothills of the Vosges mountains. This geographical diversity has influenced the economic activities and settlement patterns of the region throughout history.

## 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. [archINFORM](https://www.archinform.net/service/wd_aiort.php)
23. [Code officiel géographique. 2020](https://www.data.gouv.fr/fr/datasets/r/8442dfae-a878-49c6-be4c-20689b1c337c)
24. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)
25. National Library of Israel Names and Subjects Authority File