# Wintershouse > commune in Bas-Rhin, France **Wikidata**: [Q21398](https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q21398) **Wikipedia**: [English](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wintershouse) **Source**: https://4ort.xyz/entity/wintershouse ## Summary Wintershouse is a commune located in the Bas-Rhin department of the Alsace region in northeastern France, situated in the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg. The commune sits at coordinates 48.7925°N latitude and 7.7011111111111°E longitude and forms part of the French administrative system as a territorial subdivision for municipalities. With a population of approximately 869 residents, Wintershouse represents a small rural community in the historic Alsace region, which has been part of France since the annexation of Alsace-Lorraine following the Franco-Prussian War in 1871. ## Key Facts - **Official Name**: Wintershouse - **Type**: Commune (municipality) in France - **Country**: France - **Administrative Region**: Alsace (European Collectivity of Alsace) - **Department**: Bas-Rhin - **Arrondissement**: Haguenau-Wissembourg (current, established January 1, 2015) - **Historical Arrondissement**: Haguenau (former) - **Inception of Commune Status**: 1789 (commune of France territorial subdivision) - **Coordinates**: 48.7925°N, 7.7011111111111°E - **Population**: 869 (most recent figure), with historical populations of 905, 921, 920, 894, 880, 873, 864, 854, and 862 - **Alias**: Wintershausen - **Official Website**: https://www.mairie-wintershouse.fr - **Wikipedia Title**: Wintershouse - **Wikidata Description**: commune in Bas-Rhin, France - **Sitelink Count**: 44 - **Driving Side**: Right (France standard) - **Time Zone**: Central European Time (CET, UTC+01:00) observing Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+02:00) - **Official Language**: French - **Currency**: Euro (EUR) - **Calling Code**: +33 - **Internet TLD**: .fr ## FAQs **What region and administrative division is Wintershouse located in?** Wintershouse is located in the Bas-Rhin department of the Alsace region in northeastern France. It is part of the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg, which was established on January 1, 2015, replacing the former arrondissement of Haguenau. The commune falls under the jurisdiction of the French administrative system as a municipality. **What is the population of Wintershouse?** Wintershouse has a population of approximately 869 residents according to the most recent data. Historical population figures show fluctuations between 854 and 921 residents over various census periods, indicating a relatively stable small community. **What are the geographical coordinates of Wintershouse?** Wintershouse is situated at latitude 48.7925°N and longitude 7.7011111111111°E, placing it in the northeastern part of France in the Alsace plain region. **What is the administrative history of Wintershouse's region?** The Bas-Rhin department was established on March 4, 1790, as part of the French Revolution's administrative reorganization. The commune of Wintershouse has existed since 1789 as part of the commune of France system. The arrondissement system underwent reorganization on January 1, 2015, when the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg was created, absorbing the former arrondissement of Haguenau. **What language and currency are used in Wintershouse?** As part of France, Wintershouse uses French as the official language and the Euro (EUR) as its currency. The international calling code is +33, and the internet top-level domain is .fr. **What is the local government structure in Wintershouse?** Wintershouse operates under the French municipal system with a mayor and municipal council. As a commune, it is the smallest administrative division in France and operates under the decentralized administration of the Bas-Rhin department and the Alsace region. ## Why It Matters Wintershouse matters as an embodiment of the traditional French commune system that forms the foundational unit of local governance in France. As part of the Alsace region, it represents a community with a unique historical and cultural heritage shaped by centuries of European history, including periods of French and German control. The commune demonstrates how small rural communities maintain their administrative identity while being integrated into larger regional and national structures. The existence of Wintershouse as a distinct administrative entity matters because it provides local governance closest to citizens in the French system, managing local affairs, maintaining public services, and representing the interests of its residents. Its position within the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg connects it to a network of communes that collaborate on regional development, transportation, and public services. From a demographic perspective, the population figures for Wintershouse reflect broader trends in rural France, where many small communes experience population stability or modest decline. Understanding these communities is essential for comprehending France's territorial organization and the challenges facing rural areas in terms of public service provision, economic development, and demographic sustainability. ## Notable For - **Historical Administrative Status**: Part of the former arrondissement of Haguenau before the 2015 administrative reorganization that created the new arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg - **Regional Identity**: Located in the Bas-Rhin department, one of the two departments comprising the historical Alsace region known for its distinctive culture, bilingualism, and European heritage - **Municipal Website**: Maintains an official municipal website (mairie-wintershouse.fr), indicating active local governance and communication with residents - **Wikimedia Presence**: Has a Wikipedia article and Wikidata entry, demonstrating its recognition within global knowledge systems - **Population Stability**: Maintains a relatively stable population around 860-920 residents over multiple census periods ## Body ### Geography and Location Wintershouse is situated in the northeastern part of France within the Alsace region, specifically in the Bas-Rhin department. The commune lies at coordinates 48.7925°N latitude and 7.7011111111111°E longitude, positioning it in the Alsace plain, a fertile agricultural region between the Vosges mountains to the west and the Rhine River to the east. This location places Wintershouse in close proximity to the German border, reflecting the historical significance of Alsace as a contested region between France and Germany. The commune's geographical position within the arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg connects it to the administrative center of Haguenau, while its location in Bas-Rhin places it within one of France's most economically dynamic regions. The Bas-Rhin department encompasses the city of Strasbourg, the seat of European Parliament sessions, making the region significant both nationally and internationally. ### Administrative History Wintershouse exists within the French administrative system that dates to the French Revolution. The commune system was established in 1789, reorganizing France into municipalities that serve as the lowest level of administrative division. The Bas-Rhin department itself was created on March 4, 1790, during the initial administrative reorganization following the Revolution. The arrondissement system in France underwent significant reorganization in 2015, when the former arrondissement of Haguenau was merged with parts of the Wissembourg arrondissement to form the new arrondissement of Haguenau-Wissembourg on January 1, 2015. This reorganization aimed to improve administrative efficiency and coordination between communes in the region. ### Demographics and Population Wintershouse maintains a population of approximately 869 residents according to the most recent census data. Historical population figures show the following trends across various census years: 905, 921, 920, 894, 880, 873, 864, 854, 862, and 869 residents. These numbers indicate a relatively stable population size with modest fluctuations, typical of small rural communes in France. The population density and demographic patterns of Wintershouse reflect broader trends in rural Alsace, where many small communes serve as residential communities for workers employed in larger towns and cities. The commune likely consists primarily of residential housing with agricultural land surrounding the built-up area, typical of the commune structure in French rural areas. ### Local Governance and Services As a commune in France, Wintershouse is governed by a mayor and municipal council, who are responsible for local administration, public services, and municipal infrastructure. The commune maintains an official website at mairi-wintershouse.fr, indicating active communication with residents and transparency in local governance. The municipal government is responsible for various local services including local planning, civil registration, municipal maintenance, and representing the commune's interests at higher administrative levels. As part of the Bas-Rhin department and the Alsace region, Wintershouse benefits from departmental and regional services while maintaining local autonomy in matters affecting the commune directly. ### Regional Context Wintershouse is located in the Bas-Rhin department, which is one of the two departments comprising the Alsace region (the other being Haut-Rhin). The Bas-Rhin department serves as the administrative framework for 514 communes, with Strasbourg as its prefecture. The department was established in 1790 and has its headquarters in Strasbourg. The Alsace region holds particular significance in European history due to its strategic location between France and Germany. The region has changed national affiliation multiple times throughout history, most notably following the Franco-Prussian War in 1871, when Alsace-Lorraine was annexed by the German Empire, and again after World War I when it returned to France in 1919. This historical context contributes to the distinctive cultural identity of the region, which maintains elements of both French and German heritage. ### Infrastructure and Connectivity As part of France, Wintershouse benefits from the country's developed infrastructure. France operates on right-hand traffic, and the commune is connected to the national road network. The country uses Central European Time (CET, UTC+01:00) and observes Central European Summer Time (CEST, UTC+02:00) during summer months. The national electrical grid operates at 230 volts and 50 Hz, using Europlug and Type E electrical outlets. The international calling code for France is +33, and the internet top-level domain is .fr. These technical standards ensure connectivity and communication capabilities for residents and businesses in the commune. ### Cultural and Historical Significance While specific historical details about Wintershouse are limited in the source material, the commune exists within a region of significant historical and cultural importance. The Alsace region is known for its distinctive architecture, cuisine, and traditions, including the Alsatian dialect of German. The region is famous for its Christmas markets, vineyards, and half-timbered houses. The commune's existence since 1789 places it within the framework of modern French municipal administration, and its continued operation as a separate commune demonstrates the resilience of the French commune system in maintaining local identities and governance structures even in small rural communities. ### Administrative Relationships Wintershouse maintains relationships with several administrative entities: - **Country**: France - a semi-presidential republic and founding member of the European Union - **Department**: Bas-Rhin - a French administrative district of the European Collectivity of Alsace, established March 4, 1790, with headquarters in Strasbourg - **Current Arrondissement**: Haguenau-Wissembourg - established January 1, 2015 - **Former Arrondissement**: Haguenau - dissolved in 2015 - **Commune System**: Part of the commune of France system, established in 1789 These administrative relationships connect Wintershouse to a hierarchical system of governance that extends from the local commune level through departmental and regional administration to national government, with France also participating in European integration through its membership in the European Union. ## References 1. BnF authorities 2. dataset of postal codes in France. 2018 3. INSEE code 4. répertoire géographique des communes 5. Freebase Data Dumps. 2013 6. Annuaire de service-public.fr 7. Recensement de la population 2015. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 2017 8. Populations légales 2016 9. Populations légales 2017 10. Populations légales 2018 11. Populations légales 2019 12. Populations légales 2020 13. Populations légales 2021 14. Populations de référence 2022 15. Populations de référence 2023 16. [Code officiel géographique](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/3363419) 17. National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies 18. GeoNames 19. [répertoire géographique des communes. 2015](https://wxs-telechargement.ign.fr/83edtfdyqte031y0ra49d2e3/telechargement/inspire/RGC-2015-01$RGC2015/file/RGC2015.7z) 20. [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) 21. [Code officiel géographique. 2017](https://www.insee.fr/fr/information/2560698)