Saint Louis, Alsace

Saint Louis is the third biggest city in the Haut-Rhine (upper Rhine) region in Alsace, France. It is the administrative capital and cultural territory of southeast of Alsace.

Saint-Louis also known as Pays des Trois Frontières (Country of the Three Borders) as it is located very close to the border of Switzerland, German and Swiss city of Basel.The Euro Airport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg is situated on its administrative territory.

The city of Saint Louis was founded in 1684 by King Louis XIV and thus the city took over its name from the king. Saint Louis was initially a small locality, administratively part of the municipality of Village-Neuf. As it was located between Mulhouse and Basel, a customs house and a post house was built by King Louis. After Revolution Saint Louis city gained its Muncipal autonomy. In 1793, Saint-Louis was officially merged with Michelfelden and renamed Bourglibre. The city then consisited of tobacco farm and a chapel.

Today one can see a number of large and small industries as well as some reasearch, technology and high-level training practiced at the Institut Franco-German Reasearch Council (ISL Armement), at the regional centre of Innovation and Technology Transfer “HOLO 3” and the versatile Jean Mermoz School. The city also houses several workshops, brewery Industries, large tourist facility buildings, town hall, library, Croisee des lys (a program that includes housing and shops), Cinemas, schools,etc.

Saint Louis is considered as the “Green Lung” of Alsace because of the presence of the Natural Reserve of La Petite Camargue Alsacienne. This natural reserve is actually placed on the towns of Saint-Louis, Rosenau and Village_Neuf and it preserves a landscape of 150 hectares of the old bed of the Rhine. An ancient Fish farm with its ponds and buildings dated 1853 can be seen here.

The Muncipal flag of Saint-Louis is a banner of the municipal arms based on the arms of the kings of France. These arms were designed in 1901-1902, for inclusion in a stained-glass window of the cantonal court of Mulhouse.

Main attraction of this city is the Cathedrals. Saint Louis en l`Ile church, built in 1622 is one of the oldest church. Here also one can admire the typical Gothic style architecture with wooden doors decorated with angles. This Cathedral is considered as the “Mother Church” of all the churches in Saint Louis city.

People visiting Saint Louis should make a point to see the Street performance by the performers with jazz, bands, jugglers or mimes.