Madder in Pfaffenhoffen

Did you know that madder, Rubia tinctorum L., was the basis of a thriving economic activity in the Pfaffenhoffen region? This perennial plant, from the Rubiaceae family, was widely cultivated for its roots rich in alizarin and purpurin, natural pigments that gave fabrics a beautiful red hue. In the 18th century, madder became a cornerstone of the local economy: grown from Hochfelden to Haguenau, it was transported to Pfaffenhoffen, where many drying facilities turned the fresh plant into dried madder. This was then sold and used to dye cloth red. From the Second Empire onwards, the French army became a major client, buying these cloths to make military trousers. The defeat of 1870 dealt a heavy blow to this industry, although madder trade continued thanks to other uses like dyeing hemp or wool stockings. Today, only a few place names, such as Rotaegerle or Rotdaerre, recall the era when madder made the region famous.