Marlenheim

Located at the northern entrance of the Alsace Wine Route, Marlenheim is a commune steeped in history.

Recent excavations have uncovered remains dating back over 7,000 years, up to the Roman era. Although these physical traces have disappeared, the first mention of vine cultivation in Alsace appears in Gregory of Tours' *Historia Francorum*. The locality was also a residence for the Carolingians, and legend has it that Richarde, patron saint of the parish church, underwent a trial by fire here to prove her innocence against adultery accusations by her husband, Emperor Charles the Fat.

The old town retains the urban layout of an ancient Roman camp from the early centuries AD, with its 'fishbone' road network. The Kronthal, famous for its sandstone, notably supplied stones for the cathedral. Today, Marlenheim boasts remarkable architectural heritage: Renaissance turreted houses, bourgeois residences, prosperous farms, a town hall and an 18th-century castle (former seat of the bailiwick), as well as a chapel and a Way of the Cross.

The commune is also renowned for its winemaking tradition, earning it the title of Gateway to the Alsace Wine Route in 1953, during an inauguration presided over by Pierre Pflimlin, then Minister of Finance and close to former mayor Rodolphe Klein.