Munchhouse

The village of Mönchhausen, first mentioned around 1259, has a rich and turbulent history. In the year 1004, Henry II granted the place of Bärenhausen, once inhabited by bears, to the church of Basel. The village later became a fief of the Murbach Abbey before being incorporated into the possessions of Rudolf of Habsburg in 1273. The inhabitants lived under harsh conditions on arid land and under demanding lords. In 1430, the Black Death struck the region, but Mönchhausen was spared. Three survivors from the neighboring village of Sermersheim, seeking asylum, were turned away, benefiting Réguisheim, which welcomed them and inherited a thousand acres of land. In 1634, the Swedes ravaged the village and inflicted cruel torture on the inhabitants: the ingestion of the "Schwedatrank," a mixture causing asphyxiation with cow urine. Later, in 1945, World War II bombings severely damaged the church of Munchhouse, which dated from 1835-1840 and had replaced a chapel mentioned as early as the 14th century. The building was rebuilt between 1955 and 1959. The presbytery and school, also dating from the 19th century, complete the local heritage. Notable monuments include an 18th-century farm, 16th-century baptismal fonts, the Church of Saint Agatha, and the Chapel of Our Lady.