Oberbruck

Oberbruck has been part of the history of the upper Doller valley for centuries. Since the late Middle Ages, the exploitation of the rich surrounding mineral veins has fostered the development of intense metallurgical activity. The village then attracted a population of workers and miners but was severely impacted by the ravages of the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), which almost completely devastated it. It was under the impetus of Henri d’Anthès, master of the forges, that activity resumed at the end of the 17th century, thanks to the hydraulic power provided by the water retention systems of the Perches and Neuweiher lakes. In the 19th century, the textile industry gradually took over, marked by the creation of a spinning mill and then a weaving mill by the Zeller family. These establishments, emblematic of the era, operated for nearly one hundred and fifty years before disappearing. Today, Oberbruck attracts visitors for its natural landscapes, notably the Neuweiher lakes, its Saint Anthony of Padua church, and its aerodrome, unique in the Vosges valleys.