Old Village of Marlenheim

Marlenheim is an Alsatian village whose origins date back to prehistoric times. Its history particularly flourished during the Merovingian (5th–8th century) and Carolingian (8th–10th century) periods, when it became a royal residence. The palace of *Marilegio villa*, first mentioned by Gregory of Tours in the *Historia Francorum*, attests to this. It is also here that the vine is mentioned for the first time in Alsace, highlighting the importance of this terroir since late Antiquity.

The old center of Marlenheim retains a layout inherited from the ancient Roman camp of the early centuries AD. Its almost straight central axis, its place of worship located on a central promontory probably fortified in the Middle Ages, as well as its fishbone road network, reflect this distant era.

Over the centuries, the village has been enriched with remarkable remains: Renaissance turreted houses, the town hall, the 18th-century castle, the church, the chapel, and the Stations of the Cross. These elements, scattered throughout the old village, trace a rich and varied history, blending Roman, medieval, and modern influences.