Pfaffenheim

Pfaffenheim is a village with origins dating back to Roman, or even Celtic times. Its name, which evokes the presence of monastic estates, suggests a history linked to convents and monasteries. Recent research even indicates earlier occupation of the site, where the "priests" mentioned could actually have been druids.

During the Renaissance, the wine trade flourished in the region, as evidenced by the elegant patrician houses still visible today. Some of these feature superb ashlar stone towers adorned with remarkable staircases. The village also had three "castles," actually fortified houses, which have now disappeared without a trace.

This past wealth attracted envy, and Pfaffenheim paid a heavy price. The village was ravaged three times in history: in 1338 by the armies of the Bavarian emperor, in conflict with the Strasbourg bishopric; in 1444 by the Armagnacs; and finally in 1525 during the Peasants' War.