Rustenhart

The first written mention of this place dates back to the early 14th century, under the name Ruechheim, in the general register of the Habsburgs. At that time, the comptroller family held the rights of high and low justice and collected a tax, part of which went to the noble Schedeler family of Rouffach. However, the village was devastated during the wars of the 15th century.

After its destruction, the Count of Deux-Ponts, also lord of Ribeaupierre, decided to found a new village named Ruestenhardt, officially established on August 11, 1693. The first thirty settlers, likely from Switzerland, had to present a certificate of good conduct before receiving land. This attachment to the lordship of Ribeaupierre probably dates back to the late Middle Ages.

Today, Ruestenhardt preserves several remarkable heritage elements. The Saint-Barthélemy church, built between the 18th and 19th centuries, is distinguished by its octagonal bell tower topped with a dome and a lantern. A 17th-century dovecote also bears witness to the locality's agricultural past.