Sarre-Union

Sarre-Union was born from the merger of Bouquenom, on the right bank of the Sarre, and Neu-Sarrewerden, founded on the left bank in 1706.

Bouquenom, inhabited since the Gallo-Roman era, gained city status in 1328 and was once a fortified town surrounded by 13 towers and 2 gates, with some remnants of the ramparts still remaining. Neu-Sarrewerden, created by the Counts of Nassau-Saarbrücken, is distinguished by its unique architecture and urban planning in Alsace. The two towns were officially unified in 1794 under the name Sarre-Union.

The religious heritage of Sarre-Union reflects its exceptional pluralism. The Saint George's Church, built on the foundations of a medieval building, elegantly combines late Gothic art and Renaissance elements. It houses an 18th-century organ, restored several times after the destruction of World War II. Other places of worship testify to this diversity, such as the Jesuit chapel and its 18th-century college, the 19th-century synagogue, the Lutheran church, and the Reformed temple of Villeneuve, all dating from the 18th century.

Sarre-Union was also a major industrial hub at the beginning of the 19th century, becoming the capital of Alsace Bossue. Its growth was based on industries linked to local resources, such as mills and tanneries, but also on nationally and internationally renowned companies: the De Lagenhagen hat factory, the Karcher beadworks, the Dommel rope factory, and the wood gas generator of chemist Imbert.