1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.
Kaysersberg (French pronunciation:[kaizəʁsbɛʁɡ]; German: Kaisersberg[ˈkaɪzɐsbɛʁk]ⓘ; Alsatian: Kaiserschbarig) is a historical town and former commune in Alsace in northeastern France. The name is German for Emperor's Mountain. The high fortress that dominates the town serves as a reminder of both its strategic importance and its warlike past.
Kaysersberg lies in the canton of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, which itself is a subdivision of the Colmar-Ribeauvillé arrondissement. It was a separate commune until 1 January 2016, when it was merged into the new commune of Kaysersberg Vignoble together with nearby Kientzheim and Sigolsheim, and remains its seat.[2]
The town was first mentioned in 1227, when Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor purchased the castle and gave orders to refortify it. During the Middle Ages, Kaysersberg, a member of the Décapole, prospered. In 1648, the city became a part of France, although most inhabitants continued to speak German. From 1871 to 1918 and (again from 1940 to 1944) Kaysersberg belonged to Germany.
In 2017 Kaysersberg was voted the Village préféré des Français (Village favoured by the French). The inhabitants are called Kaysersbergeois.
Geography
Kaysersberg lies about 12 kilometres (7 mi) northwest of Colmar, on the eastern slopes of the Vosges mountains, on the river Weiss.
The area around Kaysersberg is one of the finest wine-growing areas in Alsace. The first vines were brought here in the 16th century from Hungary, and wine production is still an important aspect of the town's economy today. Wine produced from the pinot gris variety is a local specialty.
Culture
Kaysersberg is a historic town, that has preserved many architectural monuments. These include: