Kaysersberg Facts for Kids

Quick facts for kids

Kaysersberg

Kaiserschbarig (Alsatian)
Kaisersberg (German)

Delegated commune of Kaysersberg Vignoble

The town as seen from the castle

Coat of arms

Kaysersberg

Location in France

Kaysersberg

Location in Grand Est

Country

Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines

Commune

Kaysersberg Vignoble

Area

24.82 km² (9.58 sq mi)

Population

(2019)

2,426

• Density

97.74/km² (253.16/sq mi)

Time zone

UTC+01:00 (CET)

• Summer (DST)

UTC+02:00 (CEST)

Postal code

68240

Elevation

236–924 m (774–3,031 ft)
(avg. 240 m or 790 ft)

¹ French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km² (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Kaysersberg is a historic town in Alsace, a region in northeastern France. Its name means "Emperor's Mountain" in German. A tall castle overlooking the town shows its important past and how it was once a place of battles.

Kaysersberg is part of a larger area called Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. Until January 1, 2016, it was its own town (called a "commune" in France). Then, it joined with nearby Kientzheim and Sigolsheim to form a new, bigger commune called Kaysersberg Vignoble. Kaysersberg is still the main center of this new commune.

The town was first mentioned in 1227. At that time, Frederick II, Holy Roman Emperor bought the castle and ordered it to be made stronger. During the Middle Ages, Kaysersberg was part of a group of ten free cities called the Décapole, and it grew very rich. In 1648, the city became part of France. However, most people living there continued to speak German. From 1871 to 1918, and again from 1940 to 1944, Kaysersberg belonged to Germany.

In 2017, Kaysersberg was chosen as the "Village préféré des Français" (Village favored by the French). This means it was voted the favorite village in France. The people who live in Kaysersberg are called Kaysersbergeois.

Where is Kaysersberg?
How Many People Live There?
What is the Economy Like?
Culture and Historic Buildings
Things to See and Do
Famous People from Kaysersberg
Gallery
See also

Where is Kaysersberg?

Kaysersberg is located about 12 kilometers (7.5 miles) northwest of Colmar. It sits on the eastern slopes of the Vosges mountains. The Weiss river flows through the town.

Kaysersberg is also found along the famous Alsace "Wine Route". It is north of Ammerschwihr and south of Riquewihr, two other well-known wine towns.

How Many People Live There?

The number of people living in Kaysersberg has changed over the years. Here's a look at the population:

Historical population
Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1962	2,821	—
1968	2,979	+0.91%
1975	2,942	−0.18%
1982	2,707	−1.18%
1990	2,755	+0.22%
1999	2,676	−0.32%
2007	2,720	+0.20%
2012	2,705	−0.11%
2019	2,426	−1.54%
Source: EHESS and INSEE (2007-2019)

What is the Economy Like?

The area around Kaysersberg is famous for its excellent wine. The first grapevines were brought here from Hungary in the 16th century. Today, making wine is still a very important part of the town's economy. A special local wine is made from the pinot gris grape.

Culture and Historic Buildings

Kaysersberg is a very old town with many beautiful historic buildings. These include:

Église Sainte-Croix: This church has parts that are over 700 years old, from the 13th century.
Hôtel de ville (town hall): Built in the 16th century, it has a beautiful Renaissance style.
Oberhof chapel: This small church dates back to the 14th century.
Saint-Michel chapel: Another chapel from the 16th century.
Château de Kaysersberg or Schlossberg: This castle from the 13th century is now partly in ruins, but it's still impressive.

Things to See and Do

Besides enjoying the local Alsace wine, visitors can explore the ruins of Kaysersberg Castle. You can also walk to the ruins of other castles nearby, such as Château de Wineck in Katzenthal, Château de Lupfen-Swendi, and Château de Reichenstein in Kientzheim.

Famous People from Kaysersberg

Some well-known people have connections to Kaysersberg:

Matthäus Zell (1477–1548): He was an important leader in the Protestant Reformation.
Albert Schweitzer (1875–1965): A famous theologian, musician, philosopher, and doctor. There is a museum dedicated to him in Kaysersberg.
Anthony Bourdain (1956–2018): A famous chef and writer.