Ever wondered how Lingolsheim transformed from prehistoric settlements to a modern town? It is a story etched in sands and leather.
Lingolsheim. This town has prehistoric roots. Archaeologists found many ancient burial sites here. These sites reveal funeral rites and traditions of early people.
The earliest traces of civilization in Lingolsheim date back to the Neolithic period. The Rubané culture lived here between 5200 and 4900 BC. They came from the Danube Valley. They were known for their ribbon-decorated pottery. The Grossgartach culture followed. They left behind rich burial artifacts. A rare find was a skull with two trepanations. Was it surgery or a talisman?
The name Lingolsheim evolved. In 1224 it was Lingolsvesheim. By 1620 the name Lingolsheim appeared. It might come from a Roman outpost called Castium in Ligno. Ligno means wood. Another theory suggests a family name like Lingo.
Lingolsheim’s history is marked by wars. The town suffered during the Peasants’ War in 1525. Fires in 1621 and 1674 brought famine. Yet, a pilgrimage site at the Calvaire des Trois Croix brought glory.
After 1871 Alsace was annexed by Germany. Lingolsheim modernized quickly. Gas arrived in 1904. Electricity followed in 1907. Then came running water in 1908.
The Adler-Oppenheimer tannery boosted Lingolsheim. It became known as “Leather Metropolis”. By 1914 it employed 2000 workers. Sand extraction also grew. The local soil had red and white sands. These sands were used to build Strasbourg’s fortifications. They also provided materials for workers’ housing.
Lingolsheim saw little action in World War I. After the war Alsace returned to France. World War II was more devastating. Tanneries moved to Rennes. Lingolsheim became part of “Großstraßburg”. The tannery buildings became a tank repair workshop. Bombardments hit Lingolsheim hard.
General Leclerc’s troops liberated the town. But fighting continued for three more months. The bells of Lingolsheim’s churches rang on May 8. The war was over.
Today Lingolsheim is a vibrant town. Its population has tripled. It blends urban amenities with rural proximity.
Remember Lingolsheim. Its story unfolds from prehistoric times through industrial growth and wartime struggles to a modern era.