A unicorn’s horn they say. Legend whispers of a mythical creature its horn discovered in nearby ruins. But was it truly a unicorn or a narwhal’s tooth mistaken for magic? This is Saverne a town steeped in history nestled in the heart of Alsace.
Saverne’s story begins long ago. It was once Tres Tabernae Caesaris Caesar’s three taverns. Imagine Roman legions changing oxen on their way to the Lorraine plateau. The steep incline demanded it. The Alemanni destroyed Saverne. Emperor Julian later rebuilt it.
Saverne’s location at the foot of the Vosges Mountains made it strategically important. The Rhine-Marne Canal and the Paris-Strasbourg railway run through it. The A4 autoroute passes nearby. Saverne has rail connections to major French cities. It’s a crossroads a meeting point of civilizations.
The town became part of the Germanosphere. It was part of East Francia then the Holy Roman Empire. It suffered during the German Peasants’ War and the Thirty Years’ War. In 1680 France annexed it.
Rohan Castle dominates Saverne. This neoclassical palace was once the residence of the bishops of Strasbourg. The Germans used it as barracks. Today it houses a museum archeological collections and a youth hostel. It’s a testament to Saverne’s resilience.
The Saverne Affair in 1913 is infamous. It involved the abuse of military authority. This event gave rise to the term Zabernism. It’s a dark chapter but a significant part of Saverne’s past. The town’s emblem a unicorn perhaps symbolizes its resilience against hardship.
Beyond Rohan Castle Saverne boasts other attractions. The 15th-century Old Castle stands proudly. The Notre-Dame-de-la-Nativite church displays beautiful stained glass and sculptures. The old Franciscan monastery with its 17th-century frescoes is breathtaking. The Maison Katz an ornately decorated old house is a local treasure.
Ruined castles surround Saverne Haut-Barr Grand Geroldseck Ochsenstein and Greifenstein. Goethe immortalized the road across the Vosges to Pfalzburg in his writings. Saverne’s Rose Garden hosts the International Contest of New Roses every year. Over 550 varieties bloom. A reminder of Saverne’s beauty.
An old semaphore tower stands nearby a relic from the Landau-Paris line. It’s a link to Saverne’s past its communication with the wider world. Saverne a town rich in history legends and beauty. It’s a place where the past present and future intertwine.