Wondering about a village’s fate after a devastating fire? That’s the story of Souffelweyersheim. This commune in the Bas-Rhin department has a history marked by resilience. Souffelweyersheim sits in the Grand Est region of northeastern France. It is part of metropolitan Strasbourg.
Souffelweyersheim gets its name from its location. The name means “the village on the pond of Souffel.” This refers to the Souffel River and the area’s ponds. Locally it is often shortened to just Souffel.
The village is about 6 kilometers north of Strasbourg. It sits at an altitude of 140 meters. Souffelweyersheim lies in the plain of Alsace. The Souffel River flows through it. This river eventually joins the Ill.
In 1790 common pasture meadows were divided. Sections were given to Souffelweyersheim and neighboring areas.
War touched Souffelweyersheim in 1793. Troops from Austria and Prussia clashed with French forces nearby. They fought near Hoenheim and Griesheim-sur-Souffel. The Austro-Prussian troops were eventually pushed out of Alsace.
After Napoleon’s Russian campaign enemy forces pursued him. In 1814 Cossacks occupied nearby areas. Napoleon’s defeat at Waterloo led to more trouble for Souffelweyersheim. General Jean Rapp fought the Crown Prince of Württemberg near the village. This was the Battle of La Suffel. The next day the Crown Prince ordered Souffelweyersheim to be burned. This destruction required almost the entire 19th century for the village to rebuild.
Two new transportation routes arrived in 1852. The Marne-Rhine Canal connected Vitry-le-François to Strasbourg. A railway line between Paris and Strasbourg was also built.
German troops arrived at Souffelweyersheim in 1870 during the Franco-Prussian War. They settled in Reichstett and began a siege of Strasbourg. Strasbourg surrendered and France yielded Alsace-Moselle.
In 1939 residents were evacuated from Souffelweyersheim. This was due to the proximity of the Maginot Line. They were first sent to the Bruche River valley. Later they were evacuated to the south of France. Alsace was occupied by Germans until 1944.
In 1945 German forces launched Operation Nordwind. This led to fighting near Souffelweyersheim. The village remained under fire until April 1945.
The Urban Community of Strasbourg was created in 1966. Souffelweyersheim became part of it. The A34 motorway was completed in 1970. It connected Metz to Strasbourg. This later became part of the A4 motorway to Paris.
St. George’s Church is a notable landmark. It was built in 1781 in the neo-classical style. Much of its tower has since been rebuilt.
Today Souffelweyersheim is a thriving commune. It has come a long way from the devastation of 1815. It stands as a testament to the enduring spirit of its people.