Country France Department Haut-Rhin Intercommunality porte d'Alsace Area 4.35 km² | Region Grand Est Canton Dannemarie Population (2006) 2,344 Arrondissement Altkirch | |
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Dannemarie (German: Dammerkirch) is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France. It is the principal town in the canton of the same name and the seat of the Communauté de communes de la Porte d'Alsace.
Contents
Map of 68210 Dannemarie, France
Geography
The town is situated in Sundgau between the towns of Mülhausen (approximately 27 km north) and Belfort (approximately 23 km west) and lies on the river Largue, a tributary of the Ill (a river which flows into the Rhein). It can be reached via the Routes départementales D-103 (Thann-Delle) and D-419 (Belfort-Altkirch-Basel).
History
In 1016 the town is mentioned as Danamarachiricha meaning "Church of the Lady Mary". Throughout history the name changed several times and took on some French and German forms. The name in the local German language was Dammerskirch. From the thirteenth century until 1324 it was part of the Ferrette region. Until the end of the Thirty Years' War in 1648 it was ruled over by the House of Habsburg before falling under the jurisdiction of Cardinal Mazarin.
After the French Revolution it became part of the Belfort district. In 1870 Altkirch became attached to this administrative framework. Today it is part of the Haut-Rhin department.
In August 1914, during the First World War, French troops moved in during the fighting on the approaching Western Front and it became the military headquarters.