Oberhausbergen is a town in Bas-Rhin, in the Grand Est region, a few kilometers north-west of Strasbourg.
Its 3.8 km² area is located on the Hausbergen hills, culminating at 187 m above sea level. These heights have become one of the city's drinking water collection points.
Already inhabited during Prehistory and then in Antiquity, the village is mentioned in its current form in the 8th century as a property owned by the Dukes of Alsace.
The locality remains modest, however, with only 290 inhabitants during the Revolution. The construction of a fort after the war of 1870 caused the disappearance of a few farms, but it was especially after the Second World War that the demography of Oberhausbergen was boosted because of its proximity to the Strasbourg metropolis. It is now a small town of nearly 5,300 inhabitants which has nevertheless managed to maintain a pleasant living environment and whose offer of cultural and "nature" leisure activities makes it a stage of interest, within the region. history and culture of Alsace.
Several sites can mark out a walk in the form of heritage discovery.
In the town, it is the fort built from 1872 to 1875 by the Germans after the annexation of Alsace and the Moselle which constitutes the most imposing of the monuments. Called in turn Grossherzog von Baden, Marshal Pétain in 1918 and Brother in 1945, designed according to the plans of General Biehler and integrated into the crown of fortifications supposed to protect Strasbourg, it was reinforced at the beginning of the 20th century (the head ditch was thus lined with a blockhouse and concrete was used in some places). The fort served time in prison during WWII. Yugoslav officers were detained there who left in the chapel some murals with biblical subjects. The chapel, therefore, but also the interior courtyards, the casemate, the powder magazine, the barracks, the infirmary and the kitchen are still visible today. The fort is listed in the Inventory. Guided tour by appointment. Information on +33 6 98 23 30 14.
Another site of the town protected as historical monuments, the Protestant church which was built in 1895. Note its square tower-porch enclosed in a narthex, the nave with openings in semicircular arch and narrowed bedside with cut sides. As for the bell tower, it is crowned with a spire covered in slate. The porch, the corner chains, and the cornice are in cut sandstone. Inside, a tribune occupies three sides of the nave. The building also houses classified objects (furniture, religious objects, organs).
Still to be seen on Oberhausbergen, the castle, a former mansion built in 1710 and which in the 19th century became the seat of a farm. In addition to the development of annexes, changes were made. Originally entirely made up of half-timbered frames, the house now designated as "a castle" by the inhabitants was then equipped with masonry elements... A park with a beautiful gate, a terrace with stairs were then built, a nicely furnished living room. decorated having been kept inside with moldings, paneling, chandeliers... On the terrace level, it is a round garden table, in sandstone, dated 1813, which is to be observed.
Finally, still in terms of heritage, the old district of Îlot (where a small park is open to the public) and the Catholic Church can conclude this discovery trail.
On the cultural side, the PréO center has a large media library where meetings, workshops, exhibitions, screenings are scheduled throughout the year. Information on +33 3 88 56 79 65. In addition to a music school and dance, the pole has a performance hall, the PréO Scène, which can accommodate 360 spectators seated or 800 standing. Plays, dance galas or classical concerts or contemporary music are offered there, constituting a rich program attracting an audience sometimes coming from the whole of the Strasbourg metropolitan area. Information on +33 3 88 56 90 39.
As regards "nature" sports and recreation, visitors can book a tennis court with the local club (contact +33 6 70 77 95 97).
For lovers of bike rides or hikes, several cycle paths are available in the area. However, it is above all the route dedicated to two-wheelers following the track of the forts (connecting the fortifications that protected Strasbourg), 85 km long and which passes through the heights of the town, which constitutes a prime asset.
For pedestrian loops, the verdant hillsides of Hausbergen which should soon benefit from protection due to their natural wealth, the Valparc, a tertiary activity zone punctuated by areas with rich biodiversity or even circuits allowing to reach Strasbourg, are available. Maps and information on +33 3 88 52 28 28.
