Haut-Rhin
Haut-Rhin is a
French département, named after the
Rhine river.
The
département was created during the
French Revolution, on
March 4,
1790 by application of the law of
December 22,
1789 on the southern half of the
province of
Alsace (
Haute-Alsace).
Its boundaries have been modified many times:
*
1798, it absorbed
Mulhouse, formerly a
free city, and the last
Swiss enclave in the south;
*
1800, it absorbed the whole
département of
Mont-Terrible;
*
1814, it lost the territories which had been part of
Mont-Terrible, returned to
Switzerland, except the old principality of
Montbéliard;
*
1816, it lost Montbéliard, which was attached to the
département of
Doubs;
*
1871, it was mostly annexed by
Germany (
Treaty of Frankfurt). The remaining French part formed the
Territoire de Belfort;
*
1919, it was returned to France (
Treaty of Versailles) but is still separated from
Belfort.
*
1940, it was effectively annexed by
Nazi Germany.
*
1944, it was recaptured by France.
Haut-Rhin is bordered by the
Rhine River on the east and the
Vosges Mountains on the west. In the middle lies a fertile plain. The climate is semi-continental.
Haut-Rhin is one of the richest French
départements.
Mulhouse is the home of a
Peugeot automobile factory, manufacturing the 106 and 206 models. The lowest unemployment rate in France can be found in the Southern Sundgau region (around 2 %). The countryside is marked by hills. Many
Haut-Rhinois work in
Switzerland, especially in the chemical industries of
Basel, but prefer to live in France for its cheaper cost of living.
*
Alsatian language*
Cantons of the Haut-Rhin département*
Communes of the Haut-Rhin département*
Arrondissements of the Haut-Rhin département*
Conseil Général website*
/ City Guide from Mulhouse
