Altkirch

Altkirch (French: [altkiʁʃ] ^ⓘ, German: [ˈaltkɪʁç]; Alsatian: Àltkìrech) is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.^[3]

Altkirch Àltkìrech (Alemannic German)
Subprefecture and commune
The historic centre of Altkirch
Flag Coat of arms
Location of Altkirch
Altkirch Show map of France Altkirch Show map of Grand Est
Coordinates: 47°37′N 7°14′E
Country	France
Region	Grand Est
Department	Haut-Rhin
Arrondissement	Altkirch
Canton	Altkirch
Intercommunality	CC Sundgau
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Nicolas Jander[1]
Area 1	9.54 km2 (3.68 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	5,575
• Density	580/km2 (1,500/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	68004 /68130
Dialling codes	0389
Elevation	274–392 m (899–1,286 ft) (avg. 310 m or 1,020 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

The town is traditionally regarded as the capital of Sundgau.

Etymology

The name of the commune means old church (Alsatian: Àlta Kìrch or Àlta Kìrech; German: Alte Kirche).

History

In the 1370s, the citizens of Altkirch battled and won against a company of Gugler mercenaries.^[4]

Demography

Altkirch

Its inhabitants are known as Altkirchois.

The resident population number of 5500 is rather deceptive as some 15,500 people will be in town on a typical working day (4500 working, 3000 studying, 3000 for medical treatment and another 5000 divided between shopping, administrative offices, cultural and sporting activities).

Historical population

Year	Pop.	±% p.a.
1968	5,118	—
1975	5,319	+0.55%
1982	5,268	−0.14%
1990	5,090	−0.43%
1999	5,386	+0.63%
2007	5,644	+0.59%
2012	5,747	+0.36%
2017	5,737	−0.03%
Source: INSEE[5]

Sister cities

• Azerbaijan (Nagorno-Karabakh) Füzuli (2016)

See also

• Château d'Altkirch - destroyed castle in the town.
• Communes of the Haut-Rhin department