Largitzen

Largitzen (French pronunciation: [laʁɡitsən] ^ⓘ; Jurassien: Lairdgie) is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.

Largitzen
Commune
The town hall in Largitzen
Coat of arms
Location of Largitzen
Largitzen Show map of France Largitzen Show map of Grand Est
Coordinates: 47°33′46″N 7°11′15″E
Country	France
Region	Grand Est
Department	Haut-Rhin
Arrondissement	Altkirch
Canton	Masevaux-Niederbruck
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Jean-Paul Gnaedig[1]
Area 1	5.6 km2 (2.2 sq mi)
Population  (2022)[2]	333
• Density	59/km2 (150/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	68176 /68580
Elevation	366–431 m (1,201–1,414 ft) (avg. 385 m or 1,263 ft)
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

History

In 1914, the front line ran just by Largitzen, placing it in the zone controlled by the German Empire. Separated by only a few kilometers from Largitzen, the neighboring towns of Ueberstrass and Friesen remained French.^[3]

The town was almost entirely destroyed during the 1916 bombings. It was progressively rebuilt in 1919 when the Saint-Georges church was restored and the ex-presbytery became the city hall. A memorial representing Saint Georges slaying a dragon stands on the Church Square. Made in 1929 the memorial honors the villagers, both Germans and French, who lost their lives during the war. As an Alsacian village, Largitzen was profoundly affected by the Second World War. The region was occupied by Nazi Germany until the liberation on November 21, 1944.

Visible relics of the war can be found in the form of several bunkers in the woods around the town.

Geography

The river Largitzenbach runs through Largitzen, separating the core of the village from Lufendorf , which used to be independent. Numerous ponds can be found in the nearly 50 km2 of woodland surrounding the village.

Demography

Historical population

Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1793 345 —     1800 350 +0.21% 1806 506 +6.34% 1821 530 +0.31% 1831 446 −1.71% 1836 443 −0.13% 1841 426 −0.78% 1846 431 +0.23% 1851 443 +0.55% 1856 398 −2.12% 1861 373 −1.29% 1866 363 −0.54% 1871 372 +0.49% 1875 351 −1.44% 1880 336 −0.87% 1885 356 +1.16% 1890 333 −1.33% 1895 324 −0.55%	Year Pop. ±% p.a. 1900 308 −1.01% 1905 302 −0.39% 1910 309 +0.46% 1921 252 −1.84% 1926 251 −0.08% 1931 255 +0.32% 1936 231 −1.96% 1946 228 −0.13% 1954 229 +0.05% 1962 250 +1.10% 1968 237 −0.89% 1975 243 +0.36% 1982 263 +1.14% 1990 264 +0.05% 1999 276 +0.50% 2007 288 +0.53% 2012 308 +1.35% 2017 314 +0.39%
Source: EHESS[4] and INSEE (1968-2017)[5]

Monuments

The church was built in 1788. In addition to the weekly mass, the church also hosts regular concerts and choir practice.^[6]

Events

• Marche Populaire: Organized every year in September (since 1975) by the inhabitants of Largitzen, the "People's Walk" attracts hundreds of locals who gather to hike on the signed routes through the forest.^[7]
• Procession Équestre de la Saint Georges: On Easter Monday, horses are brought to the church to receive a blessing.

See also

• Communes of the Haut-Rhin département