Barembach
Barembach is a commune in the Bas-Rhin department in the Grand Est region of north-eastern France. The inhabitants of the commune are known as "Barembachois" or "Barembachoises". Geography. Barembach is located in a valley perpendicular to the Bruche valley some 25 km west by south-west of Illkirch and 30 km north-west of Sélestat at 350 metres above sea level. The Barembach Forest covers most of the commune with several summits including "Pépinière" (666 metres), "Barraque des Bœufs" (781 metres), "Ordon Saxe" (690 metres), and "Haut de la Brûlée" (715 metres). Access to the commune is  by the D204 road from Grendelbruch in the north-east which passes through the north-eastern corner of the commune and continues to Schirmeck. Access to the village is by the D193 which branches off the D204 in the commune. The D1420 from Muhlbach-sur-Bruche in the north-east passes along the northern border as it goes south-west to Fouday. The "Barembach" river rises in the south-east of the commune and flows north-west to join the Bruche just north-west of the commune. The "Bornichon" river rises in the south of the commune and flows north  to join the Barembach at the village. History. Barembach was completely destroyed in 1875 by a violent fire. After the reconstruction of the village almost immediately after the disaster, the economy first restarted with livestock and forestry. There were also mills and sawmills producing galoshes which later changed to weaving. An enterprise was set up by Camille Glaszmann which specialised in Theatrical property. The company was sold in 1964 and continued by Mecatherm who extended the buildings. Shortly before Liberation the village was the headquarters of Marshal Jean de Lattre de Tassigny and served as a springboard to free the  region. Barembach previously included part of the commune of Rothau on the north shore of the Rothaine. Barembach appears as "Barenbach" on the 1750 Cassini Map and the same on the 1790 version. The name "Barembach" originated from the German "Bach" meaning "stream" and "Bär" meaning "bear". Administration. List of Successive Mayors Demography. In 2017 the commune had 874 inhabitants. Culture and heritage. Civil heritage. The commune has many buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments: Religious heritage. The commune has several religious buildings and sites that are registered as historical monuments: