Haguenau

▪ France

      town, Bas-Rhin département, Alsace région, northeastern France. It lies along the Moder River just south of the Forest of Haguenau, north of Strasbourg. The town developed in the 12th century around a castle on an island in the river and was a favourite residence of the Holy Roman emperor Frederick I. In 1257 Haguenau was made an imperial city. In the 14th century it led the Decapolis, a union of Alsatian cities. Annexed by France in 1648, Haguenau suffered heavily in 17th-century wars. It retains two 13th-century gates, the Wissembourg and Fishermen's. The 12th-century Church of Saint-Georges and the Gothic Church of Saint-Nicolas (14th century) survive. A wide range of light manufacturing has developed in and around the town, including the manufacture of machine parts, precision engineering, and confections. Haguenau has become an administrative and service centre for northern Alsace. It has a noted hop market with a yearly festival. Pop. (1999) 32,242; (2005 est.) 35,100.

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