Kirchheim

Kirchheim has a population of 719 and is located near the Route du Vin in Marlenheim. Remains of the village have been found dating back to Roman times. A dozen craftsmen, businesses and a restaurant are located here, providing several dozen jobs. In the 7th century, Kirchheim was the residence of the Merovingian kings, with a large fortified palace. Excavations carried out between 1898 and 1900 located it between Rue du Général de Gaulle and Rue du Moulin. It is an impressive quadrilateral, over 100 metres long and 83 metres wide, and is currently overbuilt. To the south of the excavation site, towards Place des Tilleuls, a section of wall was uncovered. It bore frescoes of various colors, from red and green to black, depicting a harvest scene. Could this be the oldest evidence of Alsatian harvests in Roman times?
Dagobert II, Charles le Gros and Empress Richarde all lived here. Legend has it that the famous folk song about Dagobert turning his breeches inside out was born here. The feast of King Dagobert is celebrated here every two years. In Gutenberg?s time, one or more small printing works were located in Kirchheim. The town?s coat of arms refers to this: an open book with a golden initial, the K of Kirchheim, accompanied by a golden printing ink pad.