Kehl

Coordinates	53°55′53″N22°2′21″N
Name	Kehl
Lageplan	Kehl in OG.svg
State	Baden-Württemberg
Regbzk	Freiburg
District	Ortenaukreis
Gemeindeschlüssel	08317057
Population	34303
Population as of	2005-01-01
Area	75.06
Elevation	139
Lat deg	48 | lat_min = 34 | lat_hem = N
Lon deg	7 | lon_min = 49 | lon_hem = E
Postal code	77671-77694
Area code	07851
Licence	OG
Mayor	Günther Petry (SPD)
Website	kehl.de

Kehl is a town in southwestern Germany in the Ortenaukreis, Baden-Württemberg. It is located on the river Rhine, directly opposite the French city of Strasbourg.

History

The village of Kehl was first mentioned 1038. In 1338 the first permanent bridge between Kehl and Strasbourg was completed. In 1678 the city was taken over by France, as it was considered to be part of the defence system of Strasbourg. Hence the village was transformed into a fortress in 1683 by the French architect Vauban. Thus in 1689 Straßburg - up to then a free imperial city of the holy roman empire - had to capitulate and became French. Some years after the fall of Straßburg, Kehl was ceded to the margrave of Baden in 1698.

On May 7, 1770, Marie Antoinette was officially handed over by Austria to France on an island on the Rhine near Kehl. This island was settled in the years before the first World War and became known as "Kommissionsinsel" after the commission that took over Marie Antoinette.

In 1774 - again ruled by the House of Baden - Kehl received town ordinances and privileges by the margrave Karl Friedrich von Baden. After several changes of the sovereigns (France, Baden and Austria) the city was finally returned to Baden in 1815 and the fortress was dismantled.

In 1861 the first railway bridge was built and the first direct connection from Paris to Vienna was established. Required changes of trains were performed in Kehl.

After the First World War, according to the Treaty of Versailles (ex art. 65) the harbour of Kehl was placed under French administration for seven years, in order to prevent possible German attacks on the opposite newly French town of Strasbourg.

During the Second World War, after the Battle of France Kehl was turned into a suburb of Strasbourg. After the war all citizens were expelled from Kehl. This state continued until 1953 when the city was returned to the Federal Republic of Germany and the refugees returned.

Germany and France co-hosted the Strasbourg- Kehl NATO Summit 2009, held partially in Kehl, in April 2009. Kehl's participation in the summit was limited to the official Nato Summit photo opportunity at the Passerelle pedestrian bridge.

Religion

Up to the year 1519 Kehl was part of the diocese of Straßburg. Then the village had to change religion at the order of the margraves and the first Lutheran minister took office. During the French occupation of the 1690s, Kehl became Roman Catholic again only to revert to Lutheranism after being ceded back to the margrave of Baden. From the early 19th century up to 1914, Lutherans and catholics shared one church building, then, as the first building on the "Kommissionsinsel" the catholic church of St. Johann Nepomuk was erected.

Several free churches are situated in Kehl, as well Mennonites and the New Apostolic Church.

Gateway to Strasbourg

The French city of Strasbourg lies next to Kehl over the Rhine river. Kehl train station is located near the Pont de l'Europe bridge, which can be crossed on foot to enter Strasbourg.A bus line (21) also routes from Kehl towards Strasbourg and in a couple of years, the city will be linked by Strasbourg's Tram line D.

References

External links

http://www.kehl.de

Kehl:images (de)

Category:Towns in Baden-Württemberg Category:France–Germany border crossings Category:Ortenaukreis