Breisach am Rhein
“Old Breisach”

This German city in Baden-Württemberg, in French "Old Breisach", is located just 6km from Neuf-Brisach, on the banks of the Rhine. The two Brisachs are linked by their history, both fortified by Vauban.

The history of Breisach am Rheim

4000 years ago, On the Münsterberg hill there was a Celtic princely residence and then a Roman castle. Fortified since the Middle Ages, it was the best fortress on the Rhine, also a major bridge over the Rhine. In 1661, Louis XIV became aware of the strategic importance of the cityIt became a base of operations for the French armies in 1664.

The fortification work was then launched by Vauban. He improved, consolidated and strengthened the city, which remained French until the Treaty of Ryswick in 1697, when the King returned this stronghold on the right bank of the Rhine to the Austrian crown. The ramparts were dismantled in the mid-18th century. The city was 85% destroyed by bombing in 1793 and at the end of the Second World War.

Discover the town of Breisach am Rhein

Built on the banks of the Rhine, the city invites you to come stroll through the picturesque streets of its city center and take a break in one of the many cafes and ice cream parlors around its market square or along the Rhine.

Various tour circuits are offered by the Breisach am Rhein Tourist Office : historical tour following the traces of the city's past, cultural tour on the path of contemporary arts, or even digital tour. Essential stopping point : the cathedral square, where you will enjoy a panoramic view of the Rhine, the Rhine Island and the Black Forest. The historical museum located in the Rhine Gate, the last vestige of Vauban's fortifications, will help you discover the history of the city and its evolution.