Heritage and the art of good living

Nestling in an environment of vines and forests, the town of Andlau is set against some magnificent scenery.

Andlau developed around the royal Abbey, founded in 880 by Richarde, wife of the Carolingian Charles the Fat. It became the stronghold of the Andlau family and the town made its coat of arms its own.

The town became known for wine-growing and gastronomy, and as the main centre for the Grands Crus of Alsace (Kastelberg - Wiebelsberg - Moenchberg),Andlau has a remarkable architectural heritage : Abbatiale Sainte Richarde, castle of Spesbourg and Haut-Andlau, numerous Renaissance timber frame and stone houses... Romanesque carvings are much in evidence.

Whilst continuing to respect tradition, Andlau has turned to the future : the town boasts some 700 industrial and service jobs.

Twinning ANDLAU / SEXAU

The Town of Andlau has been effectively twinned since 1961 with the town of SEXAU, near Emmendingen in Baden, barely 65 km away.
The official twinning was celebrated in 1981-82 respectively by each of the two towns.
This twinning has its roots in History. During the Middle Ages the Abbey of Andlau possessed estates on the other side of the Rhine, including Sexau. When research was being carried out in preparation for the celebrations for the eleventh century of Sexau, these links were discovered and were celebrated in concrete fashion at various festivities.
On every important occasion, a delegation of local personalities and associations perpetuate a genuine friendship that has grown up between the inhabitants of the two towns.