Alsace and Lorraine remember the times when France and Germany fought for control of this region. This heritage is reflected in the local regional cuisine.

Among the rolling pastures, plum orchards, vineyards and steep slopes covered with pine trees of the Vosges mountains, located both the exquisitely graceful Nancy and the urban Strasbourg, and the wine-growing villages that are strikingly different from them.

The territorial proximity of Alsace and Lorraine to Germany determined a diet in which meat, especially pork, predominated. In the forests of this region, bees collect the famous Vosges pine honey, and a variety of fish are found in the rivers and lakes.

Features of the cuisines of Alsace and Lorraine

Meat and sausages from the region

Pork and sausages are traditional Alsatian foods. Among the local signature products you can find real masterpieces. These include sausages (cervelas), Strasbourg sausages (made from beef) (saucisse de Strasbourg) and smoked sausages (knackwurst) (similar to Frankfurter sausages), raw minced sausages (for frying) bratwurst, which are made from veal and pork, lewerzurscht liver sausages, boiled legs and presskopf pork head pate in jelly. Nancy, located in Lorraine, is famous for its delicious boudin noir blood sausage.

In Alsace, geese have long been raised to produce foie gras, which is explained by the fact that the local Jewish population preferred to cook with goose fat rather than with the forbidden pork fat. Foie gras pate de foie gras has been prepared here since the 18th century. Cows are kept here mainly for milk, although dairy calves are also raised. Poultry includes black Alsatian turkeys, chickens, capons and chickens (poussins).

Fish

The rivers Rhine, Meuse (Möse), Mosel and their tributaries flowing through the region are home to trout, carp, pike, perch, shad (a type of herring) and crayfish. The signature fish dish of Lorraine is trout pie.

Cheeses and dairy products of the region

The main cheese produced in Alsace and Lorraine is AOC " Munster"(Munster), a fairly soft cow's milk cheese with a yellow-orange rind. AOC cheese "Gerome" from Gerardmer is similar to "Munster". Cow's milk is also used to produce creme fraiche fluide, which is used in many local dishes.

Fruits and vegetables

Cabbage, potatoes, carrots, turnips (turnips) and asparagus grow in this region. Mitheim's signature vegetable is horseradish, and white cabbage of the "quintal d'Alsace" variety, which is used for pickling, grows in the vicinity of Colmar. Berries and fruits grown here include: blueberries, quince, red currants, apples, peaches, and in Lorraine - the famous Mirabelle plum variety.

Mirabelle plums

These delicious little round plums yellow color grow in an area between cities Nancy And Metz. They became one of the symbols of Lorraine. Golden-yellow with a slight pink tint, Mirabelle plums are very delicate and easily damaged. They can be found in stores and markets only from July to early September. Mirabelle plums can be eaten raw; they are popularly used for filling pies, making jams, and are often preserved candied. But most of them are used to make plum vodka (eau-de-vie) Mirabelle.

Bread, pastries and candy

Among the signature baked goods, pay attention to the kougelhopf or kouglof raisin buns with finely chopped almonds, as well as the delicious caraway pretzels (bretzels). This region of France It is famous for the black rye bread baked here (pain de seigle), bergamot-flavored sweets produced in Nancy (bergamots), which are made from honey and bergamot oil, as well as Verdun dragees (dragees) made from candied almonds.

Pine honey

The Alsace and Lorraine region produces a variety of honeys, including acacia, chestnut, lime blossom and mixed flowers. But it’s worth looking for “Miel de Sapin des Vosges” (pine honey from the Vosges Mountains). This is the first French honey to receive an appellation controlee in 1996. This sweet, dark brown liquid honey with a characteristic balsam aroma and taste is obtained not from nectar, but from honeydew (miellat), which bees collect from pine trees in the Vosges Mountains. Honeydew is the secretion of aphids.

Swabian pastas and dumplings (Spatzle)

Don't be surprised to see pasta on the menu of Alsatian restaurants. This is a tradition whose roots go back to the 15th century. Most often, Alsatian paste is made in the form of wide strips. It differs from Italian pasta in its high egg content - seven fresh eggs per kilogram of durum wheat flour. Swabian dumplings Spatzle are freshly prepared, ribbon-shaped pasta made from beaten eggs and flour. They are cut into small pieces and dipped in boiling water, after which, before serving, they are fried in hot oil.

The best markets of Alsace and Lorraine

1). Colmar– Local vegetables and fruits are sold here (Place de l "Ancienne; opening hours: Thursday until lunch);

2). Metz– Located at Place St-Jacques (opening hours: Tuesday Thursday and Saturday until lunchtime);

3). Nancy– Market at place Henri Mengin. Products of the region (opening hours: daily);

4). Strasbourg– Located at place de Bordeaux. Products grown in the region (opening hours: Tuesday).

Local cuisine (Alsace and Lorraine)

The historical dispute between France and Germany over the ownership of this region led to the emergence of a special Alsatian cuisine. Its typical example was pork with sauerkraut. It is believed that this dish combines the good appetite of the Germans with the sophistication of the French.

Menu of the Alsace and Lorraine region

Lunch in Alsace usually begins with onion tart, quiche Lorraine (quiche Lorraine) or foie gras, served as pate, in a pot or simply fried. In addition to the famous dish - pork with sauerkraut (choucroute gamie), in which pork is sometimes replaced with fish or game, another popular main dish is a puff pastry made from various types meat baeckeoffe.

In both Alsace and Lorraine, the most popular meat is pork, usually roasted, served with prunes and cabbage or as glazed roast suckling pig. Chickens are often cooked in beer or braised in Riesling wine and served with a creamy sauce. Boudin noir blood sausage from Nancy is most often fried and served with mashed potatoes or cooked with omelettes. IN winter time A very common game stew is often served with pasta or Spatzle dumplings.

The choice of fish dishes is very large. Trout is cooked in Riesling, and pike and pike perch are grilled over coals or in a frying pan and served with pinot noir wine sauce. Carp are usually reserved for festive occasions. It can be cooked in beer or stuffed, it is also prepared in batter (carpe frite). If you want to try some cheeses, look for Muenster cheese, and for desserts you will be offered a wide selection of fruit pies with blueberries, prunes or Mirabelle plums. No less tempting are apple strudel, cheesecake, Nancy chocolate cake and baba and rhum.

Pork with sauerkraut

A typical example of the Alsatians' use of spices and their love of sausages is this hot dish of aromatic sauerkraut, on which sausages and ham are laid out in a heap (choucroute garnie). Pieces of ham and smoked ham are lightly fried with cabbage, white wine and onions. Smoked Strasbourg and Montbeliard sausages are added at the very end.

Layered stew from different types meat

The name of this layered stew of various types of meat comes from the words “bake” and “oven” (baeckeoffe). Beef, lamb, pork and sometimes pork feet and ox or ox tails are marinated with spices and white wine. The meat is layered along with thinly sliced ​​potatoes and onions, then covered with a lid or “sealed” with dough. Cooks in the oven for four hours.

Pie Lorraine

This is the famous pie (quiche Lorraine), consisting of a rolled out pastry base, on top of which is laid out finely chopped ham and a mixture of chopped eggs and cream. The pie is baked in the oven and served hot.

Alsatian pizza (Tarte flambee)

Tarte flambée- This crispy pie (Flammekueche), cooked over a fire, is an Alsatian version of pizza. IN classic recipe chopped ham, sour cream and onions are laid out on the dough base, however, in addition to this, you can add countless other ingredients: from mushrooms to pineapples.

Baba

Baba or cake (baba au rhum) is made from flour, milk, sugar, raisins, eggs and butter. The dough is allowed to rise before being baked. The cake is then dipped in sugar syrup and rum and served cold with whipped cream.

Best regional dishes

1). Dish Brochet au pinot noir– Pike cooked in red wine;

2). Dish Carpe a la biere– Carp cooked with onions in beer;

3). Dish Carpe frite– Pieces of carp fried in batter;

4). Pudding Gateau au fromage blanc– Curd pudding;

5). Dish Jambonneau roti– Fried ham;

6). Bun Kougelhopf– Bun with raisins and almonds;

7). Dish Omelette au boudin noir de Nancy– Omelette with black pudding from Nancy;

8). Dish Potee Lorraine– Lorraine stew (corned beef baked with cabbage, carrots and onions);

9). Dish Poularde au Riesling– Chicken with Riesling (chicken in white wine with cream and mushrooms);

10). Dish Roti du porc aux quetsches– Pork fried with “Ketsh” (plum for cooking prunes);

11). Dish Sandre au Riesling– Pike perch cooked in Riesling;

12). Pie Tarte a l'oignon– Open onion pie.

13). Tarte aux mirabelles– Sweet pie with plum “Mirabelle”;

14). Pie Tarte aux quetsches– Sweet pie with prunes;

15). Truite au Riesling dish– Trout cooked in Riesling.

1). Restaurant A la Couronne d'Or– A small hotel restaurant serving only hotel guests. Sauerkraut with seafood, puff paste made from different types of meat (baeckeoffe) and the Alsatian version of pizza (flammekueche) are very tasty. Restaurant address: 30 rue General de Gaulle, Drusenheim (Drusenheim is a commune in France, in the Alsace region, Bas-Rhin department, which is 410 kilometers east of Paris and 25 kilometers northeast of Strasbourg);

2). Restaurant A L'Etoile– Wonderful place with an outdoor pool and beautiful views of Baldenheim. Try the Alsatian version of pizza (flammekueche) and pork with sauerkraut (choucroute garnie), served in the glassed-in conservatory. Restaurant address: 14 rue de Baldenheim (Baldenheim is a commune in France, in the Alsace region, Bas-Rhin department, which is 390 kilometers east of Paris and 45 kilometers south of Strasbourg);

3). Restaurant Au Pont St-Martin– Crowded with tourists, but located in a famous ancient building on the banks of the Petit France River. A large selection of Alsatian pizza (flammekueche), pork with sauerkraut (choucroute garnie) and delicious puff pastries of meat and fish (baeckeoffe) will distract you from admiring the views. For dessert, you should appreciate the Gewurztraminer sorbet. There are musical performances on some evenings (surcharge applies). Restaurant address: 15 rue des Moulins, Strasbourg;

4). Restaurant Le Calmosien– This popular restaurant, located in a tiny village by the lake, serves veal kidneys with mustard sauce, fried game and baked veal. Restaurant address: 37 rue d`Epinal, Chaumousey (Chaumousey is a commune in France, in the Lorraine region, Vosges department, which is 310 kilometers east of Paris, 110 kilometers south of Metz and 9 kilometers west of Epinal);

5). Restaurant Le Jamagne– Here you will find delicious dishes - mountain pate (terrine de Montagne), prepared according to a family recipe, veal kidneys in mustard and fruit pies clafoutis with Mirabelle plums. Restaurant address: 2 bd. De la Jamagne, Gerardmer (Gerardmer is a small town in the Vosges department, Lorraine region, France).

Wines and spirits of Alsace and Lorraine

Nowhere else in France do the vineyards look as charming as in Alsace. Along the entire 170-kilometer route from Marlenheim to Thane, the countryside is dotted with ruins of ancient fortifications and immaculately maintained medieval villages where traditional drinks are produced. Alsace is located in the extreme northeast of France. The local climate is perfect for growing grapes. Various varieties of grapes grow here, from which wines with completely different character are obtained.

Types and names of Alsatian wines

Unlike other appellations, Alsace wines are easily distinguished by their slender, slightly ribbed bottles, the labels of which indicate the grape variety. Seven main grape varieties are used.

1). Riesling– Alsatian experts consider it the “king of grapes.” Riesling produces high-quality dry wines. When young, this wine may have a floral taste. Some Riesling wines have a special aftertaste;

2). Pinot Gris– The best wines come from grapes grown in low-lying vineyards. Alsatian pinot gris has a complex honey bouquet with a hint of smoke and a thick, rich structure;

3). Muscat– Two grape varieties – the piquant (spicy) “Muscat d’Alsace” and the exquisite “Muscat Ottonel” allow you to obtain fragrant dry wines with the aroma and taste of fresh grapes;

4). Gewurztraminer– This is a wine with a rich taste, in which you can sometimes catch notes of an old English rose, a little spicy, with the taste of tropical fruits, extremely suitable for exotic and spicy dishes;

5). Sylvaner– These grapes produce a refreshing and thirst-quenching wine with a floral aroma;

6). Pinot Blanc– Plantings of these grapes are expanding, displacing Silvaner grapes. Pinot Blanc produces non-sparkling, easy-drinking and excellent sparkling (sparkling) wines. The Pinot Auxerrois grape is similar;

7). Pinot Noir– These are the only red grapes that are allowed to be grown in Alsace. It produces zesty red or rosé wines with a cherry flavor.

The excellent Alsace Grand Cru wine makes up a small percentage of all wines produced in Alsace. Such a wine must be produced from one of the four noble grape varieties (Riesling, Gewurztraminer, Muscat or Pinot Gris), grown in one of the 50 reputable vineyards whose name contains the phrase “Grand Cru”, which must be indicated on the label.

Many of these vineyards are located on steep, exposed slopes, overlooking villages. Difficult to produce world-quality wines include the following brands: Goldert, Rangen, Rosacker, Pfersigberg, Schoenenbourg and Sporen, Steinert, Vorbourg and Zinnkoepfle. Neighboring Lorraine also produces wine, but these vineyards are located on the rainy side of the Vosges. The light VDQS red wines from the Côte de Toul and the white wines from the Vin de Moselle cannot stand comparison with Alsatian wines.

Sparkling Alsace wines (Cremant d’Alsace)

These are sparkling wines that are produced according to the traditional champagne method with secondary fermentation in bottles. The grapes from which the cremant wines will be made are always harvested earlier than the grapes destined for the production of Alsatian still wines, which guarantees the level of acidity necessary for the sparkling wines to be frothy and fresh. Most sparkling Alsatian wines Cremant d'Alsace They are not very expensive and are a good replacement for traditional champagne wines.

Vendange Tardive and Selection de Grains Nobles

Vendange Tardive (VT) and Selection de Grains Nobles (SGN) are not exactly appellations. It is rather an additional name that can be added to the generic name or the "Grand Cru" name. VT wines are made from late harvest grapes. Sometimes, but not always, they are sweet.

They are released in certain years, when sunny autumn and low rainfall cause the grapes to ripen later than usual, expected dates. They collect all the power of the aroma of an individual grape variety, and such wines can be stored for many years.

SGN wines are produced from several successive harvests of grapes affected by noble rot. These rare and expensive wines lose their expressiveness for the sake of rare sophistication and richness with exotic aromas. Such consistency and rich bouquet mean that they should be drunk to enjoy their taste at the end of a meal, along with desserts.

Edeltsviker

Edelzwicker is the only still wine in Alsace that is made from a mixture of grapes. It is always a cheap, light wine, sometimes with a spicy aftertaste. Full jugs of Edelzwicker are served in beer and wine cellars ( restaurants) in order to wash down fatty dishes with pork.

Wine cellar Winstub

If there is a cozy place in the world where you can relax your body and soul, it is the winstub wine cellar. Initially, “stube” was the name given to a small back room in a rural house, where a group of friends could gather around a small wooden table over a bottle of wine and talk to their heart’s content. At various periods of history, when these lands were annexed by Germany, winemakers began to transfer rural winstub to cities.

Winstubs became what brasseries never could be—small, cozy bodegas (bars) that served local wines. Food always came second to them. In a real wine cellar there is no special decoration, since the attention of the drinker should not be distracted from the main goal - a lively conversation accompanied by changing jugs of wine!

Brotherhood of Saint-Etienne

This brotherhood, one of the oldest in France, was founded in the 14th century. Every year on December 26, the residents of Amershvir certainly gathered together to try new wine. In the last century, this tradition was revived after a period of oblivion. Today, the Confrerie de St-Etienne is located at Kainzheim Castle near Kaysersberg. Its members annually hold two main tastings, which award a special red seal of quality to wines that demonstrate typical taste and meet the strictest requirements.

Vodka (Eaux-de-Vie)

Fruit grows in large quantities on the slopes of the Vosges and on the plains of Lorraine. Vodka has been made from Williams pears, prunes and Mirabelle golden plums for a long time. Many types of wild berries are also used for these purposes: blueberries, wild strawberries, elderberries, rose hips, rowan berries, thorn berries, myrtle and even holly berries.

Raspberries began to be used only in last years, since previously these delicate berries were intended only for serving on the tables of aristocrats around the world. Raspberry vodka turns out to be very thin, but it should only be drunk young, no later than two years from the date of bottling. It is believed that Kirsch cherry vodka was the first to be made. It was invented by a monk in the 17th century. In the Alsatian dialect it was called kirschivasser.

The delightful, golden and red Mirabelle plum is the main fruit of Lorraine. This classic dessert fruit produces an excellent vodka with a strong, distinctive aroma and is valued for its ability to improve food digestion. Vodka from Mirabelle plums is very sensitive to light, which destroys its bouquet and transparency.

Museum of Vodka and Liqueurs

This interesting museum is located in the village of Lapotrou on the outskirts of Colmar and is housed in a former inn from the 18th century. Physical address: 85 rue du General Dufieux, Lapoutroie. Opening hours: open all year round.

The best vodka producers

1). Distillerie Jean-Paul Mette– This company is considered one of the best in France, and perhaps throughout the world. They continue to produce vodkas that retain the incomparable excellence of the fruits and berries used.

2). Massenez– This fairly well-known French vodka producer specializes in raspberries and Williams pears. It was formed in 1870.

Alsatian beer

Alsatian brewers produce more than half of all beer brewed in France. Barley is grown on the rich alluvial (alluvial) soils in the Rieux area. And the hops come from the hilly valleys of Kochsberg and Akerland. Only two of the six breweries in Alsace (Schutzenberger and Meteor) are family-owned and continue to brew beer in the traditional way. Since 1972, the Heineken concern came to Alsace. The giant concern Kronenbourg makes beer in Strasbourg and Obergne. Beer is also brewed in Lorraine.

Alsace and Lorraine- This is the east of France, where two peoples live together - the Germans and the French. These peoples experienced a mixture of cultures, cuisine, and many others.

Northeast France occupies the small region of Alsace. Its terrain consists of the large plain of the Ile and Rhine valleys, forested areas, mountain pastures and the marshy nature reserves of Rieda. Strasbourg is the capital of Alsace. It stands on the Ile River and therefore enjoys an advantageous location in the center of the transport line on the Rhine. The capital houses the European Court of Human Rights and the Council of Europe. On the list cultural heritage UNESCO lists the historical corner of the capital as Grand Île. Strasbourg Cathedral (spire 142 m) can be seen from every corner of the city. In the city you can go on excursions to numerous museums that are known throughout the world. Here, in the Rouen Palace, there are collections of the Decorative and Fine Arts museums, and in the mansion of the Notre Dame Cathedral there is an Archaeological Museum. There are also museums on the promenade (San Nicola) (Museum of Modern Art, History and Alsatian Museums). A wonderful view opens from the famous Covered Bridges - these are ancient bridges with towers. There are many tourists here who stand for a long time and admire these stunning decorations of the city of the 14th-17th centuries.

The western Rhine Valley (near Strasbourg) is famous for its vineyards and hundreds of bodegas with first-class wines. The local climate is simply created for growing grapes.

Lorraine occupies the northeast of France. Its territory is almost all flat, so Germanic countries constantly invaded here (for more than 1000 years). Everything here reminds us of wars. The border city of Metz is the capital of Lorraine. The capital suffered a lot of destruction, more than other cities in France. The most beautiful attraction is undoubtedly the Cathedral of Saint-Elten de Metz. The night view of the illuminated cathedral is simply stunning in its grandeur. The capital, immersed in the well-kept greenery of medieval palaces, looks like something out of a fairy tale. There are many museums, galleries and theaters here. It is interesting to see the huge double gates of the Port de Alemany (Halo-Roman period). Around the capital there is simply a sea of ​​historical places. The famous Verdun, together with the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Center for Peace and Law (bishop's palace), the underground passages of the citadel - simply transport people to the Middle Ages. Another city in Lorraine is the city of Nancy. This ancient city(VI-VIII centuries) has not been touched by wars since 1870. It attracts tourists to the oldest city like a magnet. Its crooked streets and remains of fortress walls are interesting for visitors. Several museums (the Aquarium Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, the Lorraine Museum and the Ecole Museum) are located in ancient palaces.

These names are inseparable from each other. Isn't it because both eastern provinces distinguished by amazing hospitality and generosity? If you decide to celebrate St. Nicholas Day in Lorraine, the gourmet Christmas markets in Lorraine will amaze you with their abundance. You will also appreciate the local art of table setting and wine routes of Alsace, medieval architecture and Art Nouveau decoration, villages at the foot of castles and centers of contemporary art. After all, the East, as we know, has always been a noble epicurean, artist and creator.

Must-sees in Alsace

Visit Strasbourg

In Strasbourg, the historical center of France, you will immerse yourself in the atmosphere of the Middle Ages. This living architectural museum is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Its main attraction? Of course, Notre Dame Cathedral, a masterpiece of Gothic art, whose spire was for a long time the tallest of all Christian churches! The river reflects the half-timbered houses of the 16th and 17th centuries: the picturesque Petite France quarter was built at the very edge of the water. In December, you can fully enjoy the atmosphere of the Christmas market, a tradition dating back to the Middle Ages. On Christmas Eve, the heady gingerbread spirit has been hovering under the giant Christmas tree since 1570!

Culture: Alsatian wine route

From Strasbourg it is convenient to travel along the Alsace wine route: it begins 20 kilometers from the city, in Marlenheim. As you follow this epicurean holiday route, you'll learn a lot about the country's culture. You can get acquainted with the history of religion in Molsem, in the old Chartreuse monastery, under the arches of which there is now a museum of archaeology, art and history and Bugatti Foundation, dedicated to the famous inventor. In Eguisheim, one of the most beautiful villages in France, you can deepen your knowledge of medieval architecture: the town is built in circles around a castle fortress. And in Keizersberg, between cobbled streets and half-timbered houses, you will see real architectural gems: a Romanesque portal and a fortified bridge! Along the way you should definitely stop by a couple of places. For example, you should definitely stop by the museum Rene Lalique in Vingens-sur-Moder in northern Alsace, where a unique collection of works by the famous glass artist is exhibited. Or to Celeste with its unique heritage - a new humanistic library.

1000 years of history in Colmar

What is interesting about Colmar? Don't miss this part of the route under any circumstances! This little Venice with its beautiful buildings can be admired from the river. But it’s better to get acquainted with the 1000-year history of Colmar on a walking tour. Visit a museum Unterlinden. Among the treasures of the former monastery is the Isenheim Altarpiece, a late Gothic masterpiece that immediately attracts the eye.

There will be a change of scenery in Mulhouse: Old city with its street art and arches, Buren is clearly infected contemporary art. But, nevertheless, it does not forget to pay tribute to its industrial origins: here you can visit National Museum cars, the largest in the world, as well as in the Railway Museum.

Wine tourism in Alsace – a 170 kilometer route

How long does it take to travel the 170 kilometers of the Alsace wine route? It all depends on your appetite! What if you want to taste Alsatian Riesling, Gewürztraminer and other wines (more than 50 of the best brands!) from seven grape varieties or try different types of beer while snacking on salted pretzels with cumin? No problem! Or you might want to stop by winstub, a traditional bistro, to sample choucroute, a dish featuring Munster, the king of Alsatian cheeses. Or, say, in the summer, have lunch at the Sohler Philippe estate right among the vineyards, washing down your meal with Münchberg? We are all for it! And in winter, of course, you will want to try the local know-how of Alsatian cuisine!

Must-sees in Lorraine

In Lorraine, culinary excellence is also expressed in. It should be noted that the region carefully preserves its production secrets and artistic traditions.

Nancy, Metz and Belfort

So let's start with Nancy. The city owes its beauty to King Stanislas, after whom the beautiful square is named. In addition, it is known as the cradle of the Art Nouveau style. Metz is famous for its unique architecture: the 65,000 m2 stained glass window in the Saint-Etienne Cathedral tells more about this amazing glass art than all the encyclopedias on the craft combined, the Imperial Quarter combines several styles, and the cheeky Chinese hat that crowns the Pompidou Center Metz embodies modernity. As for the Belfort citadel, it symbolizes the richness of the military architecture of the Middle Ages, the era of Vauban, as well as the 19th century.

Let's talk a little more about the Treaty of Versailles. We have already said that he contributed to the creation of the League of Nations, but with regard to Germany specifically, the most important aspect here is that the blame for starting the war rests entirely with Germany. Perhaps to support this you could say that Germany was most aggressive in beginning of the war, trying to convert them into other currencies, which resulted in hyperinflation that gripped Germany in the early 20s, specifically in 1923. Well, with the onset of hyperinflation, Germany could no longer pay reparations, and France, in order to ensure the pumping of resources from Weimar Germany and in the future too, France goes further and occupies the Ruhr region, which is located here. It is also rich in coal and steel. The French began to export resources from there too. This was another huge humiliation for the Germans. In addition, it was bleeding the German economy., part was cut off from the former German Empire, and another part from the former Austro-Hungarian Empire.

I must say about Silesia (here), part of which went to Poland, the other part to Czechoslovakia. We mentioned the famous Alsace-Lorraine region here, which has been the subject of a dispute between Germany and France for many years. Now he retreated back to France. Belgium received this tiny area, and this region in the north went to Denmark. Well, besides all this - a reduced army, the removal of resources, and so on, France really wanted to completely undermine Germany's ability to start a war in the future, and therefore it created a demilitarized zone in the Rhineland.

The Rhineland includes both... The demilitarized zone included German territory west of the Rhine, all German territory west of the Rhine, that is, this entire region, it was all occupied by the Allies. In addition, Germany was prohibited from militarizing and mobilizing troops in a 50 km wide zone east of the Rhine. (1608-1648).

East of the Rhine. If you look at the Treaty of Versailles, you will see that it suppresses any attempt by Germany to start a war.

She was banned from selling weapons and was banned from owning many types of offensive weapons. An attempt was made to completely deprive Germany of the opportunity to do what it did during the First World War. But, as we see, this to a large extent became a catalyst for the rapid development of extremist groups in Germany and served as one of the reasons that led Germany to World War II.

Subtitles by the Amara.org community On August 4, 1879, the disputed Alsace and Lorraine were annexed by Germany, and on their territory a In 1870-1871, active battles took place on the territory of Lorraine. The capital of the region - the Metz fortress - was besieged by the Prussian army, after 52 days of defense the city surrendered, and with it 200 thousand French soldiers.

As a result of the Peace of Paris, both regions went to Germany. Thus, the German Empire, formed in January 1871, strengthened its borders.

On the territory of Alsace are the Vosges Mountains, which covered the southern regions of the newly created empire - Hesse and Bavaria. With the annexation of Lorraine to Berlin, France could not feel safe, since Germany controlled the flat route to Paris - the “Vosges Hole” between the Ardennes Mountains in the north and Vosges in the south.

Local residents in 1872 were able to choose their citizenship: the majority chose to remain French. But Germany did not consider the acquisition of these territories as temporary - on the contrary, they had to firmly enter the empire. A significant part of the French indemnity was spent on the restoration of provinces damaged by the war. In 1872, the university was restored in Strasbourg.

The ancient castle of Haut-Konigsbourg, located in Alsace, was handed over to William I in 1899, who began to reconstruct it to emphasize its belonging to Germany and the Germans.

Additional measures to Germanize the disputed regions were administrative: of the 1,700 communes of Alsace and Lorraine, only 310 were allowed to be used in office work French. Repressive laws on the press and administrative expulsion were also maintained. However, separatist and pro-French sentiments in Alsace-Lorraine, declared an imperial state in 1879, persisted. Thus, in August 1873, the bishop of the city of Nancy, who remained French, called on his flock to pray for the return of Alsace and Lorraine to the bosom of France. In response, German Chancellor Bismarck demanded reprisals from the French government against the separatist cleric.

This story led to a diplomatic crisis. France's position in it was unenviable: the country had not yet recovered from the disaster of two years ago. But Austria-Hungary, Great Britain and Russia did not intend to watch this with folded hands.

How wrote The English ambassador in Paris, Lord Lyons, “it would not be difficult to provoke and crush France, but would it be possible to do this without causing a storm in other countries?”

As a result, war was avoided in 1873, but in 1875 the countries were on the brink again. The French announced the expansion of the active army by 144 thousand people, and the Germans banned the sale of horses, which looked like a pre-mobilization measure. As a result, only through the mediation of St. Petersburg, namely Chancellor Mikhail Gorchakov, was it possible to achieve Germany’s refusal from a preventive war with France.

He wrote that the annexation of Alsace and Lorraine is “the surest way to turn this war into a European institution.” Indeed, France remembered the humiliation of 1871 and entered the war in 1914, including with revanchist slogans.

The problem of Alsace-Lorraine became key, but not the only one of its kind on the European map. In 1878, following the results of the Berlin Congress, Austria-Hungary occupied Bosnia and Herzegovina, formerly part of the Ottoman Empire. In 1908, Vienna announced their annexation, which almost caused a global crisis and clashes with Belgrade. Despite the policy of appeasement (for example, Bosnia and Herzegovina did not transfer the taxes they collected to the center, but spent them locally), the Serbian population of the region did not accept the annexation. “The people stubbornly close their hearts to them (that is, the Austrians - Gazeta.Ru),” traveler Charles Diehl wrote about Sarajevo.

As a result, unresolved territorial conflicts became one of the reasons for the outbreak of the First World War. The heir to the Habsburg crown, Franz Ferdinand, was killed on the street in Sarajevo, which became the reason for the Austro-Serbian conflict, which grew into a global one.

According to the results Great War Alsace and Lorraine became French again. Then in 1940 they were occupied again by Germany - now Nazi. After the end of World War II, the fate of the long-suffering regions was finally decided - they became part of France. Moreover, it was Strasbourg that became one of the centers of pan-European institutions: it meets, has a residence and other organizations. The city has become a symbol of Europe, blurring national boundaries.

But the expression “Alsace-Lorraine” itself became a household name: thus, already in the 1920-1930s, “Alsace-Lorraine on the Dniester” was called Bessarabia (present-day Moldova), the dispute over which was between Romania and the Soviet Union.

The following materials were used in preparing the publication:
History of diplomacy. In 3 vols. T.2. M.: Gospolitzdat, 1945.

Shary A., Shimov Y. Roots and crown. Essays on Austria-Hungary: the fate of the empire. M.: KoLibri, 2011.