The paradox of Ottmarsheim
Today a wealthy and dynamic community
The whole region, and especially Ottmarsheim, was to see a veritable revolution in their economy.
From small and declining agricultural community of 500 inhabitants in 1945 suffering from the rural exodus towards the greater built-up areas of Mulhouse, Ottmarsheim was to become a village of 2000 inhabitants whose professional interests lay in industry and the tertiary sector.
This brought about a total change in the population. From the 90% of farmers in the 19th century just 3 small holdings remain today.
One part of the inhabitants are employed in the industrial estates along the Rhine, a small part work across the river in Germany and Switzerland and a larger part are employed in the greater Mulhouse area and the neighbouring Peugeot car manufacturing plant in the Hardt Forest just ten kilometers away.
The « old town » no longer represents more than one third of the inhabited area. The building of several housing estates since 1958 has tripled the built-up area of the community.
The local budget, of which about 90% comes from business taxes paid by local industry, has allowed the community to offer itself all the necessary modern amenities: New schools, indoor-outdoor swimming pool and an inter-communal primary school, a village hall, a multi-purpose hall, sports center, public library, new roads, first-aid center, new communal workshops, a large investment in the restoration of the 11th century abbey and the future landscaping of the grounds of the abbey and the town hall.
Nevertheless, the inhabitants pay only very moderate council taxes.
The geographical location of Ottmarsheim is very attractive. Being close to the large towns of Mulhouse, Colmar, Strasburg, Belfort, Freibourg in Germany and Basle in Switzerland.
Ottmarsheim and its industrial estate are well served by the communications network with a national and international motorway, a railway, a large waterway – the Grand Canal of Alsace – and the Mulhouse-Bâle international airport.
All in all, a modern and dynamic village where life is good.
And this sums up the paradox of Ottmarsheim. A rich village at the heart of one of the most naturally poor areas of Alsace.
Today a wealthy and dynamic community
The whole region, and especially Ottmarsheim, was to see a veritable revolution in their economy.
From small and declining agricultural community of 500 inhabitants in 1945 suffering from the rural exodus towards the greater built-up areas of Mulhouse, Ottmarsheim was to become a village of 2000 inhabitants whose professional interests lay in industry and the tertiary sector.
This brought about a total change in the population. From the 90% of farmers in the 19th century just 3 small holdings remain today.
One part of the inhabitants are employed in the industrial estates along the Rhine, a small part work across the river in Germany and Switzerland and a larger part are employed in the greater Mulhouse area and the neighbouring Peugeot car manufacturing plant in the Hardt Forest just ten kilometers away.
The « old town » no longer represents more than one third of the inhabited area. The building of several housing estates since 1958 has tripled the built-up area of the community.
The local budget, of which about 90% comes from business taxes paid by local industry, has allowed the community to offer itself all the necessary modern amenities: New schools, indoor-outdoor swimming pool and an inter-communal primary school, a village hall, a multi-purpose hall, sports center, public library, new roads, first-aid center, new communal workshops, a large investment in the restoration of the 11th century abbey and the future landscaping of the grounds of the abbey and the town hall.
Nevertheless, the inhabitants pay only very moderate council taxes.
Indoor-outdoor swimming-pool
Multi-purpose hall
The geographical location of Ottmarsheim is very attractive. Being close to the large towns of Mulhouse, Colmar, Strasburg, Belfort, Freibourg in Germany and Basle in Switzerland.
Ottmarsheim and its industrial estate are well served by the communications network with a national and international motorway, a railway, a large waterway – the Grand Canal of Alsace – and the Mulhouse-Bâle international airport.
All in all, a modern and dynamic village where life is good.
And this sums up the paradox of Ottmarsheim. A rich village at the heart of one of the most naturally poor areas of Alsace.
Mairie de Ribeauvillé
2 Place de l'Hôtel de Ville
BP 50037
68152 RIBEAUVILLÉ Cedex
+33 (0)3 89 73 20 00
+33 (0)3 89 73 37 18
mairie.ribeauville@wanadoo.fr