Former headquarters of the Brotherhood of Shepherds of Lower Alsace

Val de Moder

18
rue du Docteur Albert Schweitzer
Pfaffenhoffen
67350
Val de Moder

Location and access

  • Former headquarters of the Brotherhood of Shepherds of Lower Alsace - F. ZVARDON
  • Former headquarters of the Brotherhood of Shepherds of Lower Alsace - F. ZVARDON
  • Former headquarters of the Brotherhood of Shepherds of Lower Alsace - F. ZVARDON
Nothing specific is known about the origin of this brotherhood which, in the middle of the 200th century, brought together the shepherds of nearly XNUMX municipalities.

Pfaffenhoffen was chosen as the seat of the brotherhood, as it had been before 1746, because it was the best location. This makes it possible to suppose that the locality was approximately in the center of the 200 communes that grouped the brotherhood. It is for this reason that it is called "Brotherhood of Shepherds of Lower Alsace".

The brotherhood claimed to have founded the Pfaffenhoffen wool market. However, this market could have existed as early as the XNUMXth century. The brotherhood would therefore go back to this time. It included all the shepherds of Lower Alsace, even those in localities not depending on the county, whether Catholic or Protestant, their servants and boys, as well as people who wanted to become shepherds. The Counts of Hanau-Lichtenberg exercised its patronage. They delegated their powers to the bailiff of Pfaffenhoffen, who received compensation.

The brotherhood met annually, the day after Saint-Michel, that is September 30, in an inn in Pfaffenhoffen. It was, lastly, the Auberge de la Charrue, but only after 1651, because it did not yet exist during that year. A second meeting took place on October 18, the day of the Saint-Luc market. It seems that later, around 1760, the two meetings were replaced by a single meeting which took place on October 17, the day before the Saint-Luc market.

There is no trace of the brotherhood since the French Revolution.

Practical information and services

Type of places to visit
Remarkable monument, house or neighborhood
Possibility of parking
Less than 200 m from free public parking
Less than 200 m from a paying public car park
Free parking for motorhomes

Location

Nearest station (in km)
5