Altkirch

Altkirch
Àltkìrech (Alemannic German)
Subprefecture and commune
The historic centre of Altkirch
The historic centre of Altkirch
Flag of Altkirch
Flag
Coat of arms of Altkirch
Coat of arms
Location of Altkirch
Altkirch is located in France
Altkirch
Altkirch
Location within France
Altkirch is located in Grand Est
Altkirch
Altkirch
Location within Grand Est
Coordinates: 47°37′N 7°14′E / 47.62°N 7.24°E / 47.62; 7.24
CountryFrance
RegionGrand Est
DepartmentHaut-Rhin
ArrondissementAltkirch
CantonAltkirch
IntercommunalityCC Sundgau
Government
 • Mayor (2020–2026) Nicolas Jander
Area
1
9.54 km2 (3.68 sq mi)
Elevation
310 m (1,020 ft)
Highest elevation
392 m (1,286 ft)
Lowest elevation
274 m (899 ft)
Population
 (2023)
5,687
 • Density596/km2 (1,540/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC+01:00 (CET)
 • Summer (DST)UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code
68004 /68130
Dialling codes0389
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Altkirch (French: [altkiʁʃ] ⓘ, German: [ˈaltkɪʁç]; Alsatian: Àltkìrech; Frainc-Comtou: Artçhelitçhe) is a commune in the Haut-Rhin department in Alsace in north-eastern France.

The town is traditionally regarded as the capital of Sundgau.

Etymology

The name of the commune means old church (Alsatian: Àlta Kìrch or Àlta Kìrech; German: Alte Kirche).

History

In the 1370s, the citizens of Altkirch battled and won against a company of Gugler mercenaries.

Demography

Altkirch

Its inhabitants are known as Altkirchois.

The resident population number of 5,700 is rather deceptive as some 15,500 people will be in town on a typical working day (4500 working, 3000 studying, 3000 for medical treatment and another 5000 divided between shopping, administrative offices, cultural and sporting activities).

Historical population
YearPop.±% p.a.
1968 5,118—    
1975 5,319+0.55%
1982 5,268−0.14%
1990 5,090−0.43%
1999 5,386+0.63%
2007 5,644+0.59%
2012 5,747+0.36%
2017 5,737−0.03%
2023 5,687−0.15%
Source: INSEE

Sister cities

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Répertoire national des élus: les maires" (in French). data.gouv.fr, Plateforme ouverte des données publiques françaises. 13 September 2022.
  2. ↑ "Populations de référence 2023" (in French). National Institute of Statistics and Economic Studies. 18 December 2025.
  3. ↑ INSEE commune file
  4. ↑ Tuchman, Barbara Wertheim (1978). A distant mirror : the calamitous 14th century. Internet Archive. New York : Knopf. p. 280. ISBN 978-0-394-40026-6.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: publisher location (link)
  5. ↑ Population municipale entre 1968 et 2023, INSEE