Fénétrange

Fénétrange
Commune
The chateau overlooking the Saar river in Fénétrange
Coat of arms
Location of Fénétrange
Fénétrange Location within France Show map of France Fénétrange Location within Grand Est Show map of Grand Est
Coordinates: 48°50′47″N 7°01′14″E / 48.8464°N 7.0205°E / 48.8464; 7.0205
Country	France
Region	Grand Est
Department	Moselle
Arrondissement	Sarrebourg-Château-Salins
Canton	Sarrebourg
Government
• Mayor (2020–2026)	Benoît Piatkowski
Area 1	14.49 km2 (5.59 sq mi)
Elevation	240 m (790 ft)
Highest elevation	317 m (1,040 ft)
Lowest elevation	227 m (745 ft)
Population  (2023)	639
• Density	44.1/km2 (114/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC+01:00 (CET)
• Summer (DST)	UTC+02:00 (CEST)
INSEE/Postal code	57210 /57930
1 French Land Register data, which excludes lakes, ponds, glaciers > 1 km2 (0.386 sq mi or 247 acres) and river estuaries.

Fénétrange (French pronunciation: [fenetʁɑ̃ʒ]; German: Finstingen, Lorraine Franconian: Finschtinge) is a commune in the Moselle department in Grand Est in north-eastern France.

Geography

Fénétrange is located near the border between the Moselle department and the Alsace bossue. The river Saar flows through Fénétrange. The municipality is part of the Lorraine regional natural park.

Etymology

The name refers to "dwellings on the edge of a bend". Its Latin name is Philestangia. It was Germanised into Vinstingen, and francized into Fénétrange.

History

The name of Fénétrange was officially mentioned for the first time on 18 September 1070. More precisely in a document authorising the abbesses of Remiremont, who partly owned the domain, to mint coins in Fénétrange, in exchange for the payment of a fee.

In 1224, Merbode de Malberg became the first lord of Fénétrange.

During the Middle-Age, it used to be a fortified town reputed to be impregnable.

Sights

• The Fénétrange castle, built during the Middle Age. It was later renovated during the 18th century. The building contains a medieval kitchen, a well, spiral stairs labelled "monument historique". It also contains a catholic gothic chapel constructed in 1584.
• The Saint-Rémy gothic collegiate church. It was labelled "monument historique" in 1930.
• The former synagogue
• The Lutheran Church
• The remains of the ramparts
• The former Bailiff's House
• The "Porte de France", an ancient fortified gate
• Oriel windows, located 78, rue de l'Hôpital and 35, rue des Juifs are labelled "monuments historiques".
• The bridge

• 
  Saint-Remy Church.
• 
  The castle
• 
  Oriel window located Rue de l'Hôpital
• 
  Porte de France

Cultural events and festivities

Since 1978, an annual music and gastronomy festival takes place in Fénétrange. It is known as "Festival de Fénétrange, musique et gastronomie"

Fénétrange is one of the few French localities where a night watchman still exists, thus perpetuating a medieval tradition. From July to September, the visitors can follow the watchman, in his medieval attire, during his night patrol.

Every year, from late November to early January, several winter festivities occur in Fénétrange. One of them, is the traditional Christmas market.

Notable people

See also

• Communes of the Moselle department
• Parc naturel régional de Lorraine

References

External links

• Media related to Fénétrange at Wikimedia Commons