Neuviller-la-Roche and Wildersbach

Before the French Revolution, the River Rothaine marked the boundary between the county of La Roche (left bank) and the lands of the Diocese of Strasbourg (right bank). The inhabitants of the villages of Neuviller-La-Roche and Wildersbach were Protestants and spoke a Latin dialect, while the inhabitants of Natzwiller, although close to Neuviller-La-Roche, were Catholics and spoke Alsatian. These remote localities made a living from farming livestock and crops until the development of mining and later the textile industry, as can be seen in the different buildings. To explore these ancient traditions, visit the Museum of Popular Traditions in Neuviller-la-Roche (reservation required, tel. 03 88 97 07 18, 19 Rue Principale).