FRANCE	FRANCE
région: Grand Est
département: 67, Bas-Rhin

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Saverne, situated at an elevation of 200 m in northern Alsace , is one of the toldest towns of France. After the Romans had incorporated Gaul into their empire in 58 BC, they founded a settlement at this place during the 1st century AD that later became known as Tres Tabernae. The Romans were replaced by the Alemanni and, in 495, by the Franks. In 911, the Alsace region became part of the Holy Roman Empire. From 1236, Saverne was in possession of the bishops of Strasbourg and became their residence in 1394. The Thirty Years' War (1618–1648) affected Saverne severely. After the war, the Peace of Westphalia declared Saverne a neutral city. In 1680, Saverne became part of France and was visited by King Louis XIV only one year later. The episcopal regency ended in 1789 during the French Revolution and Saverne's status was reduced to that of a district town. After the French/German War of 1870/71, the Alsace region became an Imperial Territory of the German Empire, and Saverne was made a garrison city. The period of German rule was marked, in 1913, by the so-called Zabern Affair, sparked by a young German officer who had called the Alsacian people 'Wackes'. At the end of World War I, Saverne and Alsace returned to France. Only during the years 1940–1944, Saverne was occupied by Germany again.

The most beautiful old house of Saverne is the  maison Katz [left]. The building with its characteristic triangular oriel and sculptured timber framings was built in 1605 by Henri Katz, tax collector of the bishop of Strasbourg. The left part of the building was added in 1668.

To the right of the maison Katz, the picture shows the  old town hall [right]. The building dates back to the 17th century. The Neo-Renaissance façade shown on the glass dates from 1904.