Timeline

Heritage classified

Key figures

Origin and history

The Seletat Water Castle, built between 1906 and 1907 under the direction of engineer Behr, is inspired by a Dutch model from 1893 in Deventer. At a height of 50 meters, it combines a structure in yellow and red bricks with a 500 m3 riveted sheet metal tank in a neo-Roman style. Its architecture evokes a belfry, with curved arches and a conical roof.

This monument, located in Place du Général de Gaulle, was classified as a historical monument on July 2, 1992. It symbolizes the political changes of Alsace: its lightning rod was overcome by the German imperial eagle (1915-1918), then by the Gaulish cock (1918-1940). Equipped with a lightning protection system, it also marks the technical history of the region.

To celebrate its centennial in 2006, the city organized a pyrotechnic show synchronized with bright and musical projections, highlighting its heritage role. The event, created by the local company Molecule, drew attention to this symbol of modernity of the early twentieth century, today communal property.

The plans were drawn up in 1905 by Behr, engineer of the Meliorationsamt (Water Service), under the supervision of Peitavy, Regional Inspector. The construction met the growing need for running water for the city, in a context of urbanization and industrialization of Alsace under German administration.

Its architecture, with its colourful bricks and neo-Roman motifs, reflects the Germanic influence of the time, while integrating technical innovations such as the sheet metal tank. The choice of Deventer's Dutch model illustrates European trade in hydraulic engineering at the turn of the century.

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