Napoleonian bench à Niedermodern dans le Bas-Rhin

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Origin and history

The Napoleonic bench-rest of Niedermodern, dated the 3rd quarter of the 19th century, is part of the Alsatian tradition of the Nabele Bänk ("Napoleon benches"). These public monuments, which appeared in 1811-1812 under the impetus of Prefect Adrien of Lezay-Marnésia, commemorated the birth of the King of Rome (son of Napoleon I). Their utilitarian design allowed peasants, especially peasants carrying baskets on their heads, to place their burdens on the stone lintel and rest in the shade of lime or chestnut trees. The benches were often accompanied by side terminals for hoods or riders.

A second wave of construction took place in 1853-1854, initiated by the prefect Auguste-César West to honour Empress Eugénie de Montijo, wife of Napoleon III. Unlike the first series, these banks were financed by the Bas-Rhin department in a post-crisis economic context (1846-1848). The Niedermodern bench, although without a visible vintage, corresponds to this "Second Empire" model: composed of two pillars, a seat and a lintel (replaced later), it was originally surrounded by four trees to offer shade and rest.

The Alsatian bench-rests, a symbol of a time when walking and freight were central, were gradually abandoned after 1870. The German annexation of Alsace led to their abandonment: in 1906, their maintenance was deemed obsolete, the top slab (destined to the burdens) becoming useless with the arrival of the carriages. Despite this, some, such as Niedermodern, were preserved and classified as Historical Monuments in the 1980s, reflecting a unique rural and imperial heritage.

Today, this bench-rest, located along CD 110 in Niedermodern, bears the traces of time: its present lintel, from another monument, is covered with graffiti. It recalls the ingenuity of 19th century public amenities, combining social utility and political commemoration, in a region marked by transitions between empires and nations.

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