Construction of the shelter vers le XIIIe siècle (≈ 1350)
Defensive enclosure around the parish church.
1664
Act of ownership
Act of ownership 1664 (≈ 1664)
Jacob Patriarch owns a third of a cellar.
1702
Report by Guillin
Report by Guillin 1702 (≈ 1702)
Military description of the walls by an engineer.
décembre 2021
Restoration of the wall
Restoration of the wall décembre 2021 (≈ 2021)
Grant of €247,000 from the Foundation.
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui
Aujourd'hui Aujourd'hui (≈ 2025)
Position de référence.
Key figures
Guillin - Military engineer
Described the refuge in 1702.
Jacob Patriarch (1643–1673) - Local farmer
Owned a third of a pantry.
Origin and history
The fortified refuge of Dossenheim-sur-Zinsel is a defensive enclosure built around the parish church around the 13th century. This type of structure, called Kirchhof, was used to protect villagers and their property (cereals, wines, fabrics) in case of danger. Unlike other Alsatian sites, the Dossenheim site has retained its original appearance, with a row of houses attached to the circular wall.
In 1702, the military engineer Guillin described the site in a report: a 5.8 m high and 0.96 m thick wall surrounds the church, with a round road for defensive fire. A second low wall (1.30 m) forms a false chalk, now partially ruined. The cellars, originally intended for storage, were transformed into houses over the centuries, some extending beyond the enclosure.
A 1664 document, cited in a 1730 trial, reveals that the cellars were sometimes divided condominiums. For example, Jacob Patriarch, a local farmer, owned a third of an attic in the enclosure, while his land (farm, vineyard, meadows) was outside. These details illustrate the social and economic organization of the village, where farms and fortified shelters coexisted.
In December 2021, the Heritage Foundation granted a grant of €247,000 to restore the wall. Today, one of the cellars houses the interpretation site of the fortified shelter, a museum open to the public. This project highlights a rare medieval heritage, a witness to defensive strategies and community life in Alsace.
