Wissembourg
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- For Weißenburg in Bavaria see Weißenburg.
Wissembourg (German: Weißenburg) is a small town and commune situated on the border between France and Germany, in the Alsace région, approximately 60 km north of Strasbourg. Wissembourg is a sous-préfecture of the Bas-Rhin département. Population 8,173.
History
Founded in the 7th century following the foundation of a Benedictine abbey, the town grew in stature as a result of the work of the monk Otfried, who had translated the epistles into the vernacular. The town was fortified in the 13th century, and was annexed by France under Louis XIV in 1678.
The Battle of Wissembourg took place on August 4, 1870. It was the first battle of the Franco-Prussian War. The French defeat allowed the Prussian army to move into France.
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