History of Greffern

Today, historic names such as “Burgplatz” (Castle Square) serve as a reminder of the noble “Greffere” family who resided here in the Middle Ages, and from whom the town took its name. On the Greffern coat of arms the “punts” make reference to local fishing and the oars to navigation, whilst the roses represent water lilies. The background of the original coat of arms is a reference to the gold panning industry that once flourished in the area.

Floods devastated the town so many times that it had to be moved inland four times between the 15th and 17th centuries. Another impending move was narrowly averted at the beginning of the 19th century. Before the Rhine correction project, the floodwaters often reached “the standing height of a man and poured through the windows.”

In addition to gold panning, which was a vital source of income, fishing provided employment for many people in the region. The Rhine and many nearby “pools and lakes” were so ideal for fishing that a fisherman’s’ guild was established here in the 15th century.

Greffern’s shipping industry is no less rich in tradition. As early as 1331, appropriate laws were entered in the “City of Strasbourg Statute Book”, which also documents the subsequently flourishing passenger and freight transport activities. Even today shipping is still one of Greffern’s main industries, as demonstrated by the ships mast. Tolls were particularly important for Greffern on the federal highway and “on the Rhine”. The people of Greffern have always operated a ferry service between their town and Drusenheim on the left bank of the river: a pontoon bridge was erected in 1875, followed by the motor ferry “Drusus”, which has been providing a free ferry service since 1977.

The Greffern chapel to the Saints John and Paul was once a well-visited place of pilgrimage. The church was built in 1755 and the current place of worship was established in 1887. The parish, which became independent in 1966, was once affiliated to Schwarzach.Industry also flourishes in the town. In 1965, the world famous international company Dow Chemical set up on a site covering 75 hectares. At the same tome, quite a large number of sailors still earn their living on the international boats travelling up and down the Rhine.