Napoleonsbank in Drachenbronn on the D65
Anyone who drives through northern Alsace on historic roads will often pass strange stone structures whose meaning and purpose cannot be recognized at first glance. There are the so-called Napoleon benches, benches for women to rest on the market.
There are several legends about its creation: Napoleon rested here or held an army parade - or: he personally ordered its formation to make the women's work easier. And since the Southern Palatinate belonged to the Lower Rhine department (Bas-Rhin) at the time, the order naturally also applied there.
What is certain is that the order to erect such benches came from the Strasbourg prefect Adrien Lezay-Marnesia. On the occasion of the birth of the long-awaited heir to the throne on March 20, 1811 - the "King of Rome", the later Napoleon II and Duke of Reichstadt - large celebrations were to be held to give the population the opportunity to pay proper homage to the emperor.
Our far-sighted prefect now knew how to combine the pleasant with the useful: On April 14, 1811, the mayors of Strasbourg were asked to send in plans within eight days. By Pentecost Sunday, June 2nd, the baptismal festival of the imperial offspring, tree-shaded resting places and tube wells were to be created along the country roads. In the arrondissement of Strasbourg alone, 125 benches were set up at a distance of “une demi-lieue” (half an hour’s walk), which were called “Bancs du Roi de Rome” or “Bancs Marie-Louise”.
Such benches had already existed before: in the Palatinate, one is documented in the town of Ruhbank near Pirmasens in 1748, even if its exact appearance is not known. In Alsace, the bench was placed under the high lintel. In order to ensure headroom when sitting, a greater height of the upper lintel is required.
[Text Rudolf Wild, Annweiler]