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3-Borders France
Kembs
A small part of history
Located in the canton of Sierentz, Kembs has always been a geographicly courted city. But let's pass over all details about the expanse to concentrate ourselves on the roman era. In that time, Kembs was baptised "Cambete" (which sounds like "change"). On their shores were transhipped goods from the rivers to the ground, and the other way round.
As a proof that the city was a real commercial place of exchanges, the symbol of the city (its blazon) is a horseshoe, meaning that Kembs was a relay for the Royal Post.
The keys of the city passed from hands to hands during ages, and went through hard times of de- and re- contruction, but managed to find its balance in the XIX th century, absorbing the localities of Loechlé (means "small hole"), Schaefferhof (the shepherd's farm), and Richardhaueser (Richard's house).
One town composed of 4 small ones, and this is the reason why the city counts today two schools and two churches !
The famous infrastructures in Kembs
The Canal :
Its at this particular place, where the canal of the Rhône passes over to the Rhin, to become the "big canal of the Rhine".
In 1928 locks were built which were ment to avoid the rock-bar further on and which are called «Bardistein» («stein» means rock ).
The same year they started building the first hydroelectric power station over the Rhine which was accomplished in the year 1932. The building is considered as an architectural model out of the 30's. Unfortunately during the second world War it was damaged twice but the power station was rebuilt and nationalized in 1946 with EDF, the french public energy supplier. The administrative part was also built in 1960 by the famous architect Le Corbusier (who made the Chapel of Ronchamp).
The water-tower of Kembs Schaefferhof was the first building build which was ment to supply the worker-cities which would work for the future building-sites of the lock and the hydroelectric power station.
Kembs today, Kembs tomorrow
The Kemb's population has doubled since 1968 and counts 4200 inhabitants today.
The city is proud to keep its population in movement with around twenty associations, like sports or fishing. All the indoor activities are received in special facilities as the multi-purpose hall or "l'espace Rhénan", the last built of the city.
And we only can observe that it works then throughout the years, the habitants of Kembs are very busy taking part at dancing teas, the markets or making beautiful music and the UFO-race (unidentified floating objects !). I told you, they are very busy !
And its not about to change, since in Kembs we never stop planing !
So, when do we go over there ?!
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