The Other’s Heritage: Constructing a Border Heritage between France and Germany in Strasbourg’s Neustadt

Résumé 0

From urban project to open-air museum, the city oscillates between a need for modernization and a desire to preserve its heritage. In Strasbourg, the urban ensemble of Neustadt illustrates these two ways of looking at the city. The very term ‘Neustadt’, which translates literally as ‘new city’, resonates in a singular way because it conveys both of these modalities, which can be perceived as antagonistic. On the one hand, it refers to the ‘modern’ urban extension planned in 1880. On the other hand, it matches the official name used to promote this heritage and contribute to its inclusion in the World Heritage list (July 2017). In this context of heritagisation, the article aims to highlight both the points of convergence and the stumbling blocks of a heritage project concerning a border region. In support of a qualitative and quantitative investigation, sociological and historical data tend to shed light on the reasons for a fast valorization of heritage in view of the memorable weight of relations with Germany, including the traumatic effects of the annexations and the two world wars. We invite reflection on the characterization of the urban project and the appropriation of the inhabitants and the political heritage by the authorities.