Niderviller (; german: Niederweiler) is a

commune A commune is an alternative term for an intentional community. Commune or comună or comune or other derivations may also refer to: Administrative-territorial entities * Commune (administrative division), a municipality or township ** Communes of ...

in the

Moselle The Moselle ( , ; german: Mosel ; lb, Musel ) is a river that rises in the Vosges mountains and flows through north-eastern France and Luxembourg to western Germany. It is a left bank tributary of the Rhine, which it joins at Koblenz. A ...

department in

Grand Est Grand Est (; gsw-FR, Grossa Oschta; Moselle Franconian/ lb, Grouss Osten; Rhine Franconian: ''Groß Oschte''; german: Großer Osten ; en, "Great East") is an administrative region in Northeastern France. It superseded three former administr ...

in north-eastern

France France (), officially the French Republic ( ), is a country primarily located in Western Europe. It also comprises of Overseas France, overseas regions and territories in the Americas and the Atlantic Ocean, Atlantic, Pacific Ocean, Pac ...

. It is mostly known for the

Niderviller pottery Niderviller faience (German ''Niederweiler'') is one of the most famous French pottery manufacturers. It has been located in the village of Niderviller, Lorraine, France since 1735. It began as a maker of faïence (tin-glazed earthenware), and re ...

, established in 1735 and still producing there.

Geography

Niderviller is located south-east of Sarrebourg. The commune is served by the departmental roads 45 and 96. It is also crossed by the Marne-Rhine canal, which passes through the Niderviller Underground Tunnel. File:Tunnel von Niderviller 3.jpg, The Underground Tunnel File:Niderviller (Moselle) entrée.jpg, The village entrance

Toponymy

The name of the village come from the germanic words ''nieder'' "down, from below" and ''weiler'' "hamlet". Ancient names: Niederwilre (1163), Nyderwilre (15th century), Nyder-Wuelles (1525), Nidersweiller (1594), Niderwiller (18th century), Nidreviller (1793), Niederweiler (1871-1918).

History

Niderviller, which was originally part of the

Duchy of Lorraine The Duchy of Lorraine (french: Lorraine ; german: Lothringen ), originally Upper Lorraine, was a duchy now included in the larger present-day region of Lorraine in northeastern France. Its capital was Nancy. It was founded in 959 following th ...

, was ceded to

in 1661 (Treaty of Vincennes), along with the other localities of the provostry of Sarrebourg. There was once a castle that belonged to General de Custine, who was killed by the revolutionaries in 1793. In 1949, the castle was reconverted into an aerial hospital (a sort of

sanatorium A sanatorium (from Latin '' sānāre'' 'to heal, make healthy'), also sanitarium or sanitorium, are antiquated names for specialised hospitals, for the treatment of specific diseases, related ailments and convalescence. Sanatoriums are often ...

that uses fresh air) for sick children. It became a convalescent home for victims of cardiovascular accidents in 1982.

Sights

Religious monuments

* Église Sainte-Croix (''Church of the Holy Cross''): In 1762, lord of Niderviller, Jean-Louis Beyerlé, and owner of the Niderviller pottery factory, had the present bell tower built. * Sculpture ''descente de la Croix'' : a sculpture representing the descent from the Cross. * War memorial File:Niderviller (Moselle) église façade du clocher.jpg, Église Sainte-Croix File:Niderviller (Moselle) monument aux morts.jpg, War memorial File:Niderviller (Moselle) sculpture descente de la Croix.jpg, Sculpture ''Descente de la Croix''

Historical monuments

* Ruins of a Roman villa * Castle, built around 1863 by Léopold Halphen for his son-in-law Théodore Cerfberr. Since March 1, 1982, it houses part of the Saint-Luc Specialised Rehabilitation Center in Abreschviller. * Old castle des Custine : this castle is nowadays destroyed

Civilian and industrial buildings

* Niderviller Pottery factory: the first factory was built in 1735. Its products are the symbol of the village. * Tile and brick factory * Old mill File:Niderviller (Moselle) faïencerie (03).jpg, Pottery factory File:Terrine de Niderviller-Paysage en camaïeu rose.jpg, Example of the factory production File:Niderviller (Moselle) Tuilerie de Niderviller (01).jpg, Tile factory

Cultural events and festivities

''La vallée de la Bièvre en fête'' is a fair that highlights the culture, the crafts and the gastronomy of the local territory.

Notable people

Astolphe de Custine Astolphe-Louis-Léonor, Marquis de Custine (18 March 1790 – 25 September 1857) was a French aristocrat and writer who is best known for his travel writing, in particular his account of his visit to Russia, '' La Russie en 1839''. This work ...

: a French artistocrat and writer who was born in Niderviller