Barembach is located in a valley perpendicular to theBruche valley some 25 km west by south-west ofIllkirch and 30 km north-west ofSélestat at 350 metres above sea level. The Barembach Forest covers most of the commune with several summits includingPépinière (666 metres),Barraque des Bœufs (781 metres),Ordon Saxe (690 metres), andHaut de la Brûlée (715 metres). Access to the commune is by the D204 road fromGrendelbruch in the north-east which passes through the north-eastern corner of the commune and continues toSchirmeck. Access to the village is by the D193 which branches off the D204 in the commune. The D1420 fromMuhlbach-sur-Bruche in the north-east passes along the northern border as it goes south-west toFouday.[4][5]
TheBarembach river rises in the south-east of the commune and flows north-west to join theBruche just north-west of the commune. TheBornichon river rises in the south of the commune and flows north to join the Barembach at the village.[4]
Barembach was completely destroyed in 1875 by a violent fire. After the reconstruction of the village almost immediately after the disaster, the economy first restarted with livestock and forestry. There were also mills and sawmills producinggaloshes which later changed to weaving. An enterprise was set up by Camille Glaszmann which specialised inTheatrical property. The company was sold in 1964 and continued by Mecatherm who extended the buildings. Shortly before Liberation the village was the headquarters of MarshalJean de Lattre de Tassigny and served as a springboard to free the region. Barembach previously included part of the commune ofRothau on the north shore of the Rothaine.
Barembach appears asBarenbach on the 1750Cassini Map[6] and the same on the 1790 version.[7]
The nameBarembach originated from the GermanBach meaning "stream" andBär meaning "bear".
MarshalJean de Lattre de Tassigny had his headquarters in the village. The street from the cemetery to the church bears his name. There is a monument to him on this street near the church.
"Barembach", inThe Upper Valley of the Bruche, Alsace Heritage, General Inventory of Monuments and artistic riches of France, Éditions Lieux Dits, Lyon, 2005, p. 38-39,ISBN978-2-914528-13-9(in French)
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