Wattwiller

For thousands of years, people have proclaimed that the Water of Wattwiller has a soul. The Romans discovered and appreciated this source of water. They were great adepts of thermal springs and baths. At that time, the village was known as Wasserweiler: the village of water.

In 735 AD Count Eberhard feels that he is close to death, but he has no descendants. What should he do with his most precious inheritance, the source of Wattwiller? Heaven inspires him to leave it to the powerful Abbey of Murbach. The influence of its monks extends from Upper Alsace to beyond its borders. For over ten centuries the monks of Murbach will spread the reputation of the waters and baths of Wattwiller.

The first physic-chemical analysis of the water of Wattwiller is carried out by Doctor Morel in 1765. A number of analyses succeeded those of Doctor Morel, each more and more precise, but all confirming his studies. Wattwiller water is exceptional, both for its purity and its composition. In the XIXth century, the bourgeoisie from Basle and Mulhouse were fervent adepts of the spa establishments Wattwiller, which had names such as "Villa Bellevue", "Villa Beauséjour" and "Villa Bonrepos". In 1850, the National Academy of Medicine issued a Ministerial Decree recognising the therapeutic values of the water. Between 1914 and 1918, the conflicts of the Great War destroyed these spa establishments.

In 1924 a bottling site was built and the commercialisation of water started anew. For the first time, Wattwiller water was put into bottles, receiving numerous gold prizes and medals. The economic ups and downs of the Second World War and successive changes in ownership meant that Wattwiller water quite simply disappeared for a number of decades. From 1954 to 1974, Wattwiller water, slightly carbonated, was commercialised under the name of LITHIA. From then until 1992, Wattwiller water was no longer exploited.
 
In 1992, the French company ,"Société Française d'Innovation Industrielle", acquired the park and the spring water sources of Wattwiller. A new bottling unit was constructed, commercialising the first bottles of Wattwiller, "Rare Water", in April 1993. In 1995, in response to a demand by restaurants and hotels, a prestigious 50cl glass bottle was created. Thanks to its innovative design, it soon became a decorative element appreciated by gourmet food-lovers in the best restaurants. 2002, was marked by the launch of JOUVENCE, sparkling water with carbonation (CO2) added from Wattwiller in 1 litre bottles.