The village of Merkwiller is an ancient place in the Outre-Forêt. The name was first mentioned in 742. The hamlet used to be called « Markberganvillare », the village protected by valleys and hills.
Merkwiller is situated along the upper Seltzbach river whose frequent floods forced the early inhabitants to settle on the hills bordering the stream, on either side of the road linking Lampertsloch and Surbourg. The houses along the road going from Soultz to Woerth are more recent.
Merkwiller has lost its rural character. The oil industry appeared in the middle of the 18th century without, however, bringing about a change in people’s incomes. Towards the end of the 19th century, the development of the oil industry put an end to the predominance of the peasant population. The factory was offering more secure and less tiring jobs, although the pay was lower. In 1900 the village had 40 houses and 250 inhabitants.
In 1922, Merkwiller officially became Merkwiller-Pechelbronn. The village and the oil company then formed one economic entity and the means of existence of the majority of the population depended on this union

The village to day


The village yesderday

In 1924, Mr Georges ENGEL created a spa by using the hot water (70°) of the Helion spring which had been discovered during a drilling in October 1910 at a depth of 1157 metres. The Pechelbronn water is strongly mineralised (12 grams by litre), it contains mainly CI, So4 and Na, Ca, Mg ions. This thermal water is diuretic and stimulating; it is much like the waters of Bourbonne-les-Bains in France and Wiesbaden in Germany.

Today the village as well as the adjoining Hoelschloch are part of the Pays de Pechelbronn which is made up of 5 communes :Kutzenhausen with Oberkutzenhausen, Lampertsloch, Lobsann and Preuschdorf.
All these villages belong to a Communauté des Communes.