Kehl is a city in the German state of Baden-Württemberg, on the Rhine River at its confluence with the Kinzig and directly across from Strasbourg, France. First mentioned in 1038, it was turned into a fortress in 1683 by the French military architect Vauban and suffered heavy damage during the French Revolutionary Wars in the 1790s. Today Kehl functions as a gateway to Strasbourg, linked by four Rhine bridges and, since 2017, by an extension of the Strasbourg tramway, and its population stands at roughly 39,584.
Facts
Area (sq km) Founding Year Founding Year Population Estimate Year Elevation (m) Latitude48.571111 degrees north 1 FAQs
Was Kehl controlled by France after World War II?
Kehl was a suburb of Strasbourg until it was handed back in stages between 1949 and 1953.
Yes, for several years. After World War II Kehl became a suburb of Strasbourg, and that status was kept even after the war ended. The city was released from French control under the Washington Agreement on the Clearance of the City of Kehl, in 42 partial releases between 29 July 1949 and 8 April 1953.
Sources
1. Kehl (Wikidata)
P1082 (population)
population 39,708 (2025)
P625 (coordinate location)
latitude 48.571111, longitude 7.808889
P2044 (elevation above sea level)
elevation 139 m
P2046 (area)
area 75.04 sq km
P1082 (population), P585 (point in time)
population 39708 (2025)
View the Source2. Kehl (Wikipedia)
Lead section
Kehl (German pronunciation: [keːl] ; Low Alemannic: Kaal) is a city with around 38,000 inhabitants in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg.
Source text, founding-year-range-start: 1038
The village of Kehl was first mentioned in 1038.
Source text, founding-year-range-end: 1038
The village of Kehl was first mentioned in 1038.
Source text, founding-year: 1038
The village of Kehl was first mentioned in 1038.
- In Group: Cities of Western Europe (World), Wikipedia; part-of country and UN M49 subregion
On Continent: Europe
Kehl (German pronunciation: [keːl] ; Low Alemannic: Kaal) is a city with around 38,000 inhabitants in the southwestern German state of Baden-Württemberg.
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