Blaesheim combines church and local history with protected natural areas and regional cuisine. Its historical connections range from a former church dating from the 11th and 12th centuries to a square commemorating the coronation of Napoleon I. The landscape is shaped by both a hamster protection zone on the hill and ried and floodplain areas south of the village. The Route de la Choucroute adds a culinary dimension to these perspectives.
Churches and traces of time
Blaesheim’s parish church is a Baroque church built in 1762. Its history also includes two works installed in 1923: an organ by organ builder Franz Kriess and two stained-glass windows by glass artist Joseph Ehrismann. The construction date and later installations mark distinct stages. To understand the church’s history, it is therefore worth considering not only its architectural style and date, but also the names of the artisans involved and the date of the later additions.
An older trace of the village’s religious history can be found in the Tour du Gloeckelsberg on the Gloeckelsberg. It is the last surviving remnant of the former church dating from the 11th and 12th centuries. The tower also houses a 13th-century tombstone. The tower remnant and the tombstone bring together different medieval dates, while the 1762 parish church belongs to a considerably later building phase. Those interested in the development of religious architecture can view these periods as separate chapters in Blaesheim’s history.
A memorial site and protected landscapes
The Place du Couronnement was created in 1804 to commemorate the coronation of Emperor Napoleon I. It consists of a sandstone column surrounded by a ring of lime trees. Its purpose, design and name all contribute to a specific memorial site: the column is the central feature, while the lime trees form the setting described. Unlike the church sites, the focus here is not on a building’s construction or furnishings, but on commemorating a historical event.
The landscape is also shaped by different protected areas. The hill of Blaesheim is home to a 299-hectare hamster protection zone. South of Blaesheim, the floodplain covers around 400 hectares, of which 90 hectares of natural meadows are classified as a Natura 2000 site. The 90 hectares therefore form part of the larger floodplain. A spawning site and two amphibian ponds have also been created in the same southern floodplain area. The information can thus be distinguished by location and scale: the hill area, the larger southern area, and the features created there for amphibians.
South of Blaesheim lies the Bruch de l’Ehn et de l’Andlau, with ried landscapes of extensive meadows, ditches and hedgerows. These landscape features complement the figures and protected-area classifications with a specific description of the region’s character. Together, the information paints a varied picture: the hill is associated with the hamster protection zone, while the south is home to the floodplain, Natura 2000 meadows and ried landscapes.
A culinary connection
Blaesheim lies on the Route de la Choucroute, which links villages between Geispolsheim and Obernai. Restaurants along the route serve traditional choucroute, sometimes in contemporary variations. This adds a distinct theme to the architecture and natural areas: the route links the villages and highlights a regional dish served both in its traditional form and in adapted versions. Those choosing destinations for their culture, landscapes and cuisine will therefore find several different points of interest in Blaesheim.
Discover more destinations: Hinsbourg, Drachenbronn-Birlenbach, Puberg, Elsenheim, Bernardvillé, Siewiller, Villé, Russ
See the broader travel guide: Bas-Rhin.
