Explore Sand via the easy Circuit de l’Ill, the Source Saint-Materne and its chapels. The hiking trail is 9.7 kilometres long and passes through the municipality; a chapel and wash houses are located along the route. There are also places to visit with different features: a freely accessible spring and two chapels, one of which is open to the public only occasionally. This lets you plan your stay around hiking, nature and cultural sites.
Hiking the Circuit de l’Ill
The Circuit de l’Ill is an easy 9.7-kilometre hiking trail that passes through Sand. The distance indicates the length of the route, while the easy rating describes its difficulty. A chapel and wash houses are located along the route. If you would like to combine a hike with visits to specific structures, you will find both along the way. The route thus offers a connection to local buildings as well as an opportunity to get active.
Source Saint-Materne and picnic area
The Source Saint-Materne has an almost constant flow throughout the year, in both summer and winter. Its temperature is around 11°C. You can visit the spring independently; guided group visits are available by appointment. It is freely accessible. You can therefore choose between an independent visit and a guided group visit arranged in advance.
The shaded picnic area at the Chapelle Saint-Materne is next to a chapel and an artesian spring. You can reach the area via the Route de Muttersholtz (D 124) towards Obenheim/Wittisheim. At the edge of the forest, turn right after the small bridge. This gives you both the location of the area and the access route for planning your visit.
Two chapels with different historical connections
The Chapelle Saint-Materne was built in 1883. It stands in a natural, idyllic setting and can be visited independently. The year it was built provides a historical reference point; its surroundings offer another aspect of the visit.
The Chapelle Saints-Pierre-et-Paul was built on the ossuary of the former cemetery. An ossuary was used to store human bones; the building site thus connects the chapel with the cemetery’s former use. The two chapels therefore have different historical connections: Saint-Materne’s construction date of 1883, and Saints-Pierre-et-Paul’s location on the former ossuary.
The Chapelle Saints-Pierre-et-Paul is occasionally open to the public during concerts or on the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul on 25 June. Since it is only open on these occasional dates, check access before your arrival. An independent visit is possible at the Chapelle Saint-Materne; public access to Saints-Pierre-et-Paul is limited to specific occasions.
Sand and the Ried de la Zembs natural area
Sand is one of the municipalities within the type 1 ZNIEFF natural area “Ried de la Zembs de Herbsheim à Erstein.” If you also take designated natural areas into account when choosing a destination, this offers a point of reference alongside the hiking trail and cultural sites.
Discover more destinations: Schirmeck, Mussig, Gundershoffen, Duntzenheim, Haguenau, Sundhouse, Artolsheim, Wingen-Sur-Moder.
View the regional travel overview: Bas-Rhin.
