Wingen-Sur-Moder can be explored through its glass art and the history of the town. The Musée Lalique focuses on both artistic objects and how they are made; the town also has a parish church with a dated construction history, a historic cemetery and a cultural and historical circular hiking trail. Before your trip, you can decide whether you would prefer to focus on the museum and architecture or on a hike.
Glass Art and Making
Local glassmaking dates back to the early modern period: it began to flourish with the Neuhütte and Hochberg glassworks, founded in 1708 and 1715 respectively. The Musée Lalique was established in Wingen-sur-Moder, where René Lalique built his glassworks in 1922; the museum focuses on glass art. The history of the glassworks and the exploration of glass art thus come together as related themes in the town.
The interactive table installation about the Bacchantes vase, created in 1927, offers a hands-on introduction to the making process. Short films trace the journey from the mould to the finished vase; by touching the installation, visitors can experience how the material changes. The production process is thus presented as a subject in its own right alongside the finished works. The collection features jewellery, drawings, perfume bottles, tableware, chandeliers, radiator mascots and vases. Visitors interested in glass art will encounter a variety of object types and depictions of individual stages of the process.
Church and Cemetery
The history of the architecture can also be traced through specific dates. The parish church of Saint-Félix-de-Cantalice was built in 1914 to plans by the architect Zigan and consecrated on 21 November 1915. The year of construction and the date of consecration mark two distinct stages in its creation. This is a separate cultural and historical focus alongside the glass art.
The date of the Teutsch cemetery is less certain: it was probably laid out around 1875 by Edouard Teutsch, a glass manufacturer and Protestant member of parliament. The gravestones are arranged around a small central monument; they are uniform in size and style. The church therefore has precise construction and consecration dates, while the cemetery is associated with an approximate date of origin.
Hiking and Getting There
The Sentier des verriers is an 8.2-kilometre circular hiking trail classified as a historical and cultural hiking trail. Its circular route sets it apart from the cultural attractions in town: here, the focus is on a continuous hiking route. Plan for the stated distance of 8.2 kilometres; the trail length may change in the future.
Wingen-sur-Moder is one of the TER railway stations that serve as starting points for hiking trails in the Northern Vosges from Strasbourg, Sarreguemines, Metz or Nancy. Check connections and timetables before your trip if you would like to combine your journey with a hike. When planning an overnight stay, you can first choose your focus: glass art and local history, the circular hiking trail, or a trip that combines both interests.
Discover more destinations: Hilsenheim, Bourgheim, La Wantzenau, Wimmenau, Thanvillé, Epfig, Saales, Wasselonne.
Return to the main travel overview: Bas-Rhin.
