Holtzwihr brings together nature and local history as distinct themes for a stay. The Sentier Botanique focuses on typical floodplain forest plants and the area’s water resources. The Saint-Martin parish church and several memorial sites offer different points of interest: architecture, a personal and military dedication, and the remembrance of an event from December 1944. Specific starting points for a hiking trail and a cycling route are also provided for planning purposes. You can first decide which of these aspects you would like to shape your stay.
Nature Trail, Forests and Water
The 2.7 km Sentier Botanique lies in a Natura 2000 area and runs through the Forêt Domaniale de l’Orch as well as the municipal forests of Wickerschwihr and Holtzwihr. The trail introduces visitors to typical plants, trees and shrubs of the Ill’s floodplain forests. Its length and educational purpose give the nature experience a clear focus: this is not just about the forest, but also about the plant life of this habitat.
Groundwater springs can also be observed along the Sentier Botanique. They are the source of the Orch, also known as the Orchbach; it then flows into the Bennwasser and onwards to the Ill. Water and plants thus offer two distinctive perspectives on the trail: one focuses on typical floodplain forest species, the other on the source and course of a named waterway.
Starting Points for Different Routes
The Sentier de la Martre starts at the Holtzwihr football stadium on the northern edge of the village. The Itinéraire cyclable Holtzwihr-Riedwihr starts in Holtzwihr, behind number 12 Rue de la Choucrouterie. Each route—a hiking trail and a cycling route—therefore has its own stated starting point. If you plan to take one of these routes, make a note of the corresponding starting point; the 2.7 km distance refers to the Sentier Botanique.
Church and Memorial Sites
The present-day Saint-Martin parish church was built in 1956 by Colmar architect Jean du Cailar, modelled on the Romanesque church in Ottmarsheim. The construction date and model offer two different points of reference: the church was built in the mid-20th century, while its architectural inspiration points to a Romanesque building.
The Mémorial Audie Murphy was inaugurated on 29 January 2000. It is dedicated to Lieutenant Audie Murphy and the soldiers of the US 3rd Infantry Division. By contrast, the Stèle du Lancaster commemorates a specific event: the crash of a British bomber in December 1944. The two memorial sites thus have different emphases—the dedication names people and a military unit, while the stele marks an event and when it took place.
Plan Your Nature Activities and Stay
The Porte du Ried Nature association offers an annual program of nature talks and outings, conservation work in natural areas, wildlife observation, and environmental education for schoolchildren. If you are interested in a particular event date, check the current program in advance.
The Sentier Botanique brings together the first two themes, while the church and memorial sites offer their own historical points of interest. This comparison can help you choose the kind of trip you want, without combining the different themes into a single set route. The starting points listed also provide practical reference points for your planning.
Discover more destinations: Dannemarie, Hirtzbach, Geishouse, Issenheim, Galfingue, Bergheim, Fessenheim, Kaysersberg.
For the broader travel overview: Haut-Rhin.
