A chapel whose founding dates back to the early 8th century and a walking route with relics from the First World War reveal two distinct historical layers of Illfurth. The limestone sites on the Massif du Britzgyberg and Bluttenberg also shape its natural character. When planning your visit, you can therefore choose a focus: sacred architecture, military traces or the habitats described here.
Chapels, Bell Tower and Oppidum
The Burnkirch Chapel in Illfurth was founded in the early 8th century. It contains 15th-century frescoes that are classified as historic monuments. The founding date and the frescoes therefore belong to widely separated historical periods of the same building. Visits are possible independently or as guided tours for individuals and groups. Check local visiting arrangements before you arrive.
The Chapel of Saint-Brice was rebuilt in 1870, extended in 1925 and restored in 1998. These dates mark different construction phases: rebuilding, extension and restoration. The focus is different at the Old Bell Tower: it is the only surviving remnant of the former church, which was demolished in 1973. The construction phases of Saint-Brice thus contrast with a single surviving part of a former church building.
The oppidum in Illfurth covers five hectares and has two interlocking terraces and a defensive ditch. Unlike the individual chapels, it is an extensive archaeological site that adds a landscape feature to the picture of Illfurth’s cultural heritage. The terraces and ditch describe the layout of the site; the area figure indicates its extent.
Limestone Slopes and Habitats
On a limestone slope above the Ill valley, the Massif du Britzgyberg includes a thermophilous—that is, warmth-loving—beech and oak forest and a small area of dry grassland. At Bluttenberg, the dry limestone grassland is home to around ten orchid species. A small population of yellow-bellied toads also lives in the forest area of the Massif du Britzgyberg; the northernmost known populations along the Ill valley are located there. The natural features are therefore found in different habitats: orchids on the dry limestone grassland at Bluttenberg, and the toad population in the forest area at Britzgyberg.
Le circuit du Haulenwald
Le circuit du Haulenwald is a 6.5-kilometre hiking trail with 100 metres of elevation gain and a walking time of around two hours. It starts at Burnkirch Church. Along the way, you can discover First World War bunkers, the site of a large artillery piece near Burnkirch Church and several casemates. The distance, elevation gain and approximate walking time offer different kinds of planning information: the kilometre figure indicates the length, the elevation figure adds another characteristic of the route, and the walking time provides a rough estimate of how long the hike will take. Check trail conditions before setting out. The circular route highlights military relics along a hiking trail; the chapels, bell tower and oppidum offer other ways to explore Illfurth’s history.
Discover more destinations: Buhl, Goldbach-Altenbach, Wittenheim, Ungersheim, Eglingen, Soultzmatt, Bergholtz, Hochstatt
For the regional travel overview: Haut-Rhin.
