Mittelwihr lies along the Alsace Wine Route. Vineyards, Mandelberg and the village’s layered history offer different ways to spend your time: you can explore the landscape, go for a hike or learn about the village’s historical landmarks.

Vineyard landscapes and trails

Mandelberg, the “hill of almond trees,” lies above Mittelwihr. The landscape also features almond trees, which bloom each year between two rows of vines thanks to the local microclimate. Grand Cru wines bearing the “Mandelberg” designation are grown on the hill. Here, a specific landscape name, viticulture and the trees’ recurring blossom come together.

The “Sentier des Perles” hiking trail starts at Place de l’Église in Mittelwihr. The route is listed as 10 kilometres long, with an estimated duration of three hours and 170 metres of elevation gain. These figures help you gauge how much time the hike may take; the duration is an estimate. Check trail conditions locally before setting out.

The “Découverte vigneronne” winegrower experience at Domaine Specht offers a different kind of hike. It includes a walk of around an hour and a half through vineyards, past streams and almond trees. You can therefore choose between two different kinds of walk: one described by its distance, estimated duration and elevation gain, and a vineyard hike with an explicitly wine-focused theme.

A visit to Domaine Greiner-Schleret also combines wine with regional cuisine. The experience includes a visit to the wine cellar followed by a guided tasting of five wines, accompanied by a piece of Kougelhopf. As visit arrangements may change, it is advisable to confirm current options before planning.

Church history and reconstruction

The church of Sainte-Brigitte in Mittelwihr is documented as far back as 1114. The former church was destroyed on 17 December 1944. The lower sections of the north and west walls of the nave, as well as the lower storeys of the choir tower, have survived. These details clearly distinguish the former church from the surviving structures and place the village’s history in a much longer time frame.

A new church, reserved for Protestant worship, was built between 1959 and 1960. This is another historical milestone in Mittelwihr’s history. It stands alongside the history of Sainte-Brigitte and its destruction, without implying anything about the location of the new church.

The village’s history can also be viewed in a broader context: the interpretive trail “Bennwihr et Mittelwihr, 2 villages pour un même destin” tells the story of the two villages along the Alsace Wine Route, which were completely destroyed in 1944 and rebuilt. While the history of Sainte-Brigitte covers specific church-related milestones and surviving structures, the trail focuses on the shared fate of the two villages. Check local access conditions for the trail before your visit.

When planning your visit, you can start by choosing what interests you most: the vineyard landscape around Mandelberg, one of the hikes described above, or the village’s history and reconstruction. If you are interested in wine, you can also choose a walk through the vineyards or the cellar tasting described above; confirm arrangements in good time.

Discover more destinations: Cernay, Rimbachzell, Markirch, Murbach, Ostheim, Luttenbach-près-Munster, Hirtzbach, Wegscheid.

For the regional travel overview: Haut-Rhin.