Pfastatt combines architectural and industrial history with opportunities for walks and bike rides in the Forêt de Pfastatt. Events and a regular Thursday gathering may also shape your plans. You can choose the focus of your stay based on whether you are looking for historic buildings, the town’s development, cultural events or time in the great outdoors.
Church and industrial history
The Saint-Maurice Church was built in 1864 in the Romanesque Revival style. It was designed by the Mulhouse architect Jean-Baptiste Schacre. The church replaced a dilapidated chapel commissioned by Hans de Hauss in 1505. The town’s architectural history and that of its religious building therefore stretch back several centuries. The church’s style and the sequence of chapel and replacement building provide a tangible architectural reference point for the town’s history.
The town’s industrial development can also be traced through individual businesses. Pfastatt’s first industrial activity began in the 18th century with a brickworks founded by the Burtz family. Later, its immediate proximity to the Doller led to the establishment of a textile-printing workshop founded by J.B. Kastner. A century later, a bleaching and dyeing works run by Haeffely, Lalance and Schaeffer followed. The brickworks, textile printing, bleaching and dyeing represent different stages in local industrial history. Together with the church, they provide a cultural theme that encompasses both architectural history and former production.
ForĂŞt de Pfastatt and parks
The ForĂŞt de Pfastatt is part of the wooded Bois de Nonnenbruch massif. The forest offers opportunities for walks and bike rides. This puts two different ways to spend time outdoors in the foreground: a walk on foot or an outing by bike. If you choose the forest landscape as your focus, you can take these activities into account when planning your day.
The two parks mentioned here can also help you find your way around town. Parc Général de Gaulle is in the centre of Pfastatt. Parc des Cotonnades is in the new Cotonnade district. These locations provide different reference points: the town centre on the one hand and the Cotonnade district on the other. This helps put the parks in context, while the stated opportunities for walks and bike rides apply specifically to the Forêt de Pfastatt.
Discovery tours and cultural events
Throughout the year, the Commission Patrimoine et Cadre de vie and the Société d’Histoire jointly organise discovery tours in Pfastatt. Exact dates vary; if you would like to include one of these tours in your plans, check the events calendar before travelling. This is particularly useful if a specific date will determine your choice of stay.
One seasonal event is Festi’Grenadine, an intercommunal puppet festival for young audiences from Pfastatt and Lutterbach. It takes place during the first week of the spring holidays; the exact dates vary each year. If you are planning a trip around the festival, check the dates for that year’s edition rather than relying solely on the holiday week.
La Ludosphère, also known as La Ludothèque, lends games and toys to children, teenagers and adults during its opening hours. Regular and occasional activities are also held on its premises; individual offerings may vary. If you are planning a visit, check the opening hours and programme for your travel dates. La Bobine also runs a year-round cultural programme, with individual events varying over time.
Thursday gathering and connections
L’Instant gourmand takes place on Thursdays from 4 to 7 pm on Rue des écoles, next to Parc Général de Gaulle. In summer, opening hours are listed as running until 8 pm. Bear this seasonal extension in mind when planning; check the current hours before your visit.
Pfastatt is served by three bus routes that connect to Mulhouse’s tram network. Routes and timetables can change, so check the current timetable for your journey. This lets you factor in a possible bus connection to suit your plans without assuming a particular connection or journey time. You can decide whether your stay should focus more on cultural history, forest activities or a specific event date based on these different offerings.
Discover more destinations: Rixheim, Masevaux, Ensisheim, Turckheim, Wahlbach, Thann, Houssen, Sierentz.
For the overview of the wider region: Haut-Rhin.
