Rixheim brings together the history of the Commandery, a large collection devoted to wallpaper design and marked walking trails. It also offers historical tours and green spaces with their own distinctive features. When planning your visit, it is worth considering their different highlights—and the seasonal opening times of Parc de la Commanderie.
The Commandery and the history of wallpaper
The Musée du Papier Peint is located in the right wing of the Commandery of Rixheim and is recognised as a Musée de France. The Commandery was built between 1733 and 1745 on the initiative of Commander Philippe de Montjoie. It bears witness to the former presence of the Teutonic Order in Alsace and was designated a historic monument in 2011. A wallpaper factory was established in the Commandery in 1797; the museum opened in 1983.
The collection comprises more than 100,000 objects, from printed papers of the 18th century to more recent designs. Its chronological scope therefore extends well beyond early wallpaper. The museum also preserves collections from Manufacture Zuber et Cie. Those interested in design will find not just a single historical chapter here, but a collection spanning a broad range of periods.
Another way to explore the town’s history is to take the historical walking tour of Rixheim. Its materials are available in French, English and German, and the tour comprises 24 educational panels. They introduce, among other things, the Commandery, the cemetery, the former forge and the church. Unlike the museum, the focus here is not on a collection, but on the history of different places and subjects in Rixheim.
Gardens and seasonal access
Parc de la Commanderie is open to the public on Sundays and public holidays from 2 pm to 6 pm, from 1 May to 30 September. Access is via the de la Jumenterie car park on Rue du Temple. Check these opening times before your visit. The park includes a landscape garden, a kitchen garden with a rose garden and greenhouses, as well as an orchard. The greenhouse in the park was faithfully restored in 2015.
The Jardin de la Fraternité has a different design. Its features include a paved path, a shaded agora and an olive tree. There is also a sculpture of an open hand supporting the Earth. This gives the garden a different focus from the wallpaper collection or the historical panels: here, the path, the place to linger and the sculpture shape the design.
Walking trails and getting around
Rixheim has marked walking trails for family outings and more strenuous hikes; they are accessible year-round. Conditions on individual trails may change. Each of the five Pierre-LAVE walking trails has a sign at the start of the loop with practical information and historical details about Rixheim. This sets them apart from the historical walking tour with its 24 educational panels: on the Pierre-LAVE trails, information is provided right at the start of each route, while the historical tour covers a range of places and subjects. You can then choose whether you prefer the information at the start of a trail or a broader account of the town’s history.
The Musée du Papier Peint can be reached by bus line 11, getting off at the Commanderie stop. As public transport information can change, check the current bus service before travelling.
Discover more destinations: Soppe-le-Bas, Riquewihr, Goldbach-Altenbach, Ferrette, Soultz-Haut-Rhin, Beblenheim, Oberlarg, Orschwihr.
See the regional travel guide: Haut-Rhin.
