Soultz-Haut-Rhin can be explored through several specific themes: historic buildings, local history and recurring markets. The town is also situated in the Alsace Wine Route region, at the foot of the Vosges. You can tailor your stay to your interests, whether you are mainly interested in architectural history, the town’s development or its markets.
Between the Wine Route and the Vosges
Soultz-Haut-Rhin is on the Alsace Wine Route, at the foot of the Vosges and near the Grand Ballon. This location gives the town a clear regional setting. When planning your trip, you can distinguish between two different interests: the historic sights in the town and Soultz-Haut-Rhin’s place in the wine and Vosges region. The proximity of the Grand Ballon is a geographical reference point; by itself, it says nothing about a specific route or its duration.
Markets on two days of the week
The main market takes place on Wednesdays at Place de la République. There is a smaller market on Saturday mornings behind the Halle aux Blés. The two markets therefore differ in both size and day of the week and location. If a market visit is part of your plans, you can take these dates into account when choosing which days to visit.
Check the current market times and locations before your trip. This is especially helpful if you want to plan your stay around one of the two market days. That way, you can incorporate the information directly into your daily plans without having to treat a market visit as interchangeable with other sightseeing.
Architectural history in the old town
The Église Saint-Maurice was built in several phases: in the 13th and 14th centuries, in the second half of the 15th century and in the first quarter of the 17th century. It has been protected as a historic monument since a decree dated 12 August 1920. The construction history and protected status therefore refer to different dates: 1920 is the date of the decree, not the construction of the church.
The historic walking tour through the old town also passes buildings with distinctive architectural features. Renaissance-era houses have features such as stair turrets, oriel windows and buttresses. An oriel window projects out from the façade, while a buttress is a projecting masonry support. Together with the stair turrets, these details make the tour especially interesting if you want to pay attention to the design of the houses as you explore.
Museums with different perspectives
The Château du Bucheneck houses a museum about the history of Soultz-Haut-Rhin and its prominent families. The Musée du Bucheneck also displays a monumental model of Soultz-Haut-Rhin dating from 1838. The combination of local history and the model gives the museum visit a specific historical focus: the model places the town itself at the centre, while the history of its families offers another way to explore the past.
La Nef des Jouets houses a collection spread over three floors of the former Commandery of the Order of Malta. Alongside the architectural history of the Église Saint-Maurice and the town history at the Château du Bucheneck, this offers another collection in a historic building. The three themes offer different points of interest to help you choose: architectural details on the walking tour, local and family history at the château, or the collection in the former commandery.
Plan your stay around your interests
If you prefer architectural history, focus on the church and the Renaissance houses in the old town. For the history of the town and its families, the museum in the Château du Bucheneck is the relevant place to visit; La Nef des Jouets adds its collection in the former commandery to the options. A market visit also requires choosing a specific day of the week. You can organise your visit days around the themes that matter most to you and include the market times in your plans in advance.
Discover more destinations: Muhlbach-Sur-Munster, Gundolsheim, Houssen, Goldbach-Altenbach, Oberlarg, Durrenentzen, Balschwiller, Seppois-le-Bas.
Go to the regional travel overview: Haut-Rhin.
