In Wihr-Au-Val, a Neo-Gothic parish church, historic buildings and a strong winemaking tradition come together. The architectural history spans the late Middle Ages to the 19th century. There are also vineyards with several grape varieties and offerings from Domaine Schoenheitz. To get to know the village, you can plan your stay around these different interests: architecture, wine or a playful way to explore the village.
Churches and buildings from several centuries
The present-day Eglise paroissiale Saint-Martin is Neo-Gothic. Its foundation stone was laid on 11 July 1869, and construction was completed in 1873. The Chapelle-ossuaire Saint-Michel offers a much earlier point of comparison: it dates from the late 15th or early 16th century and has been listed as a historic monument since 9 July 1986. These two religious buildings thus represent different periods in the history of the village.
The Chapelle de la Sainte-Croix provides another historical point of reference. It was rebuilt in 1806 and is located on the Sonnenberg. The Fontaine (D) was built in 1774. The Ancienne porte de Ville is also listed as a historic monument; its listing dates to 22 March 1934. Together, these buildings do not form a tour of a single architectural style, but offer different ways to explore the history of Wihr-Au-Val: through a church, a chapel, a fountain and the town gate.
Vineyards, grape varieties and winery offerings
Wihr-Au-Val is the only wine-growing village in the canton of Munster. Its vineyards include the municipal appellation “Val saint Grégoire”. Riesling, Pinot, Sylvaner, Muscat and Gewurztraminer are grown here. This selection gives local winemaking a distinct profile: those tasting wine or interested in grape varieties can connect the names of the grapes grown here with the offerings from Domaine Schoenheitz.
Domaine Schoenheitz offers guided wine tastings with food pairings, as well as a guided wine trail through the vineyards. Reservations may be required for the trail. Private cellar tours are also available year-round by appointment. The scheduling requirements are therefore an important distinction between exploring the vineyards independently and arranging a visit in advance.
For groups of 8 to 40 people, the winery offers four reception packages. These include cellar tours, guided tastings and vineyard tours; Kougelhopf and Munster fermier au lait cru are also among the listed offerings. Groups are asked to get in touch in advance. The group packages and private cellar tours are designed for different types of visits: a shared program or an arranged visit for two or a small party.
A playful village walk and woodland
The “Balade insolite à Wihr-au-Val” offers a playful way to discover or rediscover the village. A guidebook for the walk is available at Camping La Route Verte and at the Munster Valley Tourist Office; check availability with them in advance. The booklet offers a practical option for anyone who would like guidance while exploring, rather than focusing solely on individual buildings or wine experiences.
Another defining landscape feature is the woodland: Wihr-au-Val covers 730 hectares, most of which is municipal forest. Along with the vineyards, this highlights another side of the village beyond its architectural history and winemaking. For planning purposes, it is helpful to consider these separately: the winery offerings described have their own contact and scheduling requirements, while the village walk can be explored with its guidebook. This makes it easier to decide which of the specific experiences described will shape your stay.
Discover more destinations: Village-Neuf, Sainte-Croix-En-Plaine, Brunstatt, Houssen, Westhalten, Dolleren, Morschwiller-Le-Bas, Mittelwihr
For the regional travel overview: Haut-Rhin.
