Soultz-Haut-Rhin is in the Haut-Rhin department of the Alsace region. It is a pleasant small town about 20 kilometres south of Colmar in the rolling vineyards and wooded hills at the edge of the Vosges region.
Dating from the 7th century, Soultz-Haut-Rhin has quite a different feel to many of the Alsace towns and villages as not many of its houses are half-timbered: the rich wine growers that developed the town preferred to build in stone.
Exploring Soultz-Haut-Rhin
France This Way review: even though it is not a major tourist destination, you will enjoy a visit to Soultz-Haut-Rhin if you visit this part of Alsace.
Start your visit in the main square in the town, the Place de la Republique, where you can see the Town Hall: this building is noteworthy for the red stone tower and two staircases in the centre of the facade.
The Soultz-Haut-Rhin tourist office is also on this square in a 16th century building with a two-storey oriel window.
As you explore you will discover that the old town in Soultz-Haut-Rhin contains a good number of houses dating from the 16th to 17th centuries, many incorporating elements of the renaissance style and often painted in different pastel colours (although not so much in the Place de la Republique which was largely rebuilt in the 19th century).
Typical features of this renaissance style include towers on the outside of houses that incorporate the internal staircase and 'oriel' windows: these are windows in wood or stone surroundings that protrude from the main building and have 2-5 sections (not unlike those called bay windows in more recent buildings).
The principal highlights in the town centre include:
- the Church of Saint-Maurice with its lovely sundial and belltower was built in the 13th-15th centuries. Take a look at the carving of the Last Judgement above the door before entering the church.
Inside the church you can see some notable frescoes from the 14th-15th centuries, an organ by the renowned organ designer Silbermann and also several statues and reliefs from the 16th century.
- Bucheneck castle is an attractive, well proportioned castle (more of a manor house than a castle really) set in gardens on the River Rimbach that now contains a small museum with artefacts explaining the history of Soultz-Haut-Rhin.
Among other sights of interest you will see as you explore are the attractive little Place Sainte-Claire, the Commanderie de Saint-Jean and the half timbered houses in Rue des Sœurs
Attractions nearby
The local tourist office at Soultz-Haut-Rhin can provide details of numerous walks and cycle routes, nearby villages on the Alsace Route des Vins and ideas for exploring the Florival Valley and Vosges mountains.
For reasons of tourism the local area is marketed as Guebwiller-Soultz and includes a wide range of outdoor activities, small architectural highlights, and scenic beauty. A couple of the most interesting buildings are the Collegiale at Lautenbach and the castle at Buhl.
Other notable highlights in the vicinity of Soultz include the village of Guebwiller, the abbey in a pretty wooded valley at Murbach and the impressive biosphere development at Ungersheim.
You can find more travel ideas in the Haut-Rhin guide and the Alsace guide.
To make travel arrangements to visit Soultz-Haut-Rhin see HERE
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Places to visit near Soultz-Haut-Rhin
Guebwiller
In Guebwilller it is the part of the town along the canal and also the churches that are the highlight for visitors
Guebwiller guide
Ungersheim
The Ecomuseum at Ungershim is a fascinating reconstruction of an entire medieval Alsace village using buildings from across the region
Ungersheim guide
Murbach abbey
The remains of the abbey at Murbach, the surrounding gardens and its position in a wooded valley make it a very attractive place to visit
Murbach abbey guide
Rouffach
Perhaps less exceptional than some Alsace towns we still enjoyed exploring the centre of Rouffach
Rouffach guide
Mulhouse
Often ignored as an 'industrial town' Mulhouse actually has an attractive centre around the Place de la Reunion and several important museums
Mulhouse guide
Eguisheim
Of the many beautiful traditional villages in Alsace, Eguisheim is one of our favourites
Eguisheim guide... or see ALL recommended places to visit in Haut-Rhin
Address: Soultz-Haut-Rhin, Guebwiller, Alsace, 68360, France || GPS coordinates: latitude 47.8867, longitude 7.22972
Plan your visit to Soultz-Haut-Rhin, Haut-Rhin
Sightseeing & tourist attractions to visit nearby
- Parc de la Marseillaise: remarkable garden (2 km)
- Guebwiller: town of art and history (3 km)
- Soultzmatt: ville fleurie 4* (8 km)
- Thann: recommended detour (13 km)
- Sausheim: ville fleurie 4* (15 km)
- Parc de Wesserling: remarkable garden (17 km)
- Mulhouse: town of art and history (17 km)
- Eguisheim: most beautiful village (18 km)
- Parc zoologique et botanique de Mulhouse: zoo or wildlife park (19 km)
- Parc botanique de Mulhouse : remarkable garden (19 km)
- Parc Alfred-Wallach: remarkable garden (19 km)
- Masevaux: ville fleurie 4* (22 km)
Market days in Soultz-Haut-Rhin, France
Regular market(s) are held in Soultz-Haut-Rhin each Wednesday & Wednesday &. (Markets are held in the morning unless stated.)
The French version of this page is at Soultz-Haut-Rhin (Francais)