Birkenwald offers several distinct ways to experience a stay: the Renaissance manor house Château de Birkenwald, the Saint-Louis parish church, the Calvaire in its landscape setting, and a hiking route rated easy. Construction dates and surviving parts of buildings provide clues to the village’s history; permanent grassland, old orchards and a named waypoint add landscape and outdoor activities to the mix. When planning, you can decide whether architectural history, landscape or a hike should shape your stay.

Château and Parish Church

The Château de Birkenwald is a Renaissance manor house built in 1562 on the site of an earlier fortified house. The older fortified house belongs to the site’s history; 1562 marks the construction of the Renaissance manor house. In 2026, the Château was open for free visits to the gardens, guardroom and spiral staircase made of Vosges sandstone. These areas connect the garden with specific parts of the house. The building material of the spiral staircase is also identified. If you are travelling after 2026, check the opening periods then in effect before planning your visit.

The nave of Saint-Louis parish church was rebuilt in 1704; only the choir survives. The nave and choir are different parts of the building: the date refers to the rebuilding of the nave, while the choir is the part that remains. This makes it possible to distinguish a historic intervention at Saint-Louis from the extent of the building that survives today. Unlike the Château, the date here refers to the rebuilding of a specific part of a church, not the construction of a manor house.

Calvaire and Landscape

The Calvaire de Birkenwald was built at the end of the 18th century and is set in a bucolic landscape of permanent grassland and old orchards. These two landscape features add a specific sense of place to the monument’s date. This allows the Calvaire to be understood not only through when it was built, but also through its setting in the landscape. This focus differs from looking at individual building elements and construction phases at the Château and parish church. If you would like to view historic sites in the context of their surroundings, the Calvaire offers a distinct point of interest.

A Hiking Route with a Named Waypoint

As a hiking option, the Circuit de la Sommerau – Marche nordique is rated easy and passes the classified Le Gros Chêne. The route description was updated on 17 December 2024. The rating provides an initial indication of the route’s difficulty; Le Gros Chêne is a specific named point along the route. Check the route information before planning your hike.

Comparing the Construction Dates

A chronological comparison helps put the historical information into context: 1562 marks the construction of the Château, 1704 the rebuilding of the nave at Saint-Louis, and the Calvaire was built at the end of the 18th century. The dates relate to different buildings and different events. Together, they provide several historical reference points for Birkenwald rather than telling a single story of its architectural history.

Discover more destinations: Dieffenthal, Triembach-au-Val, Petersbach, Sundhouse, Salmbach, Plaine, Dieffenbach-Au-Val, Bergbieten.

Go to the regional travel overview: Bas-Rhin.