Sermersheim combines a landscape of wet meadows and waterways with two gardens whose distinct focuses are easy to appreciate. It is also home to the neoclassical Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste and a playground. Nature, garden culture and architecture thus offer three different points of interest during your stay. If you plan to visit a garden, it is worth checking the arrangements for each one before you arrive.
Wet Meadows and Waterways
The INPN fiche dated June 12, 2024, lists Sermersheim as part of ZNIEFF 420007173. The area includes a remarkable bocage landscape with largely preserved wet meadows, a network of groundwater-fed waterways and a spring. It includes the protected habitat Sources phréatiques des Waechterquellen; the ZNIEFF is partly included in the Natura 2000 protected area Secteur alluvial Rhin-Ried-Bruch, Bas-Rhin (FR4201797). A total of 58 characteristic species have been recorded in the ZNIEFF, including the Eurasian curlew (Numenius arquata). The groundwater-fed waterways are also home to six characteristic fish species. The area’s natural appeal thus ranges from its landscape features to specifically named bird and fish species.
Two Gardens, Different Ways to Visit
The municipal Jardin pédagogique covers 71 ares. It includes a vegetable garden, a flower meadow, aromatic plants, an orchard, beehives, bird nesting boxes, a living hedge and a 56 m² educational greenhouse. The individual arrangements may change. Guided tours are available by appointment, including on Sunday mornings. Arrange a time before you arrive if you would like to take a guided tour.
Fantaisie de campagne offers a different experience. This 14-are garden, partly shaded, brings together perennials, grasses, roses, clematis, Japanese maples and rare plants; large trees and a small vegetable garden complete the grounds. Fantaisie de campagne was the first private garden in Alsace to open its doors to the public. Visits can be self-guided or accompanied by the owners. The plant composition may change with the seasons; check the visiting arrangements before your trip.
The areas listed also help with comparison: at 71 ares, the Jardin pédagogique is considerably larger than Fantaisie de campagne, which covers 14 ares. Along with the different ways to visit, this makes it possible to choose based on the size and type of tour you prefer: a scheduled guided tour of the educational garden, or a self-guided or accompanied visit to Fantaisie de campagne.
Church and Playground
The Église Saint-Jean-Baptiste was built between 1829 and 1831 in the neoclassical style, based on plans by the architect Kuhlmann. Services are held there regularly; choir performances or small concerts are occasionally organized. If you are looking for a musical event in particular, check the current parish program, as events may change with the program.
The Aire de jeux de Sermersheim is located on Rue de la Rivière in Sermersheim. Check practical access information before visiting.
Discover more destinations: Boofzheim, Mertzwiller, Uhlwiller, Gries, Dieffenbach-Au-Val, Rangen, Hochfelden, Neubois.
For the regional travel overview: Bas-Rhin.
