Solbach combines village history with hiking and cycling trails. When planning your stay, it is worth looking at two very different walking routes: the 2-kilometre round trip to the summit is listed as taking 40 minutes, while the CIRCUIT RANDO C19: Autour du Haut des Monts is a 13-kilometre hike. This gives you routes of different lengths to consider when planning your stay.
Village history among farmhouses and the church
The scattered single-storey farmhouses in Solbach, dating from the 18th and 19th centuries, bear witness to a significant subsistence economy. The village’s history goes back further: according to local tradition, the original settlement was farther down the valley. After repeated attacks during the Thirty Years’ War (1618–1648), the survivors resettled higher up the valley to hide from the enemy armies marching below along the Bruche.
The Lutheran church stands on Rue Principale. It was built to plans by district architect Antoine Ringeisen and blessed by Pastor Charles Emmanuel Witz on 8 January 1860. Ringeisen is also associated with another structure in the village: Solbach’s cemetery was laid out according to his plans as well.
Hiking trails of varying lengths
The 13-kilometre CIRCUIT RANDO C19: Autour du Haut des Monts is designated as a walking route. Its starting point is at 3 Chemin du Chenot in Solbach. The Tour du mont Saint-Jean offers a different route: it goes around Mont Saint-Jean and reaches the village about 2.5 kilometres later. As a separate option, the tour includes a 2-kilometre round trip to the summit, listed as taking 40 minutes and offering panoramic views of the surrounding area.
The two descriptions make the difference clear: the summit route is a short round trip with a stated walking time, while the C19 is a considerably longer hike. Check local trail conditions before setting out, especially if you plan to take the Tour du mont Saint-Jean.
The CIRCUIT RANDO C03 also passes through Solbach. From Fouday, it runs via the legendary Col de la Perheux to the green landscapes around Belmont, continues on to Waldersbach and finally returns to Fouday. For cyclists, the CIRCUIT VÉLO C25 describes a route from the Col de la Perheux to Solbach via the Maison des Amis de la Nature. The routes therefore differ not only in mode of transport, but also in the places and routes mentioned for each.
Art and goat’s milk cheese
The Jardin de Martine Cassar features outdoor sculptures as well as other works by the artist in an exhibition room. If you plan to visit, check in advance whether visits are possible. This keeps art on the list as a potential activity without assuming fixed opening hours.
The Chèvrerie du Solbet at 1 Chemin de la Croisette makes goat’s milk cheese and sells its products in the morning. If you would like to include a cheese purchase in your plans, check availability in advance. This is particularly helpful if you are planning your day around the morning sales.
Discover more destinations: Waltenheim-sur-Zorn, Bellefosse, Bischwiller, Hessenheim, Vendenheim, Drachenbronn-Birlenbach, Ohnenheim, Cosswiller
Go to the regional travel overview: Bas-Rhin.
