The parish church of Saint-Morand in Balschwiller dates from 1848. Its history spans severe damage and a fire in 1915, followed by reconstruction after the war and the church’s return to worship in 1926. Alongside this cultural and historical highlight, the Largue river plain and named walking and gravel routes are among the factors that may influence your choice of destination.
Church of Saint-Morand: History and Design
On June 22, 1915, the parish church of Saint-Morand was severely damaged and hit by a fire. It was rebuilt after the war and returned to worship in 1926. These dates mark different stages: 1848 is the date of its construction, 1915 the year of severe damage and fire, and 1926 the year the church returned to use. The church can therefore be understood not only through its construction date, but also through its history of reconstruction.
The church’s portal gable features a frieze of triglyphs, and two fluted Doric columns support the gable. Fluting refers to the vertical grooves on the columns, while “Doric” describes their classical style. The sculptural group Mount of Olives consists of four painted, polychrome wooden statues. An inventory note from 2001 locates them on the south wall of the nave.
The washhouse as another landmark
The Balschwiller washhouse is also considered a landmark of the town’s architectural heritage from the late 19th century. This offers two distinct points of reference for understanding the area’s cultural history: at Saint-Morand, the focus is on its construction date, reconstruction and portal design; for the washhouse, its connection to the architectural heritage of the late 19th century is defining. Anyone interested in the town’s architectural history can consider these features as different aspects of the same subject.
The Largue river plain and walking trails
The Largue river plain and its natural habitats border Balschwiller and are easy to access. The Sentier du Soultzbach offers a specific route through the landscape: it runs along stream banks, newly planted hedgerows and traditional orchards, as well as wet meadows beside the canal. This gives you both a nearby natural area and individual landscape features along a named trail as points of reference for planning your trip.
The Balschwiller–Gildwiller–Balschwiller walking route is 7.5 kilometers long. This distance gives you a specific figure to consider when choosing a walk. The Sentier du Soultzbach, in turn, is characterized by the landscape features along its route. Depending on whether you prefer to base your choice on a stated distance or on the landscape features described, the two trails offer different points of reference.
Gravel route and culinary event
The La Porte d'Alsace gravel route reaches Balschwiller from Eglingen via a small road closed to vehicles. This means that, alongside walking, a gravel route with a named approach is another option to consider. The walking route is listed as 7.5 kilometers long; for La Porte d'Alsace, the direction from Eglingen and the road closed to vehicles are the specific points of reference.
The menu for the 2026 Marche gourmande de Balschwiller features partnerships with local producers and a vegetarian option. If you would also like to consider a culinary event when choosing a destination, these menu details offer a specific point of reference for the 2026 edition.
To decide whether Balschwiller is a good fit for your trip, you can weigh your interests in architectural history, landscapes and trails. The church and the washhouse offer distinct cultural and historical highlights; the Largue river plain, the Sentier du Soultzbach, the walking route and the gravel route provide different ways to enjoy nature and outdoor activities.
Discover more destinations: Riedwihr, Metzeral, Katzenthal, Biesheim, Ungersheim, Rimbachzell, Pulversheim, Kientzheim
For the regional travel overview: Haut-Rhin.
