Breitenbach-Haut-Rhin brings together several clearly distinct themes: the Cimetière militaire allemand, the Chapelle de l'Archange-Mickaël, located in the forest, its inclusion in the ZPS des Hautes Vosges / Haut-Rhin, and regional farm offerings. Each theme calls for a different focus when planning. A 55-kilometre hike rated difficult requires different preparation than planning a visit to a farm shop that requires an appointment in advance. You can give culture, nature and cuisine the emphasis that best suits the reason for your trip.

A German military cemetery with a clear history

The Cimetière militaire allemand is located on Chemin Brechenmacher at Kraehenberg in Breitenbach-Haut-Rhin. It opened in December 1920 and holds the remains of 3,529 German soldiers from the First World War and 173 German soldiers from the Second World War. The figures describe two separate groups and give a clear sense of the scale of the memorial site.

Woodland chapel and local legend

The Chapelle de l'Archange-Mickaël is located in a hamlet in the middle of the forest in Breitenbach-Haut-Rhin. The chapel's history includes an earlier chapel dedicated to the Archangel Mickaël, dating from the 18th century. A local legend tells of a bell ringer who was on the summit of Engelsberg and was struck by lightning. According to the legend, the chapel bell then sank deep into the earth. A villager later retrieved it and installed it at the hamlet's religious building. The story links Engelsberg, the bell and the hamlet's building; it remains identifiable as a legend, while the earlier chapel is dated to the 18th century.

Bird protection area and challenging circular hike

Breitenbach-Haut-Rhin is one of the municipalities affected by the ZPS des Hautes Vosges / Haut-Rhin. The designation is justified by the presence of ten species listed in Annex I of Directive 79/409/EEC, known as the Birds Directive. This distinguishes the reason for the protected-area designation from the hiking route: the former concerns why the area was designated, while the latter concerns the length and difficulty of a specific hike.

The named circular hiking trail “De Breitenbach à Breitenbach” starts in Breitenbach-Haut-Rhin, is 55 kilometres long and is rated difficult. It is a hike to plan in its own right, rather than a short extra stroll. Check the route conditions before setting out if you plan to include the hike in your stay.

Farm produce and regional cuisine

By car, Ferme du Lameysberg can be reached from Breitenbach by heading towards Lameyberg and Petit Ballon. The farm sells its own produce by appointment; cheese platters are available on request. Another culinary option is Ferme-Auberge du Christlesgut, which serves regional dishes, including a marcaire repas made with farm produce. The offerings therefore differ in focus: Lameysberg highlights farm produce and cheese platters on request, while Christlesgut offers a regional meal. Check the current arrangements before planning, as service details may change.

Discover more destinations: Flaxlanden, Durrenentzen, Ammerschwihr, Hirtzbach, Wildenstein, Niederhergheim, Sentheim, Eglingen

For the broader travel overview: Haut-Rhin.