Those considering Kembs as a travel destination will find an unusual arc stretching from the ancient station of Cambete to the history of water engineering and energy generation. The town’s history can be explored in a museum; at the hydroelectric power plant and lock, architecture and technology take centre stage. Cycling and waterways offer another perspective on the surrounding area.
From Cambete to the Hydroelectric Power Plant
The ancient station of Cambete stood at a crossroads of Roman roads running north–south and east–west, and at a crossing over the Rhine. This crossroads combined two land routes with a river crossing, bringing the historic transport hub to life. A later technical landmark is the Kembs hydroelectric power plant, inaugurated by President Albert Lebrun in 1932. Since 2015, it has held the French “Architecture contemporaine remarquable” label. The two dates mark different milestones: 1932 was the inauguration, while 2015 brought later architectural recognition.
At the hydroelectric power plant, the Jardin des Nixes leads to an exhibition walkway from which visitors can see the turbine hall. The garden and exhibition walkway complement the historical context with a close-up view of the industrial setting.
Architecture at the Kembs-Niffer Lock
Water engineering and architecture also meet at the Kembs-Niffer lock. The two buildings designed by Le Corbusier have been protected as Monuments historiques since 2005 and are considered a rare example of 20th-century architecture at an industrial facility. The site can therefore be viewed not only in terms of its nautical function, but also through the connection between design and industry.
The Kembs-Niffer lock is the auxiliary lock at the Niffer lock site. This site lies where the Grand Canal d’Alsace and the Canal du Rhône au Rhin meet at the Rhine. The lock’s outdoor grounds are freely accessible year-round; access to indoor areas is subject to separate arrangements. If you would like to visit the interiors, check access arrangements in advance.
History at the Maison du Patrimoine
Those seeking historical context rather than a single building can make the Maison du Patrimoine the focus of their visit. Its permanent exhibitions present the history of Kembs from antiquity to the present day. The exhibition includes objects, eyewitness accounts and archival documents. Taken together, these materials provide both a chronological overview and different ways of exploring the town’s history.
The Maison du Patrimoine offers guided tours by appointment. If you would like a tour, arrange a time in advance.
Waterways and Cycling Routes
The Port de plaisance de Kembs is located on a stretch of water belonging to the former Canal de Huningue. From there, recreational boaters can reach the Grand Canal d’Alsace and the Canal du Rhône au Rhin via the large Kembs-Niffer locks. This information is particularly relevant for planning a trip on the water and distinguishes the port from sites where history and architecture are the main focus.
There are also several reference points for planning a cycling trip. Basel provides access to EuroVelo 6. The Huningue Canal passes through the Petite Camargue Alsacienne to Kembs. A Voie Verte runs from south to north as a forest road through the state-owned Hardt Forest. The routes differ in direction and orientation: access to EuroVelo 6 at Basel, the canal route through the Petite Camargue Alsacienne, and a north–south forest road in the Hardt Forest. Route conditions and signage may change; check the current route before setting out.
Discover more destinations: Husseren-Les-Châteaux, Illfurth, Lutter, Bergholtz, Brunstatt, Kruth, Urbès, Masevaux
For the regional travel overview: Haut-Rhin.
