There are two distinct ways to discover Lucelle: the former Cistercian abbey tells the story of a long history of construction, while walks around Lac de Lucelle offer a chance to observe the local flora and fauna. When planning your visit, you can decide whether to spend more time exploring the protected abbey remains, enjoying nature, or going on a hike.
The Former Abbey and Its Construction History
The Cistercian abbey was founded in 1124 as the first Cistercian abbey in the territory of the Holy Roman Empire. In 1346, a Gothic church replaced the Romanesque sanctuary. After a fire in 1699, the abbey was completely rebuilt between 1708 and 1750. These dates give the site a broad historical context: from its founding, through the transition to Gothic church architecture, to its rebuilding after the fire, the site changed over several centuries.
Protected features include remains of the former enclosure, with its main portal and the bridge over the Lucelle. They also include the large fountain at the entrance to the gardens, the gardens with their terraces and grand staircase, and the portal of Abbot Delphis's house. The original lower sections of the former barn (restaurant) and the former forge (chapel) are also protected. The former inn's entire interior is included; the ground and the remains it contains are also protected. The abbey is partially protected as a Monument historique. It was listed on February 6, 1996.
Another chapter in the area's monastic history is the Chapelle Notre-Dame: Abbé Lidy built it in 1968 on the site of the former blast furnaces of Lucelle's Cistercian monks. Alongside the surviving parts of the abbey, this gives the site a second tangible connection to the monks' former activities.
Walks around Lac de Lucelle
The RĂ©serve Naturelle du lac de Lucelle nature reserve is in the canton of Jura and offers opportunities to observe the local flora and fauna. A peaceful walk of about 30 minutes leads through the area. The route is also accessible to wheelchair users, and informative panels are placed along the way. It offers a way to combine nature observation with a short walk.
A 45-minute walk is also indicated around Lac de Lucelle. The two durations can help you plan your visit around the time you have available: the roughly half-hour walk in the nature reserve has information panels and wheelchair access, while the 45-minute walk explores the area around the lake. These durations refer to different walks and should not be treated as a single route when planning.
Plan Your Hike and Journey
The Lucelle les vieilles fermes hike starts on the abbey grounds. A detour into Switzerland leads to an unusual rock shelter above the spring-fed headwaters of a river. Its starting point makes this hike a distinct way to combine Lucelle's history with a route that also crosses into Switzerland.
The Ancienne Abbaye Cistercienne de Lucelle site is served by a regular bus or tram line. If you plan to use this connection for your trip, check the timetable before setting off. When choosing accommodation, you can first decide what you want to focus on during your stay: abbey history, nature observation, or the hike that starts on the abbey grounds. The stated walk durations and the accessibility information for the route in the nature reserve provide practical guidance for planning your day.
Discover More Destinations
Discover more destinations: Merxheim, Altkirch, Saint-Amarin, Eguisheim, Ranspach, Rouffach, Neuwiller and Wittelsheim.
Return to the main travel overview: Haut-Rhin.
