Ostheim can be explored through several specific points of interest: the Mur des Cigognes as part of the war memorial, the Church of Saint-Nicolas, rebuilt in a modern style, and a circular hiking trail. The Parc de Schoppenwihr is another option for walks. This brings together local history, church art, hiking and park walks as different highlights for your stay.
Mur des Cigognes and local history
The Mur des Cigognes is a wall with a stepped gable and is listed as a protected monument in Ostheim. It is also part of the war memorial, which was inaugurated on September 6, 1953. The wall is also one of the few surviving remains of the old village from the period after the fighting of the last war. A stepped gable has an upper outline formed by a series of steps. The wall thus brings together architectural form, heritage protection and local history. The date 1953 marks the inauguration of the war memorial and should be distinguished from the wall’s historical context.
Saint-Nicolas: reconstruction and features
The Catholic Church of Saint-Nicolas offers a different cultural highlight. It was rebuilt in a distinctly modern style and consecrated in May 1960. The church houses the more than two-metre-high statue of Notre-Dame d’Ostheim, carved from lightly tinted linden wood. Saint-Nicolas also has an organ dating from 1963, made by the Roethinger organ builders of Strasbourg. The consecration and the organ’s date mark different milestones: 1960 relates to the church, while 1963 relates to the instrument. Visitors interested in architecture and features can thus distinguish the modern reconstruction from the individual items added at later dates.
Hiking and walks
When spending time outdoors, you can choose between two different options. The Discovery Circuit of Ostheim is a circular hiking trail. The Parc de Schoppenwihr is located one kilometre from the municipality of Ostheim, outside the municipality, and offers pleasant walks. The trail and the park are therefore different kinds of outings: one is described as a circular hiking route, while the other is a destination for walks in a park. Your choice depends on whether you are specifically looking for a hiking route or would rather focus on a walk in a park.
Getting there and accommodation
Ostheim is served by a regular bus or tram line. Check the current timetable before your trip so you can plan your arrival and departure using the connections in effect at the time. If your main interests are hiking or walking, you can weigh up the Discovery Circuit and the Parc de Schoppenwihr as different options. Since the park is outside the municipality, it is best to consider it as a separate destination. When choosing a specific hotel, compare its location with your plans and decide which base best suits your interests.
Discover more destinations: Katzenthal, Ensisheim, Mulhouse, Luttenbach-près-Munster, Soultzmatt, Dessenheim, Saint-Louis, Osenbach
For the regional travel overview: Haut-Rhin.
