Discover Baldenheim

Baldenheim combines traces of church history with fruit growing and the Ried landscape. If you are planning a hotel stay, these themes can help you choose which days to visit: the Lutheran church has seasonal visiting hours, the Catholic Church of Saint-Louis has its own construction period, and the cycling tour and family treasure hunt offer different ways to explore. This lets you discover the town through its culture, landscapes or activities.

Churches: Art, history and visiting hours

In the Lutheran church, the former parish church of Saint-Blaise, the wall paintings form part of the historic monument, which has been protected since June 2, 1970. The church also contains medieval burials of members of the Rathsamhausen family or their successors as feudal lords of Baldenheim. Thus, wall paintings and a family history stretching far back in time come together in the same building.

The historic church welcomes individual visitors on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays from 2:30 to 5:30 p.m. from early July to late August, and on Sundays in September. Groups can visit throughout the year outside service times, by prior arrangement. Check the seasonal schedule before your trip so that your visit fits the stated hours.

The foundation stone of the Catholic Church of Saint-Louis was laid in 1937; construction continued until 1939. This brings together two different time references: the medieval burials in the Lutheran church and the construction history of Saint-Louis.

The Ried landscape and fruit-growing culture

Baldenheim lies in the Ried, a nature-rich landscape with a variety of landforms and diverse flora and fauna. The banks of the Ill in Baldenheim are known as the “Ried gris.” Thus, the Ried as a broader landscape setting and the named riverbanks as a local landmark sit side by side. For orientation, this connects the wider natural area with a specific landscape name in Baldenheim.

The fruit exhibition features around 100 old and new varieties and takes place every two years. Its biennial schedule makes it an event that depends on the date: check before your trip whether the exhibition is taking place on your travel dates.

The “Association des Arboriculteurs fruitiers et d’ornement de Baldenheim” also organizes fruit-growing activities. Members and interested non-specialists can take courses in pruning and grafting, as well as attend talks. The exhibition draws attention to the diversity of fruit varieties, while the association’s program complements the theme with practical courses and talks.

Cultural names and excursions

Baldenheim is the namesake findspot of the Baldenheim-type ceremonial helmet; around 30 examples of this type have been documented to date. The town is also linked to music history: Victor Nessler was born in Baldenheim and achieved his greatest success in 1884 with his opera “The Trumpeter of Säckingen.” The work was even performed in the United States. The cultural story thus ranges from an archaeological find’s name to opera history.

“Les mystères du Ried” is a family treasure hunt focusing on the typical Ried landscapes of Baldenheim. If this activity is important to your trip, check its current availability in advance. Another way to explore the area is the 41.4 km “Humanisme rhénan et artisanat du Ried” cycling tour, which includes Baldenheim and its historic church. The stated total distance provides a clear basis for planning; also check the current signage before setting out.

Discover more destinations: Schiltigheim, Salmbach, Belmont, Ranrupt, Harskirchen, Boofzheim, Hoenheim, Geispolsheim

For the broader travel overview: Bas-Rhin.