Châtenois: Culture and June Events

Châtenois combines architectural history, a historic town gate and annual events in June. Notable buildings include the Church of Saint-Georges, the Tour des Sorcières and the Chapelle Sainte-Croix. The Fête des Remparts and the Slow-Up also take place here, on the second and first weekends of June, respectively. For your travel plans, you can focus on the buildings, take one of the event dates into account, or include the Sentier des Murailles et des Vignes, with its panoramic views over the Alsatian plain. There is an important accessibility restriction to bear in mind for this trail.

Churches and Architectural History

The Church of Saint-Georges was built between 1759 and 1761. During construction, the bell tower of the former Romanesque church was incorporated into the new building. The church therefore brings together two distinct building phases: the construction of the church in the 18th century and the surviving tower of its Romanesque predecessor. The heritage protection designations also distinguish between the parts of the building. The bell tower is classified as a Monument historique; the nave and choir are listed as Monuments historiques. If you view the church from an art and architectural history perspective, this distinction is a specific indication that the protection designations apply to different parts of the building.

Tour des Sorcières and Chapelle Sainte-Croix

At Châtenois’s fortified cemetery, the Tour des Sorcières is the only surviving one of several towers. It is a Gothic gate dating from the 15th century and was modified in 1830. The history of the building also includes the memory of the witch trials in Châtenois: several people accused of witchcraft were burned. Architectural history and local persecution history meet here. This gives the Tour a different historical focus from the architectural history of the Church of Saint-Georges.

The Chapelle Sainte-Croix dates from 1709 and was originally associated with a pilgrimage. It has been listed as a Monument historique since 29 October 2001. However, the protection does not extend to the south door and its canopy. The chapel offers another historic landmark, with a history distinct from that of the later-built church and the Gothic gate: its construction date and original connection to the pilgrimage are at the heart of its story.

Events on the First Two Weekends in June

The Slow-Up takes place every year on the first weekend in June. Its route runs between Sélestat, Châtenois and Bergheim along the Route des Vins and the Véloroute du Vignoble. You can experience the Slow-Up on foot, by bicycle or on roller skates. In the annual calendar, the Fête des Remparts follows on the second weekend in June and takes place in the streets of Châtenois. Its programme includes discovering the local heritage and demonstrations of traditional crafts.

The two events have different focuses: the Slow-Up centres on three ways to take part and a route between the named towns; the Fête des Remparts combines Châtenois’s heritage with demonstrations of traditional crafts. If you plan your trip around one of these events, note the order of the weekends: the Slow-Up is scheduled for the first weekend in June, and the Fête des Remparts for the second. The exact event dates may vary from year to year.

Panoramic Trail and Accessibility

The Sentier des Murailles et des Vignes offers walkers exceptional panoramic views over the Alsatian plain. In the municipalities of Dieffenthal, Scherwiller and Châtenois, the trail includes 15 points of interest across three routes. These details therefore describe the trail offering across all three municipalities. One restriction is also important for your planning: the Sentier des Murailles et des Vignes is not suitable for pushchairs or people with reduced mobility. Bear this in mind if you plan to include a walk in your trip.

Discover more destinations: Belmont, Blienschwiller, Stundwiller, Bischheim, Lembach, Hunspach, Holtzheim, Drachenbronn-Birlenbach.

For the regional travel overview: Bas-Rhin.