Discover Hœrdt: asparagus tradition, heritage and nature trails

You can tell whether Hœrdt is right for your trip by looking at its diverse themes: its asparagus tradition, Protestant heritage, nature trails and a horse-racing track. The details below offer useful pointers for planning your stay—from a recurring festival date to trails of different lengths.

Asparagus culture and local tradition

Hœrdt’s asparagus festival is celebrated every year on the second Sunday in May. During the festival, visitors can visit farms and sample traditional asparagus dishes. Since the calendar date changes from year to year, it is best to check the date for the relevant year of travel if you plan to attend.

The Musée de l’asperge focuses on asparagus culture and its distinctive features, the craft techniques associated with the vegetable, and market gardening in Hœrdt. Exhibits, photographs, films and other offerings present these topics. The museum preserves Hœrdt’s local cultural and agricultural heritage. While the festival highlights farms and tastings, the museum explores the history and practice of market gardening. If you are planning a specific visit, check the museum’s visitor information.

Protestant heritage

The “Stiehr-Mockers” organ, dating from 1847, is located in Hœrdt’s Protestant church. Its instrumental section has been classified as a historic monument since 27 February 1980; the oak case was added to the supplementary inventory on 29 September 1976. The two dates therefore refer to different parts and monument listings.

Hœrdt’s Protestant temple was inaugurated on 2 April 1848. It is adorned with symbolic stained-glass windows and was enhanced by artist Annie Greiner in 1998. The town thus has dated information both about a historic building and about an organ with two different forms of heritage protection.

Nature trails and landscape

The Hœrdt nature trail is an approximately twelve-kilometre circular route on the edge of the municipality. There are also several family walks, each taking about an hour. Two starting points, with information boards and parking, are at the cultural centre, 1 rue de la République, and at the washhouse in the agricultural cooperative car park, rue de La Wantzenau. The different distances make it easier to distinguish the circular route from the shorter walks when planning your day.

The nature trail passes through ecologically valuable wet meadows in the northeast of the municipal area. Roe deer and Eurasian curlews have made their home there. At the end of summer, magnificent carnations bloom; they are protected under a prefectural order for the protection of biotopes. The trail therefore takes in both the landscape and specific seasonal and ecological features.

Another way to enjoy the outdoors is the “Ludisme et équilibre vital” fitness trail in the Hœrdt-Geudertheim forest. It includes three routes ranging from 1,500 to 3,750 metres, as well as 14 exercise stations and 24 information boards for the general public. The routes are accessible to pedestrians, people with reduced mobility, pushchairs and cyclists. When comparing the options, the stated route lengths and user groups can help you find your way around.

Since 24 October 2007, 172 hectares of the Hœrdt Ried meadows have been protected under a biotope protection order, at the initiative of the municipality. Ploughing, removing hedges and camping are strictly prohibited there. Check the local access guidance for the area before visiting.

Horse racing in Strasbourg-Hoerdt

The Strasbourg-Hoerdt racecourse has four tracks with different configurations: a 1,280-metre trotting track with a mastic surface, a 1,800-metre grass track for flat racing, a 1,700-metre steeplechase track and a 5,200-metre cross-country track. The distances and track types offer a concrete insight into the venue. If horse racing is one of your interests, they provide a starting point for further planning; check event dates separately for your visit.

Discover more destinations: Hindisheim, Geispolsheim, Siewiller, Baldenheim, Osthouse, Blaesheim, Adamswiller, Solbach.

For the broader travel overview: Bas-Rhin.