Valff: Discover Heritage and Nature

A stay in Valff can combine two distinct themes: heritage and architectural history on the one hand, and nature and landscape on the other. The bell tower of Saint Blaise Church, the Chapelles Saint-Blaise and Sainte Marguerite, and the Jardin du Livre offer different historical and cultural points of interest. The 1001 Chemins de la Kirneck add a nature excursion. When looking for a hotel in Valff, you can consider which theme you want to shape your stay.

Churches and Chapels: Different Periods of Construction

The 42-metre-high bell tower of Saint Blaise Church once served as an observation and defensive tower in the grounds of a castle that was demolished at the end of the 19th century. From the third platform, visitors can look out over Valff’s houses, gardens, orchards, fields and meadows, all the way to the distant Vosges. Saint Blaise Church and the Chapelle Saint-Blaise are separate buildings.

The Chapelle Saint-Blaise was built in 1699 by the Andlau family and bears the family’s coat of arms. It stands in a secluded spot beside a country lane south of Valff.

The Gothic choir of the Chapelle Sainte Marguerite appears to date from the 15th century. The nave was rebuilt in 1566 and 1568; dates on the nave and on a post supporting the organ gallery indicate this. The tentative dating of the choir thus differs from the specific years of the rebuilds.

Jardin du Livre: Religious Themes and Plant Symbolism

The Jardin du Livre is located at the foot of Saint Blaise Church, in the Wihr, within the former castle moat. It explores major episodes from Judaism, Christianity and Islam, presenting them along a path through the symbolism of plants. The plant imagery brings the religious themes together, placing a symbolic interpretation alongside the chapels’ specific construction phases.

Admission is free; donations are welcome. The garden is open year-round by appointment; from late May to late September, it is open on Friday afternoons from 5 p.m. Before visiting, check whether a volunteer guide will be present and confirm the current access arrangements, as they may change.

1001 Chemins de la Kirneck: A Nature Excursion from Valff

The 1001 Chemins de la Kirneck is a 7-kilometre nature excursion starting in Valff. The route offers panoramic views of the vineyards and Mont Sainte-Odile. It passes through meadows and woodland, alongside a gravel pit and near the confluence of two rivers. Check local trail conditions before setting out.

As a nature activity, the Kirneck route differs from the individual heritage sites: the focus here is on the stated route length, the varied surroundings and the panoramic views.

Discover more destinations: Westhouse, Strasbourg, Wolfisheim, Ergersheim, Urmatt, Harskirchen, Wittisheim, Wimmenau

For the broader travel guide: Bas-Rhin.