Bartenheim: Church Architecture and Cycling Route

When planning a stay in Bartenheim, you can focus on several themes: sacred architecture, water sports and cycling. The churches and chapels tell the story of several building phases; water activities take centre stage at East Park, while Route BL995 passes through Bartenheim. The landscapes also change with the seasons.

Churches and chapels: different building phases

The Chapelle Saint-Nicolas has been documented since the 15th century; the present-day building dates largely from the second half of the 17th century. It was restored three times in the 20th century, in 1926, 1956 and 1989. These are distinct stages in its chronology: the earliest record, the greater part of the present-day building and the much later restorations. Saint-Nicolas is therefore defined not by a single construction date, but by a development spanning several centuries.

Saint-Georges also combines older and newer building phases, but with a different turning point. The church’s choir tower, dating from the 13th century, has survived; the vault on the tower’s ground floor dates from the 15th century. A fire destroyed the nave in 1934. The new Neo-Gothic church was completed in 1939. In contrast with Saint-Nicolas, the focus here is on an older surviving part, the destruction of the nave and the later construction of a new church.

The Chapelle Notre-Dame-des-Champs, also known as Schaecher, was built around 1800. A carved Calvary relief from this chapel is dated 1804 and was transferred to the Chapelle Saint-Martin in Bartenheim-la-Chaussée. The two dates remain distinct in the chronology: around 1800 refers to the chapel, while 1804 refers to the relief. The transfer adds a connection between two chapels to the building history, as well as the story of a relocated work of art.

Water sports and cycling route

At East Park, a 100% electric cable water-ski lift offers wakeboarding, water skiing, kneeboarding and wakeskating. There is also an aquapark with inflatable attractions, as well as stand-up paddleboarding on the water. The three activities differ in format: cable-lift activities, an aquapark and paddling on the water. East Park is located on the site of a former gravel pit that was transformed into a leisure centre for water sports and recreation. As operating details may change, check the seasonal opening status before your visit.

One specific cycling option is Route BL995 – Les Moulins du Muehlgraben: it is 24.4 kilometres long and passes through Bartenheim. The route’s length gives the ride a clear framework; check the route details before setting off.

The changing seasons offer another point of reference: Bartenheim’s landscapes change throughout the year. This complements the fixed historical dates and the specified cycling route with a landscape that changes over time. When choosing what to focus on, you can consider architectural history with specific dates, a route with a stated distance, and water sports whose seasonal availability you should check in advance as distinct options.

Discover more destinations: Vœgtlinshoffen, Bourbach-Le-Bas, Wolschwiller, Katzenthal, Lièpvre, Stosswihr, Rappoltsweiler, Münster

For the broader travel overview: Haut-Rhin.