Blotzheim: Pilgrimage Chapel and Calvary Routes

Blotzheim offers several specific points of interest for a stay: a Marian pilgrimage chapel with a long building history, Église Saint-Léger, Château de Blotzheim and two circular routes to the town’s calvaries. You can combine cultural history with a walking route or consider performances and dining as additional interests. The themes are clearly distinct: the churches and château represent architectural history, while the walking route puts the calvaries and walking in the foreground.

Pilgrimage chapel and building history

Chapelle Notre-Dame-du-Chêne is dedicated to the Virgin Mary and served as the parish church from the 14th to the 17th century. It has been listed as a historic monument since 1986. Several periods can be distinguished in its construction: the bell tower dates from 1494, the nave from 1629, and the present-day choir was built during reconstruction between 1712 and 1717. Its dedication as a pilgrimage site, its former role as a parish church and its structural elements from different centuries offer different historical perspectives. For visitors interested in architecture, this chronology is a way to explore the building’s history.

Church and château from different periods

Église Saint-Léger was built between 1852 and 1864 and is known as the “Cathédrale du Sundgau.” The predecessor and present-day building of Château de Blotzheim must be distinguished chronologically: a medieval castle was destroyed in 1445; the present-day château replaced it in 1730. The dates therefore mark two separate events—the destruction of the castle and its later replacement—not a single building phase.

Circuit des Calvaires: two circular routes

Circuit des Calvaires offers two circular routes that highlight the town’s calvaries as important testimonies to its past. Both are approximately five kilometres long and start at the Maison du Parc car park. Some sections pass through open countryside; there is an alternative route between points 1 and 2. As seasonal conditions can affect access to certain sections, bear this in mind when planning and check conditions for your visit.

Performances and dining

The Maison du Parc is made available for possible exhibitions, conferences and gatherings. Specific dates may vary; check the programme if you would like to plan your visit around one of these events. Performances take place throughout the year at Casino Barrière Blotzheim. If a particular performance is important to your stay, check the event date in advance.

Blotz'Café at Casino Barrière offers brasserie classics such as burgers, Caesar salad and fish & chips, as well as cocktails. The menu also includes a seasonal dish. The menu and services may change; check the current offering if you have a particular dish in mind.

A post dated 28 May 2024 describes a wide selection of beers to take away at Brasserie La Bicéphale in Blotzheim, including pale, wheat, amber, IPA and flavoured varieties, brewed with local ingredients. The selection may change; check the current range if you are interested.

Discover more destinations: Ingersheim, Horbourg-Wihr, Murbach, Morschwiller-Le-Bas, Holtzwihr, Osenbach, Soppe-le-Bas, Bischwihr

For the broader travel overview: Haut-Rhin.