Discover Dessenheim

Dessenheim’s historical themes range from the architecture of the parish church of Saint-Léger to an aircraft monument and burial mounds in the forest. The Mont des Oliviers in the cemetery and traces associated with the former castle are also part of this local picture.

Saint-Léger: Architecture and Design

The parish church of Saint-Léger was completed in 1876 to plans by the architect Victor Heilemann. Because of its size, it is called the “Cathedral of the Hardt.” The nickname highlights the scale of the building; the parish church retains the name Saint-Léger. Romanesque and Gothic elements come together here. Its nave is divided into seven bays and flanked by side aisles; there is no transept. The choir has a polygonal end, and the tower porch features a rose window. The term “transept” refers to the lateral cross arm in a church plan; its absence adds to the description of the layout. “Polygonal end” describes the shape of the choir’s termination, while the rose window is a decorative feature on the tower porch. These stylistic features are thus combined with a specific description of the spatial layout.

The Marin-la-Meslée Monument

The Marin-la-Meslée Monument stands at the crash site between Dessenheim and Rustenhart. It takes the form of an aviator’s star, which also marks the site where the aircraft crashed. In 1949, Edmond Marin-la-Meslée was buried beneath this star. The burial adds a specifically dated history of remembrance to the marked site. Compared with the Saint-Léger church, completed in 1876, the monument represents a more recent historical layer in Dessenheim’s local history.

Burial Mounds and Historical Traces

The burial mounds in the forest of Dessenheim are believed to be of Celtic origin. Under Napoleon III, a large number of them were excavated. Several skeletons and a sword are said to have been discovered; the sword is now on display at the Louvre in Paris. Their origin therefore remains a probable interpretation, while the excavations belong to a later historical period.

The Mont des Oliviers is located in the cemetery of Dessenheim. The Schlossereinpfad is one of the few remaining traces associated with the former castle of Dessenheim. How authentic this castle was remains uncertain. Thus, named places and traces whose historical interpretations vary in certainty exist side by side in Dessenheim.

A Regional Look at the Rhône-Rhine Canal

The disused section of the Rhône-Rhine Canal provides additional regional context for the Hardt. A description published on May 4, 2021, states that it can be used by cyclists and hikers; it also notes that the towpath along the canal has been prepared for hiking and walking. If you are considering a trip, check conditions locally. The canal and its towpath thus provide a different thematic connection from Dessenheim’s architectural and commemorative history.

Discover more destinations: Diefmatten, Lapoutroie, Wickerschwihr, Walbach, Lutter, Dietwiller, Soppe-le-Bas, Galfingue

For the regional travel overview: Haut-Rhin.