Discover Urbès

Urbès brings together several distinct themes to consider when choosing a travel destination: the discovery trail at the Tunnel d'Urbès, the architecture of the parish church of Saint-Wendelin, the natural history of Lake d'Urbès and the cuisine of the Ferme-auberge du Gustiberg. If you are looking for hotels in Urbès, you can first weigh whether history, church architecture, natural history or regional cuisine is the deciding factor for your stay.

The Tunnel d'Urbès and its discovery trail

Visitors can learn about the entrance to the Tunnel d'Urbès and its history today via a discovery trail. This gives the subject a concrete local connection: the focus is on the tunnel entrance and the history of this tunnel. If you like to explore historical subjects in a specific setting, this is a clear point of interest in Urbès.

Saint-Wendelin: construction date and building methods

Construction of the parish church of Saint-Wendelin in Urbès began in 1847, and it was consecrated in October of the same year. Construction and consecration therefore took place in the same year, but represent different milestones in the church's history. The bell tower porch is built from sandstone blocks; the nave and chancel are plastered masonry. This change in materials distinguishes the different parts of the building: the porch is defined by its block construction, while the nave and chancel are described as plastered masonry. The church also has an organ by Joseph Callinet. The construction date, building components and organ offer several concrete points of reference for understanding the church's design and furnishings.

The tunnel and the church offer two different ways to explore local history: at the tunnel, a discovery trail points to the entrance and its history, while at Saint-Wendelin, the construction date, materials and organ are the stated points of reference.

Lake d'Urbès: geology and natural environment

Lake d'Urbès is classified as a type 1 ZNIEFF site. It covers 73 hectares and lies at an elevation of 435 to 460 metres. Its geological context includes deposits of lacustrine material and peat that have been present for more than 10,000 years. A moraine was responsible for the lake's formation. The area and elevation figures describe the natural environment in numbers, while the information about its formation and deposits adds a long-term perspective. If you include natural history in your choice of travel destination, the lake offers a distinct focus alongside the town's architectural attractions.

Regional cuisine at the Ferme-auberge du Gustiberg

The Ferme-auberge du Gustiberg complements the architectural and natural themes with regional cuisine. It serves a marcaire menu, specialities such as Fleischschnackas, and fruit tart and fromage blanc with blueberries for dessert. These specific dishes can help guide your culinary interests. The Ferme-auberge has 36 hectares of high-altitude pasture; the farm in Urbès also includes 34 hectares of meadows. As farm areas can change, check these figures before your trip if needed.

Mountain bike loop route connected to Urbès

A 2019 route sheet describes the return leg of the Le circuit du Gustiberg VTT FFC n°24 mountain bike loop as passing through Urbès. The information specifically concerns the return leg. If you are planning to ride the loop today, check the latest route information in advance.

Discover more destinations: Rodern, Ruederbach, Kembs, Staffelfelden, Rantzwiller, Andolsheim, Le Bonhomme, Grentzingen

For the broader travel overview: Haut-Rhin.