Alsatian town located in the department of Haut-Rhin, northwest of Thann, Oderen is a town of about 1300 inhabitants of the upper valley of the Thur. It enjoys a stunning panorama of the Vosges Mountains, not far, and a rich nature, thanks to the presence of numerous surrounding forests.
Odern called from 1253, the city would take its name from a derivative of the Alsatian dialect, Oder, which means vein of water. Administered by the abbess of the Abbey of Remiremont in the Middle Ages, the city of Oderen is quite old, and archaeological excavations gave evidence of human presence from the Neolithic period. Ancient village of peasants and large industrial city with its mechanical weaving companies, the city is now mostly facing outdoor tourism. A beautiful historical and architectural heritage is also visible when one strolls through the streets of downtown.
City quite old, Oderen still possesses an interesting heritage where different eras that made the glory of the city mingle.
The Church of St. Nicolas was built on the remains of a small monastery founded by Saint Amarin, a monk of Luxeuil. If one does not know when was the original church, we know that it has been devastated by the wars of the Middle Ages and rebuilt entirely in 1771. Baroque style, the current building was restored in 1970 to celebrate its bicentennial.
Formerly, especially around the seventeenth century, Oderen was famous for his pilgrimage. A statue of the Virgin and Christ had been placed in a cave, and passing travelers took the time to say a prayer at this place. Due to the high popularity, a small chapel Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Secours was erected to house the statues. The latter was enlarged in 1714 and rebuilt in the early nineteenth century after the destruction associated with the Terror. Today, the building houses two crypt including a statue of the Virgin surrounded by the fifteen mysteries of the Holy Rosary, or many beautiful frescoes resuming the Visitation or the Nativity of Christ.
Deeply rooted in religion, the city of Oderen still houses an important religious heritage, including a statue of Our Lady of the seventeenth century embedded in the facade of a house at 29 Grand-Rue, or Calvary Hill where there are fourteen Stations of the Cross built with donations from the firefighters of the city in the late nineteenth century.
Very nice site, pond Maerel was the subject of work in the middle of the nineteenth century, to the discovery of numerous Roman relics such as gold coins, and very old houses mounted on stilts.
The neck of Oderen, popular with hikers, leads to Ventron in the Vosges, and allows a detour to Kruth. The landscapes there are none in the area.
Lively and full of warmth, the small Alsatian town of Oderen offers enjoyable events each year.
As is the tradition in Alsace, Oderen every year in December, a charming little Christmas market with mulled wine and local crafts in the program.
In August, the city organizes its traditional festival In the shade of lime trees, an event created in 1911. In a friendly and warm atmosphere, various events such as concerts are offered to visitors.
