Soufflenheim is a city of Bas-Rhin, in East Grand region, 15 km east of Haguenau. Its territory of 13 square kilometers is located on the left bank of the Rhine, the village is being developed on a foothill overlooking the plain slightly during floods.
Bordered by the forest of Haguenau, crossed by rivers of Eberbach and Fallgraben, the town owes its fame and prosperity to its clay soils that give birth in antiquity to a dynamic crafts linked to pottery.
The event is promoted by the German Empire since potters are allowed to extract the raw material free from the twelfth century.
Almost a millennium later, the town still has a dozen potters, including specialized utensils and baking molds dedicated to Alsatian specialties (kougelhopf, baeckeoffe, terrines...).
Besides its potters, historical heritage and the green environment of Soufflenheim, sports city and bustling 5,000 inhabitants, make it a must during a stay in Alsace.
Several sites and buildings in the town are of interest on the assets of the plan. A stroll shaped discovery may well start with the Saint-Michel, neo-classical style, built between 1826 and 1830. The ceiling and murals have unfortunately been damaged during a bombing in 1943. Recently restored, nevertheless, the church houses beautiful paintings of the nineteenth century in the nave and the choir (depicting St. Michael slaying the dragon and the rebel angels), stained glass made in 1946, a wooden bowl at the pulpit of Baroque (XVIII) and confessionals from Leutenheim monastery destroyed during the Revolution. A wooden statue of the Madonna and Child and a beautiful Pietà 1897 Vogel workshops (Austria) are also to see.
On the site of the Oelberg (literally the "Mount of Olives" in reference to the Bible), which happens to be here a fortified cemetery, there is a life-size reproduction of Leonardo Vinci painting "The Last Supper" made of ceramic in the 1930s and recently renovated.
In the current cemetery, this time it is the chapel Paul Messner built in 1880 which houses about fifty paintings and ceramic reliefs of angels and saints.
An ordeal of the eighteenth century in the High Street, the school (1835), the presbytery (1781) and several traditional houses with wood sides of the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries also punctuate this journey in the historic heart of the city.
this tour is almost necessarily Soufflenheim continues with one of the 10 workshops of pottery still in business. Information at +33 3 88 86 74 90 to admire the work of artisans in age-old and possibly make shopping.
The tourist office offers a discovery tour lasting 2 hours at 2:30. This circuit is available in its offices or downloaded from its website.
Next up sports and leisure "nature". Besides an implanted on common health course, it is the object with its green surroundings of several hiking routes and three mountain bike trails were also marked. Maps and information +33 3 88 86 74 90.
These rides include incursions into the Haguenau Forest and the banks of the two rivers crossing the city. Which are prized by fishermen learn about the developed sites and regulation at +33 6 32 83 24 69.
One may prefer a game of tennis: it is then necessary to book a short +33 3 88 86 72 06.
Finally, the town is also famous for the remarkable international golf course set in a natural and peaceful setting near the forest and dotted with lakes. Designed by Bernhard Langer, world renowned golfer, it is accessible to beginners or experienced players. Three courses of 6, 9 and 18 holes are provided, as well as hardware dedicated to training. Prices and information +33 3 88 05 77 00.
