Presentation

The etymology of of Sondernach is interesting: "zur sundern Ach", by the Southern brook of the valley.

The village was founded in the 12th century, when the Benedictines of Saint Grégoire abbey cleared the end of the valley, to make it habitable. In the 13th century, the Val Saint Grégoire was made of Munster and 9 villages, among which was Sondernach.

After the Revolution of 1789, the 9 villages progressively gain independence, and the sharing process left Munster, Breitenbach and Luttenbach with large areas of forest and pasture, on the territory of Sondernach.

The village was put down to the ground by the battle of Metzeral in 1915

What to do - to see

The Catholic church of Emm

The church of Emm was built as a memorial on the site of the chapel destroyed in 1915. It is dedicated to the dead of WW1 in the Vosges, and the battle of Metzeral. It was inaugurated in 1931.

The Protestant church

On May 16, 1900, the chapel of Emm is for Catholics only. The town starts to build a Protestant temple, which is inaugurated on September 22, 1901. Apart from the church tower, it was destroyed during WW1, and rebuilt in 1924.

Anne-Aymone Square

At the entrance of the village used to stand a villa built by the industrialist Immer-Klein, as well as an imposing parka round it. Destroyed during WW1, it was neglected, and this is why it was decided to transform it into a park. Mrs. Valéry Giscard d'Estaing, when she came to Sondernach in 1976, gave her first-name to the place, on the asking of the Mayor.

It is currently used for various events, such as the village fair, every summer.

Tourism 

Schnepfenried ski resort, hiking trails.

Events

1st and 3rd Saturdays of February: Night of the sledge at Platzerwasen

2nd Saturday of February: freestyle day at the Schnepfenried ski resort

1st Saturday of August: village fair with parade and fireworks.