Presentation

First quoted in 1211, with ramparts and ditches in 1275, the village kept the medieval aspect, the charming tight roads and old houses. In 1289, the castle is mentioned as housing family Hattstatt, and then family Schauenbourg. The village used to be the headquarters of the Hattstatt-Schauenbourg seigniory.

The legend tells that Blaeschen, the cow of young Frantz, discovered the main hot spring in 1603. The Lords of e Soultzbach develop the spa by building baths and accommodating the visitors in the castle. It was appreciated by the rich an d famous: Archduke Léopold of Austria, Count Eberhard de Ribeaupierre, public prosecutor Euloge Schneider (in 1792) and the well-known Italian Casanova (in 1782). In 1844, half the village is destroyed by a fire.

During WW1, the village is used a supply base by the German, and becomes the point of departure of a cableway. At the end of the conflict, the town of Soultzbach completes its name by adding "les-Bains", to remind the prestigious past as a spa town. Unfortunately, the source has been left unexploited for years.

What to do - to see

Historical tour of the village.

The town published a guide-book presenting the history, traditions and heritage of Soultzbach – for sale at the city hall of Soultzbach and at the Tourist Office of Munster. By following the trail, you will find out about:

·         The old Hattstatt-Schauenbourg castle of the 15th century, its tower, residence of the Hattstatt and then the Schauenbourg.

·         St-Jean Baptiste church dated 15th century, its altars, tombstones, including Jacques de Hattstatt’s and Marguerite de Rathsamhausen’s (1518), its Callinet organ of 1833.

·         Ste-Catherine chapel dated 15th century, renovated in 1962, at rue de la chapelle and Grand’rue, with its angel, paintings of Notre-Dame de la Consolation (1738), Decapitation of Ste-Catherine (1840)  Abbot Jean-Jacques Bobérieth; it was built after a plague.

·          Lion’s fountain dated 1601 in Grand’rue, wears the coat of arms of the townporte les armoiries de la cité. It was built by the knight Jacques de Hattstatt, who lived in the castle with his wife, Marguerite de Rathsamhausen. Four head of women wearing a gag ornate the fountain.

·         The 1727 door in sandstone, at 15 rue des Bains.

·         The washing-place, rue des Bains (till he beginning of the 1970s, the washing-place is an important element of the village’s social life).

·         Houses woth wooden pannels with corner post in Grand’rue and rue de la Chapelle (the corner post is meant to protect against demons and bad spirits).

The historical tour has 16 signs. The parking space and the first sign are in the entrance of the village, by the fire depot.

Schrankenfels and Haneck castles

Above the valley of Krebsbach stand the ruins of Schrankenfels castle (built in 1241) and Haneck castle (probably 13th century). You can reach the Schrankenfels following the trails of Club Vosgien from the Firstplan pass (about 1h walk). The Haneck ruins are 5 minutes away from the Schrankenfels.

Mountain hiking

The Club Vosgien offers walks to Staufen, Col du Marbach, Schrankenfels, Ried, Boenlesgrab, Petit-Ballon, and more. Signs start in front of the church.