Main city of the district and historical centre of the valley
Population: 5125 inhabitants (INSEE 2006)
Area size: 878 ha

 

History

 

An Abbey

 

Munster has progressively built up around the Benedictine abbey, founded in 660 A.D, at the confluence of both Fecht rivers. This abbey is dedicated to Saint Grégoire, which gave the former name of the valley: Val-Saint-Grégoire. In 1235, one of the abbots give two-thirds of the rights for the valley, to Emperor Friederich II of Hohenstaufen, that would soon give them back to the inhabitants. In 1267, the city associates with nine other villages of the valley to create, in the same year, the community of Val-Saint-Grégoire, which would last till 1847.After many fires in the Middle-Ages, Munster becomes part of the Decapole in 1354. Between 1542 and 1559, three-quarters of the population agree to the Protestant reformation. In 1575, the monastery recognizes the freedom of religion of the inhabitants, throught the treaty of Kientzheim, commits to pay the minister of Munster. 

 

Time of trouble

 

The Thirty years war (1618-1648) is among the darkest times of the history of the city and the valley. Army rabble, starvation, epidemics and harsh winters considerably diminished the number of inhabitants. In 1652, natives of Lorraine ravage the place. In 1659, the first French Abbot, Dom Charles Marchant, settles in Munster. The abbey would be rebuilt between 1682 and 1686 by Dom Louis de La Grange, apart from the palace that would be finished between 1786 and 1789.In the 18th century, the inhabitants raise against the taxes, many times, and refuse to accept the new constitution. On July 25th, 1789, the Bastille of Munster (City hall) is under attack. The 19th century is about industrialization and modernization, opening to the outside world. 

 

 Modern times

 

In 1860 Schlucht road opens. The railway from Colmar built up in 1868, is extended to Metzeral in 1893. Before the First World War, Munster has 6000 inhabitants; the city is prosperous thanks to industry and tourism. Since 1871, the border of France and Germany is in the Vosges, making Munster a good place for customs. During the First World War, Munster is bombed every day, and the inhabitants are evacuated in August 1915. Munster is 85%destroyed. Rebuilding starts the day after the Armistice in 1918. Occupied from June 18th, 1940 by the German army, it is set free on February 15th, 1945. 

 

The city today

 

Munster benefits from the extraordinary landscapes that surrounds it, and creates an undeniable touristic spotlight. Because of the difficulties experienced by the textile industry, an industrial estate is created in 1971 in the Eastern area, along the road to Colmar.

Walking around the city of Munster

 

Market place

 

It is the historical heart of the city. Just by was the abbey. To the North is the City Hall, which frontage is dated 1550. This is where the community council used to gather. Nice Renaissance style frontage, surmounted by a double-headed eagle, which reminds of the former membership of the Holy Roman Empire. On the front door, the coat of arms of Munster shows a simple roman-style church. Inside, many carved stones come from the former abbey church.

 

Opposite the City Hall, a part of the old abbey palace dated 1789 still remains. There is a way through to the ruins of the cloister. There is not much left from the abbey: some arcades from the end of the 17th century, a wing of the palace, and the prelates’ building. Beside the ruins of the cloister, it currently houses the Parc Naturel Régional des Ballons des Vosges (natural reserve of the Vosges) and the Tourist Office of the Valley of Munster. The gothic door in the wall of the cloister is to be seen.

 

On the market place, the Lion fountain was built in 1576 after the treaty of Kientzheim that recognizes the freedom of religion of the inhabitants. The legends says that every time the city was in conflict with the abbot, the lion would be turned around to show its behind to the abbey, which would drive the abbot mad…

 

The Grand-rue main street and the Laub building

 

The Grand-rue, main shopping street of the city, gives you an idea of how dynamic the city is.

 

Parallel to the Grand-rue, in St-Grégoire Street, you have the Laub. This house with arcades used to be on the Market place. It was taken down and then rebuilt at its current place in 1867-1869. The cornerstone of 1503 reminds of its construction. It was used as covered market, meeting place for representatives of the community. The decisions were told from the top of its stairs.

 

Churches

 

The imposing Protestant church of Munster, built from 1867 to 1873, in sandstone in a neo roman style, can be seen from far, and gives its touch to the landscape of the city. On the Southern side, three tombstones leaning against the wall remind of ancient inhabitants of Munster. Facing the protestant church is the Catholic Church dedicated to Saint-Léger. Built over a 12th century chapel, it was used for catholic, then protestant cult, then both as a simultaneum, before turning back to catholic in 1874.

 

In front of the storks tower dared 1872, you can see a house which upper part is half-timbered. It is one of the eldest houses of Munster, built in 1572. In rue des Clefs (keys street), you have « s’Musikhisla », a small house dated late 18th century, used as guardroom for the Hartmann factory just nearby. Not far, you have the storks fold. Indeed, Munster takes part in the reintroduction of storks process in Alsace, since 1984.

 

André Hartmann park

 

Go on the left after the protestant church, and then go up rue Sébastopol to the train station, which building is dated 1868.

 

Nearby, visit the André Hartmann Park created under Frédéric Hartmann’s office (1857-I880). Beside the central band-stand you can see a granite rock with a bronze statue of Frédéric Kirschleger, botanist from Munster (1804-1869). The park is currently under complete renovation.

 

The Albert Schweitzer and Fecht parks

 

It is located in front of the village hall square, near Saint-Grégoire cultural place. On the way, have a look at the sandstone 18th century fountain. It used to stand in the Hartmann’s English garden. It was moved in 1919, after miraculously surviving WW1. Very quiet, the Albert Schweitzer park has statues of sphinx bought by Frédéric Hartmann in 1815, and griffins, the treasure keepers… Not far off is the Fecht park, with a statue of Neptune standing by the pond, near the water sports centre of the Valley of Munster.

 

The city edited a guide-book « A la découverte de MUNSTER –Promenade historique » (Discover the heritage of Munster, available at the city hall or at the Tourist Office of Munster).

Circular strolls of the Club Vosgien

 

The walks start at the village hall, and go around Munster. You can take paths to Northern and Southern side of the Moenchberg, Baechlé and Fesseneck. You can also go to the Untersolberg, the Voltaire oak tree. It crosses the Narrenstein path to Dubach (storks) or Schlosswald to the Schwarzenbourg ruins.

 

The Narrenstein walk

 

From the marketplace, take left after the Catholic church, then cross the Fecht bridge. Behind the firestation is the rocky headland, the Narrenstein. Take the marked path. From the top, you can see the whole city of Munster and the mountains around.

 

In front of you iare Eschbach-au-Val and the imposing Solberg and Petit-Ballon mountains. The legend says that the Narrenstein (rock of the madman) owes its name to a knight that, back from his beloved’s, was deep in thought and fell down from the rock.

 

Fitness trail

 

The Club Vosgien offers you the Ducbach and the Narrenstein fitness trails.

 

You have the cycling trail of Badischhof (from Griesbach) to the Nagelstall path (near the tennis courts).

 

A poets’path / Dichterweg, recently set up, starts by the train station at the André Hartmann park. It offers you a discovery of some Alsatian poets through bilingual signs, merging leisure walk with written heritage of Alsace.