The retired traveller: 2026-06-14 Mittlebergheim, Andlau, Route des Vins

Sunday, June 14, 2026

Mittlebergheim, Andlau, Route des Vins

Today is beautiful. Sunny, cool breeze, high of 80. A beautiful day to visit a beautiful village (Plus Beau Village). Mittlebergheim is 35 minutes north of Logelheim in the direction of Strasbourg.

We found this plus beau village to be rather ordinary. On arrival, there were no signs for a Tourist Office or for Parking. There was no town map at the entrance to town. The Green Guide and the Plus Beau Villages books said nothing about the town other than its vineyards and Grand Cru Sylvaner wine. We parked on the street partway up the hill and started walking. All the buildings looked the same drab beige colored plaster. There were no flowers to brighten the houses. As we walked down the hill, we found a few signs explaining a building but for the most part, we were wandering aimlessly. We didn't stay long. Even later when I tried to search for information on Mittlebergheim, I couldn't find a website that talked about walking around the town. Disappointing.

vigneron's house - Renaissance style

a vignerons house

St Etienne catholic church - built in 1890.

The Mairie (Hotel de Ville) - no signs or maps here either

an oil press in an open barn along the main street

This former catholic church was taken by the Lutherans during the Reformation (16th century) As happened in many villages, the church became mixed in 1680. That is, both Catholics and Lutherans shared the same church. As the number of Catholics in Mittlebergheim grew, more conflicts arose in sharing the church - a new bell, times of worship, etc. In 1890 the Catholics gave up any claim to the church and built St Stephen. This church seems to have kept the name St Stephen from before the reformation and most references just call it the Paroisse Lutheran de Mittlebergheim (Lutheran parish of Mittlebergheim)

view from Mittlebergheim over the vineyards that surround the town

Of course, there's a storks nest along the main street of town

The next town along the Route des Vins was Andlau. This town had many parking options. We chose a large lot near the sports complex that invited tourists. Signage was good in Andlau. A large map was posted right next to where we parked. While it didn't provide description of the sights, it did have numbered and named stops along a walking tour. Dave took a photo of the map and it worked well for guiding us along the walking tour path. So off we headed.

I liked this flower box

Andlau has a story that involves a bear and a noble woman later canonized as Sainte Richarde. The legend says that Richarde, accused of misconduct (and acquitted by walking through fire), left her chateau and was visited by an angel. She was told to found an abbey in a place where she found a bear. While the facts are a bit different, Richarde was indeed a noblewoman and was "set aside" by her husband. She did indeed found the abbey of Andlau which took in noble women who were free to come and go without taking religious vows.

statue of Richarde and the bear

There are plenty of sculpted bears around the city and even one strange wood sculpture of a dragon and a knight.

not a bear, but a knight and dragon made out of wood scraps

There are no signs left of the abbey, but the church of Saint Peter and Saint Paul had several notable features. The crypt is from the 11th century although the church was rebuilt in the 16th century. The carvings above the portico doors show Jesus with Peter and Paul. A frieze is sculpted all around this portico end.

This is the well from the abbey, but it is not in its original location

St Peter and St Paul

the 11th century crypt

St Peter & St Paul

I liked the stained glass in this church., even though it is modern. It portrayed women of the church. This woman is St Isabeth

The L'Andlau river runs through town. The sound of the water going over the spillways, presumably from former mills, was a lovely surprise.

On our way out of town, we passed by the chapel of St Andre, located on the edge of town near the sports fields.

We had some time, so continued along the Route des Vins.

a house in Itterswiller

view from Itterswiller

Dambach-la-ville had several interesting buildings.

The chapel of St Sebastian sits on a hill above Dambach-la-ville

view from the chapel of St Sebastian

Medieval entrance to Dambach-la-ville

This tower was on the opposite side of town

Castles near Dambach-la-ville

We were home early enough for Dave to go for a walk around town. His pictures show Logelheim at sunset. This is the town we've been living in for the past 8 weeks.