2026-06-19 Guebwiller & Route du Vin

 Friday, June 19, 2026

Today, the temperature will hit 100. Not a good day to be out and about. Dave suggests we visit Guebwiller in the morning while it's cool. (Very funny) and then finish the afternoon with a drive through a part of the Route du Vin we haven't yet seen. Lunches packed and we're off (like a herd of turtles, Dave's Dad would say. 

We parked in the shade of the church in the middle of town. It's hard to miss this church - it's huge. David went off in search of the Office de Tourisme before it closes at noon for the 2 hour lunch period. Back with a map, the town looks bigger than we expected so we'll do the central parts and leave the vineyards and distant sites unvisited. In fact, Wikipedia says the population is over 11,000. Grape growers and winemakers are certainly here, but are not as dominant an occupation as some towns we've visited. There seem to be several small factories. 

Vineyards outside of  Guebwiller

Notre-Dame's imposing neo-classical facade is missing one of its towers. As is the case in other towns, the second tower was part of the architectural plan, but funds were lacking. While the town was first mentioned in 774, it was the monastic location for monks from Murbach and so, until the Revolution in 1789, was quite active. The present church was built in the mid-1700s. 

It's also rather grandiose on the interior

Walking through the main street of town was disappointing in terms of historical features, but it was fun to check out the windows of the shops that line this street. There are a couple of Renaissance buildings from the late 16th century, and Le Burgstall the ruins (as in only a few stones left) of a 12th century chateau of the prince-abbot of Murdach. 

Where did they get a Wisconsin cow?

A Renaissance building

Fete de la Musique is Sunday. Workers were setting up stages for music venues.

All that's left of Le Burgstall

Along this street is an earlier church built by the abbot of Murbach in the 12th and 13th centuries. This church, Saint Léger is late Romanesque although the choir is Gothic from the 14th century.  The windows along the nave are modern but lively. And it was cool inside. A welcome respite from the punishing heat. It was hot even in the shade.

St Léger

St Léger

On our way out of town, heading in the direction of Soultz, the Green Guide recommends a stop. The Basilica of Notre Dame de Thierenbach sits outside of town on the road to Soultz and has been a pilgrimage site since the 8th century for Notre Dame de l'Esperance. A mass was in progress, so Dave quietly took a couple of photos from the back and quietly left. 

Basilica of Notre Dame de Thierenbach

We went home by following the Route du Vin back north as far as Pfaffenheim. That accomplished following the Route du Vin from Obernai to Soultz. We feel accomplished even  though we can't say we traveled the entire Route du Vin. We are missing small parts north of Obernai and south of Soultz, but we drove about 120 km of the route out of 180.