The best cycling routes around Aspach-Michelbach

War Memorial of Burnhaupt-le-Haut The War Memorial of Burnhaupt-le-Haut commemorates the residents of the place who lost their lives in the wars of the 20th century. The memorial is particularly closely linked to the history of the First World War. At that time, Burnhaupt-le-Haut was located immediately in the front line area and was severely devastated during the fighting. The municipality describes the place for the years 1914-1918 as literally marked by the events of the war and completely destroyed. The current memorial, however, was only inaugurated in 1969. On June 13, 1969, a large festive parade took place on the occasion of its inauguration. This created a central place of remembrance for the fallen and missing of the municipality. The memorial is therefore not isolated, but is part of the turbulent local history: Burnhaupt-le-Haut was located between French and German positions during the First World War. The fighting left deep scars in the village and led to the destruction of numerous buildings. The current church of Saint-Boniface also had to be rebuilt after the war and was inaugurated in 1929. Today, the War Memorial is a place for annual commemorative ceremonies. Here, especially on November 11, the anniversary of the armistice of 1918, the victims of the First World War are remembered. Source: Municipality of Burnhaupt-le-Haut – History Further reading: Société d’Histoire de la Vallée de Masevaux – Contribution „Le monument aux morts de Burnhaupt-le-Haut“

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Church of Aspach-le-Bas The church in Aspach-le-Bas has a turbulent history. As early as 1467, the foundation stone for a new church was laid, which was completed eight years later. For centuries, the parish was served together with neighboring Aspach-le-Haut by a single clergyman. The church experienced a particularly drastic period during the First World War. The population of Aspach-le-Bas was evacuated with their livestock on January 1, 1915. German troops occupied the village. In the course of the fighting, the church was heavily damaged and finally destroyed during the French attack on the village on February 23, 1918. Numerous German concrete bunkers and military installations were also built in the village area. After the war, the returning inhabitants initially lived in provisional barracks, which served as a church and school at the same time. The reconstruction of the village began in 1922. The new church was completed by 1928; in the same year, its new bells were christened. Aspach-le-Bas received support for the reconstruction, among others, from the French town of Malakoff, which acted as a twin town. A street in the village still commemorates this today. The current church thus stands not only for the religious history of the village but also for the destruction and reconstruction of Aspach-le-Bas after the First World War. Further information: Municipality of Aspach-le-Bas – History of the place

Bahnhof Burnhaupt-le-Haut The Bahnhof Burnhaupt-le-Haut is located on the former railway line from Cernay to Sewen, which led through the Dollertal. The line was built in the 19th century and was of great importance for passenger and freight transport in the region. During the First World War, the station gained particular strategic importance. Burnhaupt was located immediately behind or close to the front line between German and French troops. The railway was used to transport soldiers, weapons, ammunition, and other supplies. Due to the fighting, the station was heavily damaged. After the war, the station building was rebuilt between 1921 and 1923. A building typical of the region with elements of Alsatian architecture was created. The station has largely been preserved to this day and serves as a reminder of the importance of the railway for the region's development and the destruction of the First World War. Regular passenger service on the line was discontinued in 1967, and the line was later closed. Part of the former railway line is now operated as a museum railway by Train Thur Doller Alsace. Historic locomotives and wagons run on the line through the Dollertal, making the history of the railway tangible for visitors. The Bahnhof Burnhaupt-le-Haut is therefore not only a former transport hub, but also a historic site where the history of the region, the railway, and the First World War converge. Further information and historical photos: Train Thur Doller Alsace – Bahnhof Burnhaupt

In his Stations of the Cross meditation—written on Good Friday 2025 in the Roman Colosseum—Pope Francis, who died a few days later (Easter Monday), invited us to let ourselves be contemplated by the crucified love of Jesus: "Our darkness seeks the light. (...) Now [the crowd] encounters the spectacle of a love never before seen, a beauty that moves them to change their minds. To those who see you die, Lord, you give the opportunity to beat their breasts and repent, to strike their hearts so that their hardness may break. Jesus, grant us, who often still observe you from afar, that we may always remember you in our lives, so that even death, when you come one day, may find us alive." (Pope Francis)

Thann's sloping vineyards are famous for their south-facing orientation with slopes that can reach 45°, offering spectacular and dizzying landscapes. These hillsides, located between 350 and 450 meters above sea level, extend over an area of 22 hectares and are renowned for their volcanic terroir and their proximity to the Thur River, which provides the humidity necessary for the grapes to ripen. Among the grape varieties cultivated are Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, and Muscat, all grown in often rocky and well-exposed soil, which gives the wines great finesse. Viticulture on these steep terrains requires harvests that are often carried out with ropes to ensure safety on these very steep slopes. These vineyards, particularly the Grand Cru Rangen, are among the most emblematic of the region.

The World War I Bunker Trail in Burnhaupt-le-Bas On the Bunker Trail, you can discover World War I fortifications built by the German army. After the fighting in the summer and autumn of 1914, the front in Upper Alsace stabilized on the Cernay-Dannemarie line. The municipal district of Burnhaupt-le-Bas remained on the German side. In December 1914 and January 1915, French offensives in this sector regularly clashed with the German lines. Numerous bunkers, command posts, and artillery posts. The tour can be done by mountain bike or on foot (hiking boots).

Also noteworthy are the German Jewish soldiers who are buried here.