Travel Guide Kuttolsheim

This village located in the southern part of the Kochersberg, at the outlet of the valley where Souffel rises, is the cradle of Strasbourg's drinking water network. Because the Souffel is a source rich enough in sulphur not to freeze in winter, the Romans built an 18-kilometre aqueduct linking Kuttolsheim to Argentoratum. There are still some remains discovered by chance in 1908 (the harvest of the madder indeed forced farmers to dig rather deep trenches) scattered and the departmental road that crosses the town is in fact the old Roman road going from Strasbourg to Saverne, now called "Route des Romains". Among the curiosities related to the spring, the water in the basin in front of the Chapel of Saint Barbara, whose choir dates back to the 13th century, never freezes. It has a strong sulphur odour: it is a pocket of carbon dioxide under the basin that causes bubbles to rise to the surface. The other particularity of this village is the presence of the European Institute of Tibetan Buddhism since 1978. The Dalai Lama honoured him with his visit in 1982 and 1988. Open to all, the centre offers courses, internships and conferences. Kuttolsheim is finally known for its 12th century Romanesque bell tower, which was raised five centuries later.