Nestled in the Fecht valley, Munster is famous for its cheese of the same name. The cheese is said to have been made by Irish monks who founded an abbey here around 660, dedicated to St. Gregory. Its valley, or "Val Saint-Grégoire", is made up of 16 communes. Munster is the administrative center of the canton. In 1308, the town was surrounded by ramparts to protect its inhabitants. In the 19th century, Munster embarked on a vast modernization process: industrialization, extension of the rail network and increased transportation. During the First World War, Munster was almost completely destroyed before being rebuilt in 1918. Since then, Munster has become a popular tourist destination, enhanced by the presence of a spa. The town owes much to André Hartmann, who founded one of the region's first textile mills in the 18th century. On Place du Marché, the historic heart of the town, stands the town hall, whose façade dates back to 1550. Its doorway bears the coat of arms of the time: a double-headed eagle, a symbol of Munster's membership of the Holy Roman Empire. Opposite the town hall, part of the former abbey palace dating from 1789, some of the abbey's arcades and ruins bear witness to the town's rich past. The Munster Tourist Office is right next door. On the other bank of the Fecht, you'll find the stork enclosure. Raised on site and in an aviary for three years, the storks lose their migratory instinct: that's why, summer and winter alike, these majestic waders can be seen flying over the town center. They prefer to nest on the roofs of the former abbey. The Lion Fountain also bears witness to history: it was erected in 1576 to celebrate the Treaty of Kientzheim, which authorized free choice of worship. Legend has it that whenever the town was in conflict with the abbot, the inhabitants would turn the lion around in such a way as to show the abbey its posterior, which would send the abbot into a rage! Munster's imposing Protestant church is also worth a visit. Built between 1867 and 1873 of pink Vosges sandstone in a neo-Romanesque style, it houses a baptistery by Swiss sculptor Henri Vallette and a mechanical organ from the Muhleisen factory in Strasbourg. For those with a sweet tooth, the town also boasts a number of pretty and delicious restaurants to suit all tastes.

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