Travel Guide Soultzbach-Les-Bains

Away from the main tourist routes, Soultzbach-les-Bains is nonetheless well worth a visit, as the village reveals a discreet and unusual charm with its timber-framed houses. Since the Middle Ages, this pretty commune has been renowned for the quality of its spring water, and from 1600 onwards, the Lords of Hattstatt transformed the castle into a spa. It is said that the sulphurous Casanova stayed here around 1782! Much later, during the Great War, Soultzbach was transformed into a rear base for German troops. It became the starting point for a cable car carrying heavy equipment to the Petit Ballon massif, the scene of fierce fighting. The village was once famous for its bicarbonate water from the Gonzenbach spring, which is now unused. A fountain in the heart of the village gives an idea of the quality of this slightly sparkling water. The church of Saint-Jean-Baptiste and the chapel of Sainte-Catherine feature fine Baroque furnishings and wall tabernacles dating from the 16th century. Soultzbach-les-Bains is also an essential stop-off on the way to Wasserbourg, a pretty mountain village that opens the door to the Petit Ballon. This massif, typical of the Vosges mountains of the Haut-Rhin region, offers a host of hiking trails. From Soultzbach-les-Bains, you can also reach the valleys of Soultzmatt (Vallée Noble) and Guebwiller via the Firstplan and Boenlesgrab passes.