 Formed by two valleys that follow the Fecht River (the larger valley heading northwest to Metzeral and the smaller one heading southwest to Soultzeren) and that reaches its highest point on Hohneck Peak at 1366m above sea level, the Munster Valley is valued as much as the Wine Road. Alsatian city-slickers love to escape here to have a taste of country life, to walk in the mountains, to discover "Club Vosgien's" paths, to ski the new trails or "to get their feet wet" in mountain biking (VTT).
Another typical phenomenon of the valley unveils itself along the "Peak and Valley" road to the south: the strong concentration of country inns, a very old regional tradition that originated from farmers opening up their "marcaires" to passers-by who desired to be nourished and lodged for the night.
The regional product is, above everything else, MUNSTER cheese. Made with cow's milk, this cheese has a distinct, high-class personality thanks to the flora in the Vosges pastures and to its ancient means of production, perfectly perserved throughout the centuries. (Its origin dates back to the 10th and 11th centuries, according to official documents).
The Cheese Road invites you to go from one country inn to another to sample or to buy the well-known homemade Munster cheeses. Furthermore, the Munster Tourist Office organizes visits to cheese dairies. One address to note: the WALSA Farm (Farm "du Saesserie" in Breitenbach - tel: 03 89 77 49 46) where you can visit the actual dairy and the cellar where the cheese matures. The cheese-making process takes place in the morning, and there is always someone to welcome you.
In Alsace, a city's history is usually tied either to its château (castle) or its abbey, the latter being the case for the city of MUNSTER. Founded around 660A.D., the abbey was dedicated to Saint Gregory and the valley has borne this name for a long time. This name was taken up recently to baptize a new cheese that was created in the valley. |
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Found at the foot of the Vosges mountains, this city of cures and famous cheese owes a lot to André Hartmann who, in the 18th century, founded in the former buildings of the abbey one of the first textile factories in the region. A detailed guided visit and more information are available at the tourist office (Place du Marché - tel: 03 89 77 31 80).
Not far from Munster, the charming village of ESCHBACH AU VAL is a great starting point for numerous excursions. Another road will lead you to the CHATEAU DU SCHWARZENBOURG (12th century). On the ruins of the destroyed castle, the industrialist, André Hartmann, "re-built" a romantic ruin, that served as an observation post for the Germans during the 1st World War.
Afterwards, you can take the road to MULBACH-SUR-MUNSTER where the Sledge and Wood Specialist Museum (open during the summer: July and August) evokes the trades of foresters, before the industrialization of the process, and the picturesque way of removing the bark in order to transport the wood... called wood sledging. Continuing towards Hohneck Peak, you'll reach the summit of GASCHNEY, the highest point in the Munster Valley and well-known by Alsatian skiers (ski station).
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