Discover Bernardvillé: Vineyards, Trails and Heritage

Bernardvillé lies at an elevation of 340 metres in a quiet valley between vineyards and meadows at the foot of Ungersberg. Since 1 September 1971, the area has been listed as a protected landscape. The landscape and the village’s history give a stay two distinct focal points: marked trails lead through the vineyards and up to the ridges of Ungersberg, while the village church and abbey offer historical points of interest. This makes it possible to discover Bernardvillé both through its valley setting and its cultural heritage.

Vineyards and trails on Ungersberg

Several marked trails lead directly from Bernardvillé’s lanes through the vineyards or up to the ridges of Ungersberg. The mountain is directly accessible from Bernardvillé; at 901 metres, it is the highest point of the massif. The gradual ascent passes through the forest to viewpoints over the Alsatian plain, the Black Forest and the surrounding villages. This makes a practical difference when choosing the kind of landscape to explore: trails through the vineyards take in the valley setting, while the ascent combines woodland with expansive views.

Church history across several building phases

Another historical focal point is the village church of Saint Antoine Ermite. It is documented as far back as 1371 and retains Gothic windows from its medieval origins. Later structural changes are also well documented: in 1750, the church was remodelled and extended, including the construction of a new choir. It was subsequently restored in 1828. The organ was built in 1852 by the Stiehr-Mockers company and fully restored in 1984. The furnishings include two Rococo altars, two retables and two statues; the sculptors named in connection with them are Johann Faller, Mathias Faller and Philippe Rauch. A retable is an altar screen; the term thus adds a distinct form of church furnishing to the list of altars and statues. The chronology distinguishes the medieval origins from later changes: the Gothic windows, the newly built choir and the dated organ represent different periods in the building’s history and furnishings.

Notre-Dame de Baumgarten Abbey on the Way of St James

Notre-Dame de Baumgarten Abbey is also located in Bernardvillé, on the Way of St James. It was founded in 1125 by Cunon de Michelbach, Bishop of Strasbourg. On 3 December 2009, after an interruption of 484 years, Baumgarten resumed monastic life, restoring the contemplative Cistercian nuns’ life in this valley. Its founding and resumption mark two clearly distinct periods in the abbey’s history. The year 2009 refers to the renewed beginning of monastic life, not to the abbey’s foundation. For visitors, this history comes with practical guidance: the reception is open to everyone, and the church is open to those wishing to attend the community’s liturgical services. Check the practical visiting arrangements before travelling.

The two sites offer clearly distinct cultural-history focuses: Saint Antoine Ermite represents the history of the building and its furnishings, while Baumgarten tells the story of the abbey’s foundation, the interruption and the resumption of monastic life.

Discover more destinations: Oberschaeffolsheim, Hindisheim, Reichsfeld, Surbourg, Dambach-La-Ville, Heidolsheim, Obersteinbach, Benfeld.

For the broader travel overview: Bas-Rhin.