Discover Sélestat: city history, nature and baking workshops

Sélestat offers a range of themes to explore during your stay: an urban walk with 24 stops, the Gothic bell tower of Église Saint-Georges, the landscapes of Ill*Wald and a hands-on baking experience at Maison du Pain d’Alsace. If you’re looking for a hotel in Sélestat, choosing a focus for your trip can help with planning your stay: city history, nature or a workshop devoted to Alsatian pastries. The routes differ both in type and in the stated durations.

City walk and interpretive trail

The urban walk “Dans les pas du lion et du géant Sletto” takes you through Sélestat, has 24 stops and takes about two hours. The interpretive trail “L’Ill aux trésors” is accessible from the city center, is five kilometers long and takes about two hours and 15 minutes. The interpretive trail therefore takes roughly 15 minutes longer; its distance is also specified, whereas the city walk is described by its stops. This makes it possible to compare the two activities by time required and format. When planning, bear in mind that both durations are approximate.

Ill*Wald: protected area and waterways

Ill*Wald, the Réserve Naturelle Régionale du Ried de Sélestat, was established in 1995 to protect the wetland heart of central Alsace. Covering almost 2,000 hectares, it is the largest regional nature reserve in the Grand Est and is among the five largest nature reserves in France. Its dense and diverse network of waterways extends for more than 130 kilometers and includes the Ill and its branches, groundwater streams and ditches. The network therefore consists not only of the river and its branches, but also includes groundwater streams and ditches. Ill*Wald is home to 250 fallow deer and also contains one of the largest wild herds in France. The population may change.

Architecture and the bakers’ guild

The Gothic bell tower of Église Saint-Georges in Sélestat is 60 meters high. It offers a tangible point of interest for travelers interested in religious architecture. Another historical and cultural connection leads to Maison du Pain d’Alsace: its site was home to the “Poêle,” the seat of Sélestat’s bakers’ guild, in 1522. Maison du Pain offers “Main à la Pâte” workshops, where you can shape a product such as a pretzel or a Mannala. This brings together two distinct aspects: the historical connection with the bakers’ guild and the hands-on activity of making pastries. If you plan to attend a workshop, check the latest dates before your visit, as they may change.

Discover more destinations: Sundhouse, Bernardvillé, Urmatt, Saales, Hindisheim, Bourgheim, Innenheim, Surbourg

For the broader travel overview: Bas-Rhin.