Herrlisheim-près-Colmar: Lauch, Vineyards and History

You can get to know Herrlisheim-près-Colmar through its landscape, cycling routes and historic landmarks. The village lies at the foot of the Alsatian vineyards and stretches along the River Lauch. There are also cycling connections to Rouffach and Colmar, as well as buildings and memorial sites, each with its own history. When choosing a destination for your stay, these different facets can help you weigh up your interests.

Getting there and the village’s location

Herrlisheim-près-Colmar is accessible by train via an SNCF station. By car, the route is via the D83 departmental road. These are two stated ways of reaching the village: by train or by car. If you’re travelling by train, check the appropriate connection for your travel dates. This lets you factor your mode of transport into your trip planning early on, without losing sight of the other aspects of your stay.

Two landscape features provide a clear frame of reference when orienting yourself at your destination: Herrlisheim-près-Colmar lies at the foot of the Alsatian vineyards and stretches along the Lauch. The vineyards and the river describe different aspects of the village’s setting. Its location can therefore be understood in terms of both the wine-growing landscape and the course of the river, rather than being reduced to just one landscape feature.

Cycling routes with different routes

Cycling routes connect Herrlisheim-près-Colmar to Rouffach through the forest. Another cycle route follows the Lauch to Colmar. For planning your rides, the routes differ both in destination and in the route described: the connection to Rouffach goes through the forest, while the cycle route to Colmar follows the Lauch. If you’d like to include cycling in your trip, these two connections offer a concrete starting point for choosing your destination.

Memorial sites and architectural history

The Stolperstein trail follows the story of Jewish residents who were torn from their community during the Second World War. It includes eight stops. The remembrance of the Jewish residents is therefore a distinct theme alongside the village’s architectural sights; here, the focus is on a trail with historical and human significance.

The architectural history also offers various points of reference in time. The Lords of Hattstatt began building their castle in Herrlisheim-près-Colmar in 1302. The history of the Tour des Voleurs, by contrast, is said to date back to 1289. The Church of Saint Michael has a Gothic bell tower dating from the 14th century.

The Tour des Voleurs features high crenellations and three arrow slits. These specific features add an architectural perspective to the historical dates. Anyone interested in historic buildings can take note of both the recorded history and the details described, without combining the different accounts into a single building history.

Traces by the water and in the village streetscape

The former washhouse stands beside an arm of the Lauch. Opposite it, a waterwheel recalls the former presence of a watermill. The Waschbach is a former washhouse that has been staged as a feature. Both details add a historical dimension to the village’s connection with the river.

Another architectural landmark is the Porche de 1613 at 8 rue Principale. Its name and exact address identify the building and its location precisely. Together with the bell tower, the Tour des Voleurs and the former washhouse, it broadens the range of historical themes that Herrlisheim-près-Colmar offers visitors.

Discover more destinations: Diefmatten, Moosch, Bourbach-Le-Bas, Leymen, Osenbach, Eschbach-Au-Val, Vogelgrun, Mittlach

Go to the regional travel overview: Haut-Rhin.