Kiffis: Landscape, History and Trails
Accommodation in Kiffis
Kiffis lies at an altitude of 575 metres on the southern slope of the Blochmont. South of the village, the Lucelle flows along the bottom of a syncline. The village on the slope and the river in the syncline thus provide two distinct geographical reference points.
Location and trails
Bus route 831 connects Kiffis with Ferrette and Mulhouse. The full route takes 1 hour and 40 minutes. If you plan to use the bus for your trip, check the current operating days and timetable in advance.
Ferme du Hornihof can be reached from Col du Blochmont via a forest trail marked with a red cross. The Kiffis–Hornihof hike follows red-cross markings from the pass before descending towards Kiffis. The Petit Tour du Jura Alsacien gravel route follows a white trail along the Swiss border and the Lucelle to Kiffis. This offers three distinct trail references: a described hike, a marked route to the farm and a gravel route.
Church and local history
The parish church of Saint-Pierre, Saint-Paul was built between 1817 and 1820. Its projecting bell tower is one of its architectural features, along with the nave with a single aisle and two bays. The choir ends in a rounded apse; its masonry may be made of limestone. The construction period and individual architectural features provide different points of reference for learning about the church.
One specific historical event concerns Château du Blochmont: it was plundered, set on fire and razed on 2 May 1449. Les Forges is a district of Kiffis associated with the history of industry. Alongside the church’s construction history, the events at the château and Les Forges’ industrial connection are also among the village’s historical themes.
Cave and sinkholes
Grotte du Saalhof lies 200 metres south of the farmsteads of the same name and is 32 metres long. The depth given for the Fluhberg sinkholes, by contrast, ranges from 2 to 30 metres. These measurements therefore describe different characteristics: the figure for the cave refers to its length, while the one for the sinkholes gives a depth range. This helps distinguish the landforms without treating the measurements as equivalent.
Horse riding and guided tours
Ferme Ă©questre Zum Blaue has an outdoor riding arena, an indoor riding arena and a PTV course. The approximately twenty horses include animals suitable for both classical riding and trail riding. Activities on offer include rides, one- or multi-day trail rides, courses and training sessions. These activities differ in form and duration: alongside rides, there are tours lasting one or more days, as well as courses and training sessions.
At Ferme du Hornihof, the La Montagne Bleue breeding farm offers free guided tours of its llama and Central Asian Shepherd breeding facility on Sundays and public holidays from 3 to 5 pm. You must contact them in advance to confirm their presence. Paid visits for groups can be arranged by appointment, and llama walks are also available. If you include this visit in your plans, bear in mind both the stated visiting hours and the requirement to make contact in advance.
Discover more destinations: Village-Neuf, Wittelsheim, Wegscheid, Mittelwihr, Heimsbrunn, Mulhouse, Mittlach, Diefmatten.
To the main travel overview: Haut-Rhin.
