Mittelwihr: Wine Landscape and Local History

Mittelwihr is located on the Alsace Wine Route. The village’s main themes include winegrowing and almond trees, hiking trails, and the history of the villages of Mittelwihr and Bennwihr. When planning your trip, you can consider these different highlights side by side: specific trail details, the wine landscape, local history and a guided tasting.

Hiking Trails: Route Planning and Local History

The “Sentier des Perles” hiking trail starts at Place de l’Église in Mittelwihr. It is 10 km long, takes an estimated three hours and has an elevation difference of 170 m. The distance, approximate duration and elevation difference give you different points of reference for planning your day. Treat the time given as an estimate and check local trail conditions before setting out.

By contrast, the “Bennwihr et Mittelwihr, 2 villages pour un même destin” interpretive trail focuses on history. It presents the history of the two villages on the Alsace Wine Route, which were completely destroyed in 1944 and subsequently rebuilt. Check local access conditions. When choosing between the trails, route planning is the main consideration on the Sentier des Perles, while the interpretive trail focuses on the historical theme.

Mandelberg and the Wine Landscape

Mandelberg, the “hill of almond trees,” lies above Mittelwihr. The Mandelberg winegrowing area is associated with the Grand Cru “Mandelberg.” Mittelwihr’s microclimate allows almond trees to bloom between two rows of vines every year. The landscape therefore features both a specific connection to the named Grand Cru and the recurring sight of almond blossoms between rows of vines.

Sainte-Brigitte: History Across Several Periods

The Sainte-Brigitte church in Mittelwihr is documented as far back as 1114. The former church was destroyed on 17 December 1944. The lower sections of the north and west walls of the nave, as well as the lower stories of the choir tower, have survived. These surviving elements add specific details about which parts of the building remain to the historical date.

A new church, reserved for Protestant worship, was built between 1959 and 1960. The history of the churches in Mittelwihr thus spans different periods and functions: the early documentation of Sainte-Brigitte, the destruction of the former church in 1944 and the construction of the new Protestant church. Together with the interpretive trail, which explores the history of Mittelwihr and Bennwihr, the village’s history offers more than a single historical point of interest.

Wine Experiences with Different Focuses

At Domaine Specht, the “Découverte vigneronne” winegrower experience includes an approximately one-and-a-half-hour walk through vineyards, past streams and almond trees. The duration is explicitly approximate; take this into account when planning your time.

At Domaine Greiner-Schleret, the experience includes a visit to the wine cellar followed by a guided tasting of five wines, accompanied by a piece of Kougelhopf. While the Domaine Specht experience involves walking through vineyards and countryside, Domaine Greiner-Schleret focuses on wine tasting. The arrangements for both visits may change, so check the current details in advance.

Discover more destinations: Holtzwihr, Ranspach-Le-Bas, Dessenheim, Wihr-Au-Val, Gueberschwihr, Mittlach, Ranspach, Chavannes-Sur-L’étang.

For the broader travel overview: Haut-Rhin.