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Soultz-les-Bains
Information
Country	France
Area	3,55 km²
Population	954 hab. (1er january 2018)
Density	268,73 inhab./km²
Postal code	67120
Spindle	UTC 01:00, UTC 02:00
Tourist information office
Location
48 ° 34 ′ 17 ″ N 7 ° 29 ′ 15 ″ E
Official site
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Soultz-les-Bains is a French commune located in the department of Bas-Rhin in Alsace. It has about 904 inhabitants. The coat of arms is in the form of a shield, the background is gold and a blue cross divides it into four parts, in each part is represented a black eagle whose wings are lowered.

Understand

Story

The village is mentioned for the first time in 737 under the name of "Sulcia". However, Merovingian tombs discovered near the village indicate that it has been occupied at least since the VI^e century. The town is a former possession of the bishops of Strasbourg. It is especially famous for its spring waters with therapeutic virtues, and this, since the XIV^e century. At that time they were used in the form of baths and were the subject of cures and pilgrimages dedicated to Saint Amand. The village is also known under the name of "Soultz-près-les-Carrières", because of the quarries exploited since the XVII^e century.

To go

Circulate

To see

Saint-Maurice Church

This parish church is one of the first neo-Gothic churches to be built in Alsace. Succeeding a 15th century church^e too cramped century whose bell tower has been preserved, this building consists of a polygonal choir set back and a single nave of seven bays which ends in a facade with a sculpted portal. In 1888, the nave was covered with a paneled barrel vault. The neo-Gothic wooden furniture was made by the sculptor Théophile Klem, from Colmar, in 1897 and 1904.

The lower level of the side bell tower was the choir of the early church. Inside, the ground floor is vaulted with ribs on small columns ending in expressive masks, a rare feature in Alsace. The keystone represents the paschal lamb and the four walls reveal traces of polychrome frescoes. With a simpler decor, the second level of the bell tower is also in Romanesque style, while the upper part, with its Gothic windows, was altered in the 15th century.^e century.

Inscribed in the gable facade of the church, the tympanum of the main portal probably represents the judgment of King Solomon, unless it is a representation of Christ, comforter of the afflicted.

Transferred to Soultz-les-Bains in 1865, the organ was made for the Catholic part of the Saint-Pierre-le-Jeune church in Strasbourg. This is the reason why the Louis XV style sideboard carries the keys of Saint-Pierre. Although transformed in the XIX^e century in a romantic spirit, the instrumental part retains many original pipes. The organ bellows are the last remaining in a Silbermann instrument.

Kohlenmühle Mill

Formerly owned by the Oeuvre Notre-Dame, this grain mill is located on the Mossig, a waterway that once operated the wheel. The main building has a half-timbered plastered floor. The date of 1812 engraved on a stone corresponds to an expansion of the mill, which is then completed by a farm, in activity until 1977. The site cannot be visited because it is a private domain.

Oratory

This building houses a polychrome wooden Virgin of Mercy from the 18th century.^e century. Legend has it that it was found floating on the Bruche canal at the time of the Revolution. The lock keeper who took it in claimed to have been alerted by a song coming from the statue. Since that time, she has been venerated in the chapel where the parish goes in procession on the occasion of the feast of the Assumption.

Biblenhof farm

Located to the north-east of the village, the Biblenheim annex was reunited in Soultz-les-Bains from 1556. Its church, destroyed at the beginning of the 19th century.^e century, was the mother church of the rural chapter of Molsheim-Biblenheim. State court of the Oeuvre Notre-Dame de Strasbourg until 1971, the Biblenhof farm constitutes a quadrilateral complex, closed by a fence wall, pierced with a pedestrian gate and a carriage gate with a segmental arch. The buildings date mainly from the XVIII^e century and housed, in addition to the house, stables, stables, sheds, a large barn, a press and a cellar. It cannot be visited because it is a private domain. However, there is a hotel-inn and a restaurant.

Thermal site

Some documents suggest that it has existed since the IV^e century a bathhouse under the patronage of Saint Amand. From XV^e to XIX^e century, the waters of Soultz-les-Bains are a very popular spa resort. The resort has undergone significant improvements with the first analyzes of the water, the installation of electric lighting, the organization of an omnibus line which brings spa guests to Strasbourg and the opening of a trail station. iron at the very gates of the site. Very fashionable at the beginning of the twentieth^e century, the spa complex was destroyed by fire in 1913. After the First World War, investments were lacking to rebuild the resort and mineral water was only sold in bottles. In 1975, the company's activity ceased and the site was abandoned until 1999, when the Sulzbad, a spa establishment reopened its doors.

The Casemates trail

This is a short hike that will make you discover the works of the First World War around Soultz-les-Bains. These fortifications were built between 1914 and 1916. They were initially planned to counter the French offensives leading to the Saverne gap. It is a formidable fortified position since it is organized on several lines of trenches and it is provided with numerous infantry shelters, observatories and artillery positions.

For more information, the leaflet with the itinerary is available at the Tourist Office in Molsheim and in the town hall in Soultz-les-Bains.

Do

To buy

Eat

• Restaurant la Table du Domaine 30a route de Molsheim,   33 3 88 47 98 98, e-mail : [email protected] Service 12 h - 14 h and19 h - 21 h 30. Closed Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday evening, Thursday evening and Sunday evening, and during the Christmas holidays.. – Restaurant specializing in foie gras and duck. Daily menu, card, children's menu. Summer terrace. Accessible to people with reduced mobility. (last update Feb. 2018)
• Bad restaurant 38, rue de Molsheim,   33 3 88 38 51 08, e-mail : [email protected] Service 12 h - 14 h and19 h - 22 h. Closed Monday evening, Tuesday evening, Wednesday and Thursday evening.. – Refined and traditional cuisine, Alsatian specialty, game, dish of the day, menu, take-away meals. Weekends: tarts flambées, summer terrace. Brewery. (last update Feb. 2018)

Have a drink / Go out

Housing

• Hotel l'Auberge Le Biblenhof place called Le Biblenheim,   33 3 88 38 21 09, e-mail : [email protected] – In a large 18th century farm^e century, 12 rooms. Restaurant on site. Alsatian specialties, game and fish, menu of the day, children's menu, card, banquet, take-away meals, tarts flambées only in the evening. Summer terrace. Accessible to people with reduced mobility. (last update Feb. 2018)
• Gîte of Mrs. M.A. Kauffmann 2 rue du fort,   33 3 88 38 62 19 – 4 rural lodges 25 m² To 98 m². (last update Feb. 2018)

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