- Stage site for the second time
- Mountain resort and summit (1,265m) in the Vosges mountains in Haut-Rhin (68) attached to the commune of Oderen
- Population: 1,250 (Odernois and Odernoises)
During the 1980s, two rounds of the Alpine Skiing World Cup were organised in the Vosges resort. Long after Swedish legend Ingemar Stenmark had tasted success here, another champion made her mark at Le Markstein during the 2022 Tour de France Femmes avec Zwift: Annemiek van Vleuten took the Yellow Jersey here and effectively tied up the overall title such was her advantage at the line. And in 2023, Tadej Pogačar made it a point of honour to win here in the final days of a Tour that was slipping away from him, much to the consternation of Thibaut Pinot, who was denied the victory in front of his home fans that he’d been dreaming of in his last Tour.
LE MARKSTEIN
Markstein ski resort This winter sports resort forms a cross-country skiing area with the Breitfirst site and the toll-based Haute Route Nordique, which also connects it to the Grand Ballon. It was a stage of the Alpine Ski World Cup in 1983 and 1987 and saw legendary Swedish slalom skier Ingemar Stenmark win twice. Located in the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park, it lies between 1,020 and 1,268 metres above sea level on the Route des Crêtes. Markstein's sporting heritage dates back to the first Nordic skiing and ski jumping competitions in the early 1900s. Since then, the site has been a venue for numerous outdoor sporting and cultural activities. In summer and winter alike, Markstein is the ideal place to enjoy the great outdoors and its magnificent panoramic views: summer tobogganing, mini golf, archery, hiking (GR5), mountain biking, cycling, paragliding, downhill skiing, cross-country skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, restaurants, farm inns, accommodation and mountain huts are all available.
Serret Museum (in Saint-Amarin, 11 km away) Serret was the general who commanded the terrible battles of Hartmannswillerkopf. The museum inherited its name and history. It is housed in the former courthouse, which became a "mobile military hospital" during the first battles of 1914. The entire ground floor is devoted to the Vosges front from 1914 to 1918 and the Alsatian resistance from 1940 to 1945. The valley and its history... We are here on the grounds of the former Murbach Abbey, which also founded a glassworks, a unique collection of which is housed in the museum. Other excavated objects come from the castles of Friedburg and Wildenstein.
Wildenstein Castle (16 km away)
Construction: 14th century.
Style: fortified castle.
Characteristics: located on a rocky outcrop of glacial origin, access to the castle is via a 20-metre-long tunnel dug into the rock. Two round towers, ramparts and remains of the stables. History: in 1312, the Count of Ferrette, protector of Murbach Abbey, was authorised to build a castle on Mount Wildenstein and to cede it as a fief to the lords of Bollwiller. In 1324, when the Ferrette family died out, their heirs, the Habsburgs, lost interest in the valley and the castle fell into ruin. Murbach Abbey acquired the castle in 1536 and had it rebuilt between 1552 and 1570 to protect its possessions. During the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), the castle was successively taken by Lorraine and French troops. It was dismantled shortly afterwards and, like many other sites, used as a stone quarry.
Current use: since 2006, it has been the subject of archaeological excavations and restoration work.
Vivarium du Moulin (16 km away) Get to know insects, tarantulas, centipedes and other creatures. A wide variety of arthropods, most of them native to tropical regions, occupy the three floors of this former mill.
Saint-Michel and Saint-Gangolphe Collegiate Church in Lautenbach (17 km away) Construction: 11th, 12th and 19th centuries.
Style: Romanesque
History: the former collegiate church has undergone many changes over the centuries. The nave probably dates from the 11th century, while the transept, choir and flat chevet date from the 12th century. Its vaulted porch is one of the most beautiful in the region. However, the building was completely restored in 1859. The decorations and additions, such as the towers, added by the 19th-century architect are debatable, although they do not detract from the overall aesthetic.
Special features: guided tours for groups all year round by appointment with the Guebwiller Tourist Office.
Wesserling Park (20 km away) Wesserling Park, covering an area of 42 hectares, is part of an innovative heritage environment. It consists of five sumptuous gardens classified as "Remarkable Gardens": a formal garden, an English-style park, Mediterranean terraces, a vegetable garden and the farm's rural park. Wesserling Park is a comprehensive site that is integrated into local life. Its former multifunctional role (as a place of work and a place to live) continues today with the addition of "leisure and tourism" activities: walks, a textile eco-museum, artists' workshops, a pocket theatre, a designers' pavilion, and more. In this green setting, numerous events take place throughout the year: mixed garden festival, Christmas in the Gardens, concerts, plays, artistic and cultural exhibitions.
