Agricultural and Forestry Heritage

The Val d’Argent draws part of its economic vitality from agriculture and forestry, two sectors that deeply shape its landscape and traditions. Forest covers nearly 75% of the territory, making Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines the leading forestry commune in Haut-Rhin.

To understand woodworking trades, the Vincent sawmill offers an immersive experience in the transformation of logs into planks, featuring 17 machines classified as historical monuments, providing a living testimony of the local industrial heritage.

Agriculture here is represented by two emblematic types of farms. The Vosgian farms, recognizable by their large carriage doors, are especially present in the villages of Lièpvre and Rombach-le-Franc. In Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, dairies and mountain farms continue the Anabaptist know-how introduced in the 17th century. These traditions are reflected in local products showcased at weekly markets: the Saturday morning market in Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines and the summer farmers’ market held every Tuesday evening at Villa Burrus.