Fréland

Perched above the vineyard, Fréland is a small Alsatian mountain village where meadows alternate with fir and pine forests. Comprising about forty hamlets and farms scattered across the hills and peaks, it offers a preserved natural setting. Its highest point, the Brezouard, rises to 1,229 meters, ideal for walks and encounters with local farmers.

Hiking enthusiasts can take the muleteers' trail, a historic route used in the 15th and 16th centuries to transport ore from the nearby valley to the furnaces of Fréland. These facilities, once operated by the lords of Ribeaupierre, were used to smelt silver from the mines of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines.

At the heart of the village stands the Church of Our Lady of the Assumption, rebuilt several times over the centuries. Higher up, the Saint-Thiébaut chapel, in neo-Gothic style, watches over the community.

To dive into local history, the Musée du Pays Welche showcases the customs and traditions of a canton where the Welche language, a Romance language, is still spoken.