Saint-André Institute

Founded in 1891 by Abbé Schnell on an Alsatian farm, this medico-educational institute initially welcomed orphans before dedicating itself to the education of disabled children. Managed by the Sisters of the Holy Cross of Strasbourg, the site was destroyed during World War I and then rebuilt. In 1939, 550 residents were evacuated to make way for expelled Alsatians until 1945. Between 1940 and 1941, the Gestapo used it as a transit camp for "undesirable persons," before turning it into an SS training center from 1941 to 1944, marked by intense physical and psychological training. Abandoned after the explosion of three ammunition wagons, the site was rebuilt with a central pavilion including a bell tower and chapel. Although modernized, the current building retains the original 19th-century farm to the southwest. Nearby, the departure point of the Steam Train (Train Thur Doller Alsace) connects Cernay to Sentheim for a scenic ride with entertainment.