Saint Brice Chapel

Perched at 470 meters above sea level on a wooded hill, the Saint Brice Chapel, mentioned as early as 1361, overlooks a secluded clearing 3 km northeast of the village of Oltingue. Archaeological excavations have revealed a Neolithic enclosure around the site, evidence of human occupation dating back more than 4,000 years. Partially rebuilt in 1669, it was once an important pilgrimage site, already referenced in 1576 on the map of Alsace under the name Saint-Brixi. In 1910, 55 iron ex-votos were discovered in its attic and are now preserved at the Strasbourg Archaeological Museum. Nearby, a hermitage existed in 1567, since replaced by a farm-inn that attracts many visitors from the return of fine weather. A 3 km hiking trail, the Great Trees circuit, leads to the chapel through a preserved forest and allows visitors to discover, among other things, the largest beech tree in the Soleure district.