Soultzeren

Soultzeren is an Alsatian village with 1,178 inhabitants (INSEE figure 2006) covering 1,837 hectares.

Its name, first mentioned around the year 900 as "Saltzeren," likely refers to the presence of saltwater springs in the area.

The village's history is marked by tragic events: the construction of its first church in 1463, followed by its adoption of the Protestant Reformation between 1543 and 1559 under the influence of Martin Luther.

During the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), residents took refuge in nearby forests to escape soldiers' abuses, even holding worship services at the Bichtstein rock, named for its role as a stone of confession and repentance.

Destroyed during World War I, Soultzeren still bears the scars of these conflicts, notably with a commemorative marker on the Stosswihr road.

Donated in 1923 by Alsace-Lorraine expatriates in Argentina, this marker topped with a French military helmet marks the furthest advance of the German offensive in February 1915.

The Protestant church, built in 1869 and restored between 1921 and 1923, was damaged in June 1940 during a German bombing. Its bell tower, rebuilt in 1949, has recently undergone further restoration.

The primary school, opened in 1924, exemplifies the typical architecture of post-war reconstruction.

For nature lovers, Soultzeren offers several hiking starting points: from La Boucherie, Kaltenborn (near the fire station), the Wettstein pass, and the Tanet parking lot, providing panoramic views including Forlet Lake, Green Lake, Tanet, Bichtstein, and trails leading to the GR5 and GR531 routes.