Around the Ecomusée d'Alsace walking tour in Ungersheim and Pulversheim
Description
This easy itinerary allows you to discover the surroundings of two of the main leisure parks in Alsace as well as some of the best preserved remains of the industrial heritage of the Alsace Potash Mines. You will be led through farmland but also through the forest that runs along the Thur and its tributaries.
Technical Information
Altimetric profile
Starting point
Points of interest
Ecomusée d'Alsace
This educational leisure park was created in 1980 by the Association "Maisons Paysannes d'Alsace" which rebuilt the first house on the site, the Koetzingue house, on a plot of land in Ungersheim, in the wasteland of the Potash Mines. Little by little, other houses were added and on June 1st 1984, the Ecomusée d'Alsace opened its doors. It was inaugurated by Jack Lang, Minister of Culture. The museum pursues its mission through activities aimed at promoting the customs of yesteryear and the local heritage.
Carreau Rodolphe spoil tip
Head towards the exit of the car park, towards the old slag heap which is part of the Carreau Rodolphe, the site of the Potash Mines of Alsace, the first shaft of which was drilled in 1913 by the Société Kali Ste Thérèse. This site is a witness to the past glory of the mining industry and has been owned by the Conseil Général since 1987. A team, the "Rodolphe Group", has been fighting since 1994 to rehabilitate and develop the site, in order to preserve the memory and tools of the MDPA miners. We follow the cycle path, with moorland and reed beds on our right, which were created by the discharge of brine in 1960, causing the trees to die in these marshes.
Parc du Petit Prince
This theme park opened in 2014 on the site of the former Bioscope. Its attractions are inspired by the work of Antoine de St-Exupéry. Its tethered balloons offer a breathtaking view of the potassium basin.
Calvary
This calvary is very interesting: a hand is engraved on it. Legend has it that a lumberjack died here and was eaten by wolves. All that has been found is his hand.
The old Thur river
In this small forest, we cross the Old Thur. An arm of this river is also called the canal of the 12 mills, of which only one is still in activity (produces electricity) in the forest of Niederhergheim near Colmar. Some buildings still exist in Meyenheim or Munwiller, while others have completely disappeared. The old Thur river crosses the Lauch river in Eguisheim, before Colmar.
The Thur river
The Thur river is a 53.3 km long river of Alsace, which rises near Wildenstein and flows through a valley of the same name, passing through St Amarin, Thann, and then from Cernay, it flows into the plain towards Ensisheim to flow into the Ill. Return to the Ecomusée d'Alsace car park, following the site of the "Rodolphe" tile.
