Visiting Grassendorf: a village in the Pays de la Zorn

Nestled in the hills of northern Alsace, Grassendorf is a small rural village in the Bas-Rhin with around 260 inhabitants. Part of the canton of Bouxwiller and the Pays de la Zorn community of communes, it lies about 28 km north-west of Strasbourg and about 13 km from Haguenau as the crow flies. Far from the crowds of the Wine Route, it’s a peaceful stop for anyone who loves village Alsace, its understated heritage and its quiet country lanes.

A village with an unusual history

Like many villages in northern Alsace, Grassendorf was hit hard by the Thirty Years’ War. In the mid-17th century it was largely repopulated by immigrants from Thiérache, in Picardy. The village became a parish in its own right in 1724.

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What to see in Grassendorf

• The Catholic church of Sainte-Agathe, in the centre of the village: a single-nave building of three bays, with a square choir tower topped by a polygonal spire.
• The presbytery, dating from the 18th century, next to the church.
• The half-timbered farmhouses: the oldest half-timbered house in the village dates back to 1683. Several farms show the successive extensions typical of rural Alsatian housing.
• The farming landscape: fields and orchards surround the village, perfect for a short walk or bike ride.

During the European Heritage Days in September, the village sometimes organises guided tours of its religious and civil heritage: ask at the town hall.

The immediate surroundings

Ettendorf and its Jewish cemetery (about 2 km)

The neighbouring village of Ettendorf is home to a Jewish cemetery listed as a historic monument and in use since the 16th century. Its oldest gravestones, from the 16th to the 18th century, stand on the upper part of the site, on the hillside. It is a moving place of remembrance that bears witness to the importance of rural Jewish communities in northern Alsace.

Pfaffenhoffen (Val-de-Moder, about 3 km)

Right next door, Pfaffenhoffen is home to the Musée de l’Image Populaire, which holds the “Musée de France” label and is devoted to Alsatian folk imagery, in particular reverse glass painting. The town also has an 18th-century synagogue, one of the few from that period still standing in Alsace, protected as a historic monument.

Bouxwiller and the Bastberg (about ten kilometres)

Once the capital of the County of Hanau-Lichtenberg, Bouxwiller has kept a fine historic centre. The Musée du Pays de Hanau, housed in the former corn exchange, traces the history of the county. Just above the town, a geological trail runs across the Bastberg hill: Goethe, who explored it in 1771, observed the fossil snails and oysters in its limestone.

Hochfelden and the Villa Meteor (less than 10 km)

The main town of the Pays de la Zorn, Hochfelden is home to the Meteor brewery, an independent family brewery that has been in the town since 1640. Its visitor tour, the Villa Meteor, lasts about 1 hour 30 minutes and covers every stage of the brewing process. Hochfelden can be reached by train from Strasbourg.

Practical information

• Getting there: about 30 minutes by car from Strasbourg. The nearest station is Hochfelden, on the Strasbourg–Saverne line.
• Accommodation: the village is small; you’ll find more gîtes, B&Bs and hotels in Haguenau, Bouxwiller, Hochfelden or Saverne.
• When to visit: from spring to autumn for walks and bike rides in the countryside; in December to combine your visit with the Christmas markets in Haguenau or Strasbourg.

You don’t come to Grassendorf for major monuments, but for the authenticity of a Pays de la Zorn village and the wealth of heritage around it. Combine it with Pfaffenhoffen, Ettendorf and Bouxwiller for a great day out discovering northern Alsace.

Enzo

Hi, I'm Enzo! I'm the guy who loves lacing up his hiking boots to explore the rugged trails of the Vosges. Passionate about nature and photography, I take you along through articles that capture the scent of fir forests and the charm of mountain lakes. I live for those moments when the sun rises over the Haut-Koenigsbourg or when I stumble upon an authentic inn along the way. My goal? To inspire you to get out, breathe in the fresh Alsatian air, and always have a great spot for a tarte flambée to share at the end of the day.

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