Visiting Buswiller: church, history and surroundings

In the heart of the Hanau country, in the north of the Bas-Rhin, Buswiller is a small farming village of fewer than 300 inhabitants, surrounded by fields and orchards. There are no crowds or grand monuments here, but a church steeped in history, the peaceful atmosphere of rural Alsace and an ideal location for exploring Bouxwiller, Neuwiller-lès-Saverne or Haguenau.

Buswiller at a glance

• Location: arrondissement of Saverne, canton of Bouxwiller, Communauté de communes de Hanau-La Petite Pierre (postcode 67350).
• Population: around 290 inhabitants, known as Buswillerois.
• Distances: about 6 km from Bouxwiller, some thirty kilometres north-west of Strasbourg.
• Landscape: the gentle hills of the Hanau country, between the Alsace plain and the first foothills of the Northern Vosges.

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A little history

Buswiller is mentioned as early as 784 in a document from Wissembourg Abbey. In the Middle Ages the village was divided: part of it belonged to the lords of Lichtenberg from 1453, then to the county of Hanau-Lichtenberg from 1480. In the 18th century, the lordship was held by the Gayling d’Altheim barons, who had a castle built there in 1740; it was destroyed in 1793, during the Revolution.

The village was also home to a Jewish community: a synagogue was inaugurated in 1874 to replace an 18th-century building. It disappeared along with the community at the turn of the 20th century, and no building remains to visit.

What to see in Buswiller

The Protestant church of Saint-Sixte

In the centre of the village, the Protestant church is Buswiller’s main monument. A chapel dedicated to Saint Sixtus is recorded as early as the 15th century; after the Reformation was introduced in 1545, the building was reserved for Protestant worship. The present church dates from the second half of the 18th century, in neoclassical style, and was altered in the 19th century. In the chancel it preserves six tombstones of the Gayling d’Altheim barons, the village’s former lords, which are listed as historic monuments along with some of the furnishings. A description from 1702 mentions its churchyard enclosed by a high wall, a reminder of the region’s fortified churches.

The village and its surroundings

Take time to stroll through the streets to admire the farmhouses and half-timbered houses typical of northern Alsace, then set off on foot or by bike along the farm tracks linking Buswiller to the neighbouring villages (Ringendorf, Kirrwiller, Obermodern-Zutzendorf), just 1 to 3 km away. These quiet little roads offer lovely views over the hills of the Hanau country, especially in spring when the orchards are in blossom, and in autumn.

Places to visit nearby

• Bouxwiller (approx. 6 km): the former capital of the county of Hanau-Lichtenberg, with its historic centre, its Protestant church and the Judeo-Alsatian Museum, housed in the former synagogue. The Bastberg hill, which overlooks the town, is a popular place for a walk.
• Neuwiller-lès-Saverne (approx. 12 km): renowned for its abbey church of Saints Peter and Paul and the church of Saint-Adelphe, two gems of Romanesque and Gothic art.
• Haguenau (around 20 km): its old town, its museums and the vast Haguenau forest.
• Saverne (around 20 km): the Château des Rohan, the marina on the Marne–Rhine Canal and the old town.
• Strasbourg (around 30 km): the cathedral, Petite France and the museums of the Alsatian capital.

Practical information

Buswiller is a residential village: accommodation and restaurants are mostly found in the neighbouring towns, particularly Bouxwiller and Saverne. A car or a bike is the best way to explore the area. For Alsatian cuisine (tarte flambée, choucroute, baeckeoffe), head to the restaurants in the surrounding villages. The best season for a visit runs from spring to autumn; in December, enjoy the Christmas markets in Haguenau, Saverne or Strasbourg.

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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