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Murbach Abbey: a jewel of Romanesque architecture in Alsace

Murbach Abbey: a jewel of Romanesque architecture in Alsace

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Murbach Abbey: a jewel of Romanesque architecture in Alsace

Name: Murbach Abbey: a jewel of Romanesque architecture in Alsace
Rating: 2

Recommended by 28 hikers

This Highlight is in a protected area

Please check local regulations for: Parc naturel régional des Ballons des Vosges

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Location: Murbach, Thann-Gebweiler, Alsace, France

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Best Hikes to Murbach Abbey: a jewel of Romanesque architecture in Alsace

4.9

(56)

237

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1. Grand Ballon – Panoramic view from the Grand Ballon summit loop from Murbach

23.5km

08:24

1,110m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Expert

4.9

(51)

198

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2. Col du Grand Ballon – Lac du Ballon loop from Rimbach-près-Guebwiller

19.7km

07:19

1,010m

Expert hike. Very good fitness required. Mostly accessible paths. Sure-footedness required.

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Expert

4.7

(20)

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3. Murbach Abbey – Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Lorette loop from Murbach

7.18km

02:14

260m

270m

Intermediate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

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Intermediate

Tips

EifelFranke

April 18, 2025

The monastery's origins date back to the 8th century, and by the mid-9th century it was already considered a spiritual center on the Upper Rhine.
And even today, a visit to this historic site is worthwhile.

Translated by Google •

Kompass

July 9, 2024

Murbach Abbey, whose church dates back to the 12th century, is one of the oldest monuments of Romanesque architecture in Alsace. Today, the church serves as the parish church of the municipality of Murbach and impresses with its historical architecture and artistic details.

The gallery of towers is particularly worth seeing. Binoculars help you to take a close look at the stone faces, geometric shapes and animal depictions high up. The south portal of the church is decorated with two lions, one of which sticks out its tongue.

The former nave now houses the parish cemetery. The abbey was founded in 727 by Abbot Pirmin, an Irish-Scottish wandering monk who had previously founded a monastery on the island of Reichenau in Lake Constance. In its heyday, the abbey owned three towns and 50 villages as far as Switzerland. Only nobles were accepted in Murbach.

Peasant uprisings and the Thirty Years' War took their toll on the monastery, and in 1764 parts of the complex were demolished. The monastery was later converted into a secular knight's foundation. It was finally dissolved with the French Revolution in 1789. The last abbot died as a canon in Eichstätt.

The history of Murbach Abbey reflects the eventful history of Europe. It testifies to the deep roots of religious life and cultural development in Alsace and remains an impressive example of Romanesque architecture.

by Hans-Jürgen van Akkeren

Translated by Google •

Heino

July 19, 2024

worth seeing!

Translated by Google •

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Elevation 490 m

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Wednesday 5 November

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Location: Murbach, Thann-Gebweiler, Alsace, France

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Murbach Abbey: a jewel of Romanesque architecture in Alsace

1. Grand Ballon – Panoramic view from the Grand Ballon summit loop from Murbach

2. Col du Grand Ballon – Lac du Ballon loop from Rimbach-près-Guebwiller

3. Murbach Abbey – Chapelle Notre-Dame-de-Lorette loop from Murbach

Other Popular Places to Check Out

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