Glass and Crystal Producer and Clog-Maker History Route

13.5 KM I 300 HÖHENMETER I 4 STD. DAUER I MITTEL

SHORT DESCRIPTION

This stunning walking loop passes through two major production centres within the glass and crystal industry, a former royal crystal factory and the first-ever crystal factory in France (Saint-Louis Crystal Factory) and a former glass factory. The former Glasfabrik Meisenthal (Meisenthal Glass Factory) is now a museum and art centre. There is also chance to explore Soucht along the way. This village is known for its former clog-making work and it has a new museum made entirely of wood.

STARTING POINT AND HOW TO GET THERE

Starting/finishing point:
Site Verrier/Glashütte (Glassworks), Place Emile Gallé, Meisenthal
How to get there: Via the D83 and Bitcher Straße

THINGS TO SEE

Glashütte Meisenthal (Meisenthal Glassworks), Kristallmuseum “La Grande Place” (“La Grande Place” Crystal Museum) in Saint-Louis-lès-Bitche, Goetzenbruck, Stein der 12 Apostel (12 Apostles Stone), Holzschuhmuseum (Clog Museum) in Soucht

PLACES TO STOP

There are lots of places to stop all the way along the route, such as L’Auberge des Mésanges (Meisenthal), Chez Thierry in Goetzenbruck and Vieux Sabot in Soucht

TOUR DESCRIPTION

The walking loop starts at Place Emile Gallé. From here, head left up rue du Cimetière (symbol: red circle). There are several interesting graves in the Friedhof (Graveyard) here. Cross the D83 country road and walk along rue de Schieresthal. When you reach the oak tree called “Chêne Georgel”, follow the path opposite (symbol: yellow cross) which leads to St-Louis-lès-Bitche. Here you can admire a lovely view of the church, which replaced the former glassmakers’ chapel in 1897, and the old Kristallfabrik (Crystal Factory) building.

Follow the path to the left down to the church and walk past the Kristallmuseum (Crystal Museum) on Grande Place. As you leave Saint-Louis-lès-Bitche, follow the path to the left (symbol: green circle) to Goetzenbruck. Upon entering Goetzenbruck, take a right turn onto rue du Schweizerberg and walk along this road into the centre. Turn right onto rue de Bitche (D37), which will lead onto rue d’Ingwiller. Once you have passed the church, turn left onto rue Saint-Hubert (symbol: yellow triangle). Follow the yellow triangle symbols all the way to the Zwölf-Apostel-Stein (12 Apostles Stone).

When you get there, cross the D37 country road and follow the red triangle symbols along the path until you come to a fork. Here you need to head right (symbol: yellow cross) up to the stone pillar, at which point you should turn onto the path marked with red cross symbols. This will take you to the Holzschuhmacher-Museum (Clog-Making Museum) in Soucht. Beyond this, the path will take you back to Meisenthal. You just need to follow the yellow circle symbols to start with and the red circle symbols later on. As you enter the village, turn left and walk to the Glas- und Kristallmuseum (Glass and Crystal Museum) to end up back where you started.

CONTACT

OFFICE DE TOURISME INTERCOMMUNAL DU PAYS DE BITCHE
2 Avenue du Général de Gaulle • F-57230 BITCHE
Tél. +33(0)3 87 06 16 16
contact (at) tourisme-paysdebitche.fr
www.tourisme-paysdebitche.fr

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