Oil History Route
8,5 KM I 120 HÖHENMETER I 2:30 STD. DAUER I LEICHT
SHORT DESCRIPTION
This walking loop offers an exciting insight into the history of oil extraction in Pechelbronn, which is where the first oil extraction sites were set up in Europe and indeed the whole world. The route takes you across fields and through Kutzenhausen, where you can admire the many half-timbered houses. A visit to the Erdölmuseum (Oil Museum) makes for the perfect way to finish off your journey of discovery on foot.
STARTING POINT AND HOW TO GET THERE
| THINGS TO SEE
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PLACES TO STOP
- Hôtel-Restaurant A l’étoile, Auberge Baechel-Brunn restaurant in Merkwiller-Pechelbronn, Auberge du Fleckenstein restaurant in Kutzenhausen
TOUR DESCRIPTION
Starting at the car park, walk along the road coming from Soultz (D28) in the direction of Kutzenhausen (symbol: red circle). Walk past the church and then turn left onto the path by house number 19 (Board/Sign 3 t). Cross the Seltzbach River and follow the path to the right, passing by the site that used to be home to the oil refinery in Pechelbronn (there is not much trace of it now). Turn right when you come to the next intersection and walk into Oberkutzenhausen.
Take a right turn here onto rue des mineurs and then follow this road to the route de Pechelbronn (D28, symbol: blue circle). At the “Vorfahrt beachten” (“Give Way”) sign, the route bends round to the left and then to the right immediately afterwards. You will then pass by the Schwengelpumpe (Handle Pump). After you have walked around 150 metres along the D28, turn right (symbol: blue circle). As you go uphill, turn left and then keep walking straight ahead. Take in the stunning view of the villages of Oberkutzenhausen and Kutzenhausen from the Feldbachberg Hills.
As you arrive in Kutzenhausen, the path will come to an end. Turn left onto rue du Feldbach and head onto route de Woerth (D28). Follow this road into the centre of the village (symbol: blue circle). Once you have passed the Maison Rurale de l’Outre-Forêt and the protestantische Kirche (Protestant Church), bear left onto rue des acacias. As you leave the village, bear left again and start to follow the cycle path back to Oberkutzenhausen.
When you arrive, turn right onto rue du Dr Deutsch and then take another right turn onto rue de la chapelle. Turn left at the intersection and walk on the tarmac path opposite (Sign 50 and 3.5 t) all the way to the first houses in Lampertsloch.
Turn right onto the road called route de Lobsann. The majority of the houses in this village district (Cité Le Bel) were built in the 1920s and occupied by people working at the production site in Pechelbronn. As you leave Lampertsloch, take the wide path on the left-hand side (Sign 3.5 t, symbol: red circle) and head to the D114 (route du château). Turn right when you get there and follow the road. When you have passed the bridge, turn left onto the cycle path (symbol: red circle) and walk along it until you have passed the Hélions Warm Water Spring (now channelled). As you enter Merkwiller-Pechelbronn, bear left on route de Woerth and head back to where the route started.
We recommend paying a visit to the Französisches Erdölmuseum (French Oil Museum) and the Maison Rurale de l’Outre-Forêt whilst you are on your walk or before or after you complete it.
CONTACT
OFFICE DE TOURISME SAUER-PECHELBRONN
2 route de Bitche – F-67510 LEMBACH
Tél. +33 (0)3 88 86 71 45
info (at) tourisme-nordalsace.fr
www.tourisme-nordalsace.fr
MUSÉE FRANÇAIS DU PÉTROLE
4 rue de l’école – F-67250 MERKWILLER-PECHELBRONN
Tél. +33 (0)3 88 80 91 08
musee.petrole (at) musees-vosges-nord.org
www.musee-dupetrole.com
MAISON RURALE DE L’OUTRE-FORÊT
1 place de l’église – F-67250 KUTZENHAUSEN
Tél. +33 (0)3 88 80 53 00 •
Copyright photo on this page: © Musée Français du Pétrole
Copyright map: map.solutions GmbH
