What to do in La Petite Pierre in Alsace?

The origins of the village of La Petite Pierre go back to the Middle Ages and the castle was built in the 12th century. It was not until the beginning of the 16th century that the Château de La Petite Pierre was modernized and took on its current appearance. In the 17th century, the village was occupied by France and fortified by Vauban.

Visit of the village of La Petite Pierre

Visit of the Old Town and the castle

La Petite Pierre is a small village, but is nevertheless interesting to visit. The main attraction is the old town (staedel), where the castle of La Petite Pierre, seat of the Vosges du Nord Regional Nature Park. The castle is not open to the public, but you can still enter the courtyard and visit the store of the Maison du Parc, which offers beautiful and good local products. The ramparts are also accessible via the Ramparts Trail, and the view is worth the detour!

To get to the castle, you will pass by the pretty Rue du Château, which has a few shops and restaurants. If you like religious frescoes, don’t hesitate to push the door of thesimultaneous church of Our Lady of the Assumption, whose choir houses beautiful frescoes from the beginning of the 15th century. The name “simultaneous church” comes from the fact that the church is shared between Catholic and Protestant worship. A great example of cohabitation! In the church, one can also discover the graves of former lords, including those of two counts of Lutzelstein.

Also in the old town is the Museum of the Alsatian Seal and of Popular Arts and Traditions (Springerle), dedicated to the history of the molds of these Alsatian Christmas cakes. The museum is very small, but nice, especially at Christmas time during the springerle making workshops!

Walk in the Little Stone

Outside the old town, you can visit the House of the Pagans, a Renaissance house where some Gallo-Roman traces have been found, which gave it its name. It has a superb view of the surrounding forest. Some say that the place is magical… You go and judge!

Activities in the area: walks and hikes in the Northern Vosges

For those who would be tempted by a stay in La Petite Pierre, know that it is a perfect place for lovers of calm and nature. You will be able to rest there, to reach numerous hiking and mountain bike trails or to go for a horse ride for example. You feel a bit out of time, it’s really nice! For example, I did the 3 rocks hike, a very nice trail in La Petite Pierre, but also tested an electric scooter ride.

My good addresses in La Petite Pierre

Here are my good plans in La Petite Pierre:

• To rent a bike or an electric scooter: go to Loc’Bike & Trot just in front of the Tourist Office.
• For a tea break: Les jardins d’Utopie, a delightful tea room and clothing boutique. The place is warm (there is even a fireplace, very pleasant in winter). I advise you to have a drink but not to eat there, I was disappointed. Ideally, it is to enjoy the setting with a good cup of tea!
• For a beer on the terrace: go to the Biergarten La Cour du Grès. Same remark, I advise you to have a drink there but not necessarily to eat.
• To buy leather goods: go to the Atelier de la Forêt, a local workshop
• To buy local souvenirs: go to the Maison du Parc in the castle, which has a store that exclusively sells products from artists, craftsmen and producers of the Vosges du Nord Regional Nature Park.
• To buy honey: go to the store of the Ruchers des Vosges du Nord, just next to the Atelier de la Forêt

Hotels and restaurants in La Petite Pierre

There are also many hotels and restaurants in the main street that are very welcoming and allow you to take a pleasant break before or after a hike, for example!

My photos of La Petite Pierre in Northern Alsace