Visit of Hunspach, a village in Northern Alsace

Updated on 2024-04-23

Hunspach is a lovely village located in the north of Alsace and was elected Favorite Village of the French in 2020. I had already been to Hunspach for Christmas, but had not yet been there at any other time of the year. It is now done and I advise you to visit it.

Laurène

Laurene is the founder of the My weekend in Alsace. She likes to explore Alsace, on foot, on her bike, on her horse or in her car to find good spots for her readers.

Hunspach is mentioned for the first time in a document from 1298. The Reformation made it a Protestant village. In 1619, the village came under Swedish administration and was razed and burned by imperial troops in 1633. It was later repopulated by Swiss immigrants. In 1787, Sweden bequeathed all its rights to the French Crown. The 19th century finally saw a period of prosperity for the village, which saw the construction of a railway line between Haguenau and Wissembourg.

But what to see in Hunspach? It’s simple: the houses! You should walk through the streets of the village and admire the half-timbered houses typical of the Wissembourg region. Contrary to the Alsatian villages of the Wine Route that you probably have in mind, there are no colorful houses in Hunspach. Traditionally, the houses are white and have remained so in Hunspach. This does not mean that it lacks charm, quite the contrary! This uniformity is superb. The village has beautiful half-timbered houses that the inhabitants flower abundantly: it is a real pleasure to walk around and stop in front of each one to admire the courtyards, the details of the architecture, the windows… Speaking of windows, you will notice on several houses of Hunspach curved glass in the windows, which made it possible to see outside without being seen (a fashion dating from the Baroque period).

Hunspach also has an important military heritage, including the Fort of Schoenenbourg, which is the largest structure of the Maginot Line open to the public in Alsace. These underground galleries were the most attacked during the Second World War and remained undefeated.

Hunspach is part of the closed club of the Most Beautiful Villages of France, a title that it largely deserves. However, it is not very touristy if you compare it to other Alsatian villages. Here, no line of stores but a peaceful and very authentic village. If you want to visit Alsace away from the touristy roads, this is where I recommend you go. It’s not very big, but you can combine your visit with the village of Seebach or the town of Wissembourg (among others!). There are many beautiful and unknown things in Northern Alsace!