A stroll along the water’s edge in Munster

Start at the car park by the Munster swimming pool.
Signs for the “Balade au fil de l’eau” route are in place.

(S/E) From the car park, head south towards Parc de la Fecht and its pond. Walk along the right-hand side of the pond until you reach the bridge over the Fecht, at a pedestrian crossing. See the “Nearby” section below.

(1) Leave the return path on your left andcross the bridge to continue into the Parc du Docteur Albert Schweitzer along the banks of the Petite Fecht, then turn left to emerge at the car park on the Place des Tuileries.

(2) Head towards the Espace Saint-Grégoire and go round it on the left via Rue de l’Église. When you reach the junction with Rue Saint-Léger, turn left towards the church. In front of the entrance, cross at the pedestrian crossing to continue opposite along Rue des Clefs. At the end, continue straight ahead along Rue des Potiers, then turn right twice onto Cité de l'Île to reach the bridge over the Petite Fecht.

(3) Cross the bridge and turn left onto Chemin de Dubach. At the end, as you come out of the right-hand bend, take the path that veers to the left to enter the beautiful Promenade du Dubach park. Head left towards the bank of the Petite Fecht stream and follow it. Cross it, then turn left onto Rue Jean Bresch, then right towards Rue Loewel.

(4) Turn left twice to take a path along the Stadtbach stream which, at the end, continues after a right-left turn and leads to Place du 11 Novembre. Walk along it to the left, then straight on to reach Rue de la Fecht. At the bridge, look out for the church tower on your right, your next destination. See § "Nearby".

(5) In front of the Protestant church, turn left towards the village square and the Lion Fountain. Turn right, keeping the fountain on your right, then left, along the Place du Marché. Then head diagonally right towards the village hall, then the tourist office. Go round the building on the right to find, at the back, opposite the media library, the ruins of the former Munster Abbey (Abbaye Saint-Grégoire). See § "Nearby".

(6) Head back towards the D10 (Rue Marcel Haedrich) and follow it towards the school. After the car park on your left, turn left onto Rue Koechlin. At the end, continue right onto Rue Frédéric Hartmann; you’ll reach the junction with Rue du Dr Heid after passing Hartmann Park. See “Nearby”.

(7) Turn left, following Rue du Dr Heid, cross the railway line, pass the school, then the bridge over the Fecht, to reach a junction.

(8) At the 90° bend, turn left off the footpath and cycle path (Chemin de Feseneck, return route), then turn right into the cul-de-sac, Rue du Leymel. Shortly afterwards, you’ll reach the hydroelectric power station, still in operation, on your left, then, on your right, the artificial Leymel pond.

(9) From the pond, continue along Chemin du Nagelstall, a small dirt track with a wash house on your left. Then turn left and cross the small bridge. Continue left along Chemin du Leymel, following the mill canal. You will come back to the previous junction.

(8) Turn 90°, to the right, onto Chemin du Feseneck. Further on, you’ll reach a junction with numerous signposts and a footpath on the left.

(10) Take this path on the left to reach Rue du Pont. Go under the railway line, then turn right onto Rue Saint-Jean. Cross the D10 (at the pedestrian crossing) onto Rue de la République. Enter the park and take the paths on the right. You’ll pass the children’s playground and reach Parc de la Fecht, crossing the bridge you passed on the way there.

(1) Walk around the Étang de la Fecht on your right. Pass the swimming pool, then cross the old wrought-iron bridge. Turn left and head for the car park (S/E).

Picnic areas along the route.

(1) The pond in thebeautiful Fecht Park is an ideal haven of peace for a picnic.
Between (1) and (2)Dr Albert Schweitzer Park. Named in honour of the great doctor, known for his work in Lambaréné, Gabon. It features remarkable century-old trees. Picnic area and children’s play area.

(5) The Lion Fountain is situated in the village square in front ofthe Protestant church. The church is built of pink Vosges sandstone in the Neo-Romanesque style. Tradition has it that whenever the town was in conflict with the abbot, they would turn the lion so that it was showing its backside to the abbey, which would send the abbot into a rage!

(6) Ruins of the former Munster Abbey, also known as Saint-Grégoire Abbey, situated in the centre of the town of Munster.

(7) Hartmann Park: A lovely park, with a bandstand and a war memorial. Children’s play area.

Do not hesitate to visit the two magnificent churches.