Altkirch

A small town in Alsace, which was fortified in the Middle Ages. Most of the wall has disappeared over the centuries, but it is still visible in the alignment of the houses and certain facades. Of the two original gates, only the western one, the Gate of Belfort, remains.

The city is not lacking in charm, but much of the historic centre was under renovation and inaccessible when we visited in May 2022. We were therefore only able to make a short visit to the Jardins des Remparts ("Ramparts Gardens") and the Notre-Dame church.

Altkirch is considered the capital of the Sundgau, the southern part of Alsace, bordered to the south by Switzerland and to the west by the Territoire de Belfort, while to the north is Mulhouse and the beginning of the Alsace plain.

Much less touristy than the wine-growing Alsace to the north, the Sundgau plain lends itself well to hiking and is sandwiched between three mountain ranges close enough for day trips, the Jura, the Vosges and the Black Forest.

A land of rivers and ponds, it is possible to follow the "Routes de la Carpe Frite" (Fried Carp Routes), just like the famous Alsace Wine Route, except that here you may prefer to enjoy this speciality with an artisanal beer produced in a local microbrewery.