Tour of Buhl

Description of tour:

The city of Buhl is located in the heart of the Florival Valley. It is throught by the quiet waters of the Lauch River. Before, it was in the  Murbach Abbey's possession and was mentioned for the first time in 1135 by the abbot Erlof. According to the legend, it’s near the village, in the entrance of the valley of Murbach that was found “le vivier des moines pérégrins.” So, the Abbot Pirmin established the powerful abbey of Murbach.

The church of Buhl shelters an altarpiece dating from 15 th century attributed to Martin Schongauer or to its school resulting probably from the former convent of the Catherinette.

The village of Buhl is overhung by the castle of Hugstein, which was built in 1230 to defend the Abbey of Murbach and to prevent invasion by enemies in the valley.

Practical information: for this circuit, we advise you to wear confortable walking shoes.

Go to the coordinates: N47°55.631 E007°10.954/ Google Maps: 47 55.631, 7 10.954

This cross in stoneware, set up in 1752, is decorated with various emblems. Observe them. 

What object is used for the whipping scene of the Christ? 

The hammer A = 13 

The whip A = 33 

The nail A = 53 

The whipping takes place before the Rise of the Christ in the Mount Golgotha: the Christ is flogged against a column. (Also represented by the emblems on the cross of the passion of the Christ)

Go to the coordinates: N 47°55.665 E007°10.904 / Google Maps: 47 55.665, 7 10.904

Which animal is represented by the squirt of the fountain? 

A duck B = 30 

A hen B = 60

A dog B = 90

Go to the coordinates : N 47°55.682 E007°10.835 / Google Maps: 47 55.682, 7 10.835 

Admire the sundial on the facade of the house and sum up the numbers of the various figures registered on the dial. 

C = 

Formerly, sundials were used by men to measure time. It allowed to divide the day, from sunrise to sunset, in twelve hours, summer and winter. Summer times, were long whereas winter times were short.

Go to the coordinates: N47°55.454 E007°11.233 / Google Maps: 47 55.454, 7 11.233

At the very top of the cross, you can observe a notice. How many letters can you see? 

D = 

This notice means " Jesus of Nazareth, king of Jews. " This acronym resumes the verse of the Gospel according to St Jean.

Go to the coordinates: N47°55.240 E007°11.530/Google Maps: 47 55.240, 7 11.530

When was this castle built? 

EEEx (E = the first 3 figures of date) 

The castle was built by the municipalities of Guebwiller and Buhl to defend the Abbey of Murbach and the entrance of the enemies in the valley. Some say that the castle was, in 1477, the theater of the death of the prince of the Abbey of Murbach, who was strangled by a black cat.

Go to the coordinates: N 47°55.485 E007°10.939 / Google Maps: 47 55.485, 7 10.939 

With which tree trunk was built this fountain? 

Of the pine F = 597 

Of the oak F = 697

Of the birch F = 797 

This tree species can easily live over 500 years. Numerous remarkable trees are from this sort. This tree is the most common in France and is very used in cabinetmaking and joiner's workshop. Its name comes from the Gaul "cassanos" and would mean “buckled, twisted”

Find the final hiding place! 

Here are the addresses of the final hiding place: Coordinates: N 47°55.xxx E 007°10.764 / Google Maps: 47 55.xxx, 7 10.yyy 

After solving the previous indications, do the following calculations by replacing letters by numbers. You will then find the place where the hiding was deposited.

XXX = E x D + A + B 

YYY = F + C

Thank you for putting back the hiding as you found it, so that the other players can also take advantage of it.

Church of Buhl 

The church Saint Jean Baptiste built in 19th century, shelters the Altarpiece of Buhl, the pictorial masterpiece dating from the 15 th century. Attributed to Martin Schongauer’s school, the Altapierce contains all the technique of the works of the beginning of the Renaissance: sketch of perspectives, the engraved golds, the brilliant colors, draped deep and the applied brocades. Typical Rhenish style, its dimensions are impressive: 1.97m of height and 3.50m of length for the central part.

The path of the careers of Buhl 

Discover the former quarry of the massif of oberlinger, stoneware quarry were exploited till the beginning of the 20th century. Men extracted the stone from it for the construction of buildings and houses. It is Buhl that has the most vestiges of the exploitation of the quarry of Schimberg. All in all, people have exploited 6 quarries in a row, for outlets such as rubble stones, freestones, paving stones, pavements and curbstones. The speciality of the master quarrymen of Buhl was the manufacturing of “meulières stones”. Stoneware used in numerous mills of the region.

The Abbey of Murbach to approximately 3 km of Buhl

Established in 728 by Saint Pirmin, the abbey of Murbach knows a growing prosperity in th 12th century. Murbach becomes a real principality which possesses several cities such as Guebwiller. In the 16th century, the abbey is one of the fourth most important of the Holy Roman Empire. After the Thirty Years War, the principality becomes French. In 1759, it is transferred to Guebwiller and loses its status of abbey. The empty buildings are destroyed and the material is reused. Today, only the bedhead and the chorus of the abbey church remain. 

Where to eat ?

• Le Jardin des Saveurs

               Le St Barnabé Hôtel et Spa

               53 rue de Murbach

               68530 BUHL 

               03 89 62 14 14

• Domaine Langmatt

               68530 MURBACH

               03 89 76 21 12

• Domaine du Lac – Restaurant les Terrasses

               244 rue de la République

               68500 GUEBWILLER

               03 89 76 15 00