Sondernach

Population: 663 (source INSEE 2006)
Surface area: 2,472 ha

The etymology of Sondernach is interesting: "zur sundern Ach", near the southern stream of the valley.

The village was founded in the 12th century, when the Benedictine monks of the Abbey of Saint-Grégoire cleared the valley floor to make it habitable. In the 13th century, the Val Saint Grégoire community comprised Munster and 9 villages, including Sondernach.

After the revolution of 1789, the 9 villages gradually gained their independence, and a division procedure left the town of Munster, along with the communes of Breitenbach and Luttenbach, with large areas of forest and pasture in ownership on the Sondernach ban.

The village was completely destroyed during the Battle of Metzeral in June 1915.

WHAT TO SEE - WHAT TO DO

THE CATHOLIC CHURCH OF EMM

The Church of the Emm, a memorial of remembrance, was built on the site of the former chapel destroyed in 1915. It is dedicated to the soldiers who fell in the First World War in the Vosges, particularly during the battle of Metzeral. The church was inaugurated in 1931.

PROTESTANT CHURCH

On May 16, 1900, the former chapel of the Emm was entirely dedicated to Catholic worship. The commune then undertook the construction of a Protestant temple, which was inaugurated on September 22, 1901. The nave having been destroyed during the 1st World War, the church was rebuilt at the end of 1924, with the exception of the bell tower, which remained intact.

ANNE-AYMONE SQUARE

At the entrance to the village once stood a villa built by the industrialist Immer-Klein, and an imposing park surrounding it. After the First World War and the destruction of the building, everything was left to deteriorate. The decision was taken to create a park. When Madame Valéry Giscard d'Estaing visited Sondernach in 1976, the mayor asked her to give the square her first name.
Today, it is used for a variety of events, including the "Fête au Village" every summer.

TOURISM

Schnepfenried ski resort, hiking trails.

EVENTS

1st and 3rd Saturdays in February: Sledding Nights at Platzerwasen

2nd Saturday in February: Freestyle day at Schnepfenried ski resort

august 1st: Village fête with float parade and fireworks display

Office de tourisme de la vallée de Munster