Aubure discovery circuit

Aubure, the highest village in Alsace, is situated at an altitude of 800 m on a plateau overlooking the plain of Alsace, at the junction of the massifs of three valleys: Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines to the north, Lapoutroie and Kaysersberg to the south, and Ribeauvillé to the east. This location allows the village to be protected from the prevailing west winds by the Brézouard massif and thus benefit from a microclimate. Aubure, mentioned for the first time in 1217, is part of the lordship of Riquewihr and the county of Horbourg. In 1324, the county was sold to Count Ulrich of Wurtemberg, cousin of the counts of Horbourg who no longer have male descendants. In 1397, the lordship of Riquewihr was attached to the county of Montbéliard. From 1534 to 1536, the dukes of Wurtemberg-Montbéliard introduced the Reformation to Aubure. The first church, Protestant, was built in 1556. The Catholics do not have a church and go to the church of the Saint-Nicolas abbey of Sylo, located near the ruins of the Bilstein castle. During the Thirty Years' War (1618-1648), a large part of the village was destroyed and the Protestant population decreased significantly. The "welches," originating from the neighboring valleys, Catholic and speaking a French patois, are numerous to come and settle in Aubure. In the 19th century, Aubure relied on agriculture, forestry, and home weaving produced for the industrialists of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. During the second half of the 19th century, Romanticism attracted the high society to the mountains and Aubure became known for the quality of its air. Since the 1880s, private guesthouses, then sanatoriums (1), were created. Green tourism then successfully developed: Aubure became a resort and spa center thanks to its microclimate and mountainous location. World War II and the discovery of the tuberculosis vaccine ended these activities, and the sanatoriums were transformed into hospitals. Even today, Aubure is a place for stays and a starting point for easy and varied walks, both in summer and winter, allowing visitors to appreciate its natural riches. In addition to tourism activity, Aubure includes significant forestry activity thanks to its vast municipal forest. Agriculture has become mechanized, and the farms are much larger but fewer in number. Some old farms, where the dwelling and the stables were under the same roof, have managed to keep their old exterior appearance despite their change in purpose.