Raphaël Schmitt

Nature

Explore the museum’s parklands

The Écomusée d’Alsace was originally created on the industrial wasteland of the old potassium mines, some 30 years ago and has since become a site with a wide variety of habitats, a village, fields, forests, a pond and rivers, which have resulted in considerable biodiversity. Several areas have been set up to allow the public to enjoy a close-up of nature and become aware of the importance of preserving it.

The Games Forest–Eco-discovery area

The Games Forest–Eco-discovery area opened in 2021 and is designed to help visitors discover and explore nature. It has now become one of the most important parts of the museum for families looking for a bit of adventure. Kids both big and small learn while having a great time. Awaken your senses walking along the barefoot trail of the Games Forest or, for the more intrepid visitors, see how good your sense of balance is on the wooden beams and other apparatus. On top of all this, you’ll also find rafts, huts, swings – in short, everything you need for playing in and with nature! What are you waiting for – come along to the Écomusée d’Alsace for a great time out with the family!

The museum's volunteer tree growers are planning a new feature in the heart of the Forest of Games: the Apple Maze! Take part in this adventure and sponsor your tree by clicking > here <

Games Forest barefoot track

Barefoot track stream

The play area of the Games Forest

Nature trails

Nature trails take you out exploring the museum wildlands and also discovering some hidden treasures! Venture out on one of our 5 trails – the trail of superb scenery, the trail of woodland emotions, the trail of the dry hill, the field trail and the remnants trail.

Steeve Josch

TRAIL

Woodland emotions

A short trail, 800 m long, which introduces you to some unusual species, with stories to entertain you.

Séverine Meyer

TRAIL

Remnants of 14-18

This trail takes you on a tour round remains of the First World War, which had before been hidden beneath the shrubbery. You’ll see the command post, living quarters, stables and the kitchen, vivid reminders of the tragic fate of these soldiers.

Steeve Josch

TRAIL

Superb scenery

This 2 km long trail takes you off through the woods and along the water to explore the hidden and visible sides of the animal and plant worlds. It’s where poetry arrives at the crossroads of history and nature!

The living heritage of the Écomusée d’Alsace

The Écomusée d’Alsace’s volunteer naturalists are usually to be found within the village, carrying out their work of drawing up an inventory of its living heritage. Results have shown what an extraordinary biodiversity exists within the museum, with both wild and domestic species to be found within the variety of habitats in the village, in the fields, the forest, wildland and marshland.

Some 5000 different species have so far been recorded.

Butterfly, Vulcan

Tawny dragonfly

Green toad

Praying Mantis