The Soultzerland refers to an intercommunal territory located in the north of Alsace, in the Bas-Rhin department. Structured around the municipality of Soultz-sous-Forêts, this area merged in 2014 with the community of communes of Hattgau to form the community of communes of l’Outre-Forêt, bringing together more than 16,000 inhabitants across 13 municipalities and 19 localities.
Deep Geothermal Energy in Soultz-sous-Forêts: A Territory Marked by Energy Innovation
Before discussing the landscapes or local festivals, one distinctive feature of Soultzerland deserves mention: the presence of a European reference site in deep geothermal energy. The electricity production project through geothermal energy, inaugurated in 2008 by the then Prime Minister, has made Soultz-sous-Forêts an international case study for the exploitation of heat from deep rocks.
Recent research shows that this site also opens up prospects for the valorization of by-products such as lithium, beyond just energy production. For a rural territory, this scientific and industrial dimension constitutes a rare identity marker, which could support scientific mediation paths or technical tourism.
The territory represented by Soultzerland thus combines an agricultural and artisanal grounding with an energy innovation sector that is still little highlighted in traditional tourist guides.
Rural Heritage and Know-How in l’Outre-Forêt: The Rural House of Kutzenhausen
The Rural House of l’Outre-Forêt, located in Kutzenhausen, serves as a hub for transmitting traditional Alsatian know-how. Its programming has intensified in recent years with immersive activities that allow visitors to practice rather than just observe.
The days called “Wednesday in the Countryside” offer workshops around farming practices, regional cuisine, and local crafts. This format attracts both families and visitors seeking concrete experiences, away from traditional museum circuits.
What Distinguishes This Type of Place
The Rural House does not simply exhibit old objects. It reconstructs work situations, allowing visitors to understand how materials, tools, and seasonal rhythms structured daily life in l’Outre-Forêt. The immersive approach replaces the showcase with practice, a format that recent tourism data associates with increased attendance in French rural areas.
Rural Tourism in Northern Alsace: Why Soultzerland Aligns with Current Trends
Figures from Atout France for 2024 confirm a significant increase in rural tourism in France, driven by the search for authenticity, preserved landscapes, and longer stays away from major cities. Soultzerland, with its half-timbered villages, orchards, and a network of small farms, directly meets this expectation.
The proximity to Hunspach, classified among the Most Beautiful Villages of France, enhances the area’s attractiveness for visitors who wish to combine hiking, heritage discovery, and local gastronomy. The sector also benefits from its border position with Germany, which broadens the pool of potential visitors.
- Marked running and hiking trails around Soultz-sous-Forêts, accessible at different levels
- A network of rural festivals and seasonal markets that punctuate the local calendar, particularly festive events related to harvests and Alsatian traditions
- Rural accommodations integrated into the village fabric, favoring direct contact with residents
Local Economic Fabric: Commerce, Crafts, and Activity Zones in Soultz-sous-Forêts
The economy of Soultzerland relies on a balance between industry, commerce, and crafts. Two companies, Gunther Tools-Walter and Cefa, are the pillars of industrial activity. SMEs like Paul Heumann, STIB, CNA, or Zyto complement the economic network, representing a total of nearly a hundred businesses in the area.
Maintaining a dynamic commercial presence in the town center remains a challenge for the municipality, as part of the activity has migrated to the Roesselbach activity zone. The intercommunal activity zone provides an additional boost to local development.
A Territory That Lives Beyond Tourism
This point is often absent from tourist presentations: Soultzerland is not a postcard backdrop emptied of its inhabitants during the week. The local productive fabric maintains a permanent life in the villages, ensuring that visitors encounter a lived-in and active territory, not a seasonal stage set.
Soultzerland remains a territory where geothermal energy coexists with orchards, where the farming workshops of Kutzenhausen operate just a few kilometers from an active industrial zone. This layering of activities, rarely visible in highly touristic rural destinations, gives the stay a different texture from what is offered in the Vosges valleys or the Alsatian vineyards further south.
