The Alsace region of France is a popular tourist destination for many reasons. It boasts of picturesque towns along the Alsatian wine route, with majestic castles and churches, romantic rivers, historic bridges, and delicious French cuisine. But it’s also a popular spot for pottery too.
Soufflenheim, a town located just beyond the German border, a short 1 1/2 hour driving distance from Stuttgart or Kaiserslautern, is the pottery capital of Alsace. The village, uniquely beautiful with colorful, half-timbered buildings and small vineyards, has several stores with their own workshops, each producing distinctly unique designs and color palettes of pottery.
The town is easy to get to, with free public parking for visitors, and helpful staff at the Tourist Information Center who can provide a map and list of the shops and restaurants in the area. The shops are mostly open every day from 10am-12noon, and from 2pm-6pm. While the stores close at noon for siesta, you can enjoy a delicious French meal at any of the several restaurants in the area. Restaurant Au Boeuf, in the heart of the town center, is a favorite among locals and tourists alike.
Betschdorf, another pottery town in the Alsace just 15 minutes away from Soufflenheim, is known for its blue and gray stoneware. The Museum of Pottery is located in this village and also has several shops worth visiting.
For more information on Soufflenheim, visit the Tourist Office located at 20 Grand Rue 67620 Soufflenheim.
The following websites also provide good information (open in Google Chrome for automatic English translation of these French websites):
www.ot-soufflenheim.fr
www.soufflenheim-tourismus.com
Restaurant Au Boeuf is located in 48 Grand Rue 67620 Soufflenheim. Visit www.boeuf-soufflenheim.com for more information on their menu and prices.
For more information on Betschdorf, visit tourisme-hagenau-potiers.com
Stay a bit longer and book your hotel here!
About the Author:
Janice is a military spouse who lives in Stuttgart with her family. She enjoys getting off post and exploring Germany with her family. And blogging.