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Steinbach’s historical heritage	Sites & History > Steinbach

Located in the glen of the Erzenbach, Steinbach used to form one single town with Cernay. Fully destroyed during the First World War the village was then rebuilt. Its substratum filled with silver and lead was exploited during centuries and some vestiges of the onetime mines remain in the glen.
Come and discover
The path of the Erzenbach iron mines TheSaint Nicolas Mine The waterfall of the Erzenbach The Saint Morand Church The” Côte 425” (the 425height) The Birlingen chapel The Saint Thérèse chapel The Saint Morand chapel The Ifiss oratory The path of the oratories

The path of the Erzenbach iron mines

The pathof the Erzenbach iron mines
The path of the Erzenbach iron mines: seeking the iron ore. By following this pathway the visitor will get a line of the most interesting mining work done in the glen to find iron during the 18th, 19th and 20th century. Three major veins were exploited: - The “Herrenstube” vein - the “Kessel” vein - the vein so called „du bois d’Uffholtz“ Those veins are found in volcano- sedimentary 350 million years old grounds and are extended on the territories of the surrounding towns. Due to the chemical composition of the ore, the absence of phosphorus, and the fullness in manganese this iron ore was much sought for the industry since it produced a more tough iron easier to work on. The main part of the mine was exploited during the 18th century before the Revolution. The local production was providing the region of Maseveaux. The work was taken over between 1815 and 1835. The very minor production was sent to the blast furnace in Bitschwiller les Thann. Major work was done between 1892 and 1904 when Alsace had been annexed to the German Empire. The mining would take over after the First World War.
	Practical information: The path of the Erzenbach iron mines is a 2 hours long marked pathway with explanation boards which will lead you to the Erzenbach waterfall. To come back you will cross the wild glen of the Kenttental where you may have the chance to see some deers and chamois.

the Saint Nicolas mine.

The Saint Nicolas mine.		After this period the installations were precarious until 1695 when the activity of the mine took over under the impulse of the Mazarin who put in place a new pumping system which could pump the water up to 100 meter deep. At that time 10 people were working in the mine. After the middle of the 18th century the mine exploitation became disastrous even during the French Revolution when a quick attempt to resume the work was made.
The first shadows of mine operating in Steinbach date from the 15th century but it is possible that there used to be work before the Gallo-Roman period. Those mines were exploited for silver and lead, but also for iron and copper.		A Prussian society then took over the work by building a wellspring on the Silberthal piazza, a steam boiler, a shaft and an extracting machine. In March 1902 a huge water supply flooded the whole installation but made no victim. This was the beginning of the end and around 1904 the last miners had to continue their career in the Potash mines which had just opened some miles away .
From the middle of the 16th century to the “Thirty Years War” (1618 – 1648) the activity was intense in every mine of the Vosges. Between 1612 and 1633 the Saint Nicolas mine was one of the most productive mine in Steinbach. It was delivering a silver-lead ore of first quality. The ore was then carried by ox cart to Giromagny where the lead was used to the parting of the silver. The “Thirty Years War” was a dark period for Alsace: the mine exploitations in Steinbach were destroyed by the Swedish occupants.

The waterfall of the Erzenbach

The waterfall of the Erzenbach
	Located in the heights of the glen of Steinbach you can discover the waterfall after one little hour walking by either following the marked path of the Club Vosgien or by following the also marked path of the iron mines. This impressive in autumn and winter waterfall looses a little bit its grandness during the summer since the river which feeds it is has a smaller flow.

The Saint Morand Church

The Saint Morand Church
	The current church was built in 1926. The former church dating from 1873 was built to replace the onetime chapel existing since 1553. The church was destroyed at the beginning of the First World War between the 27 December and 15 January 1915. The current place of worship is placed under the name of Saint Morand since 1668 (formerly Saint Mathias)

“Cote 425”

The " cote 425 "

“Cote 425” is the military name for the hill planted with grapevine among Steinbach and Vieux Thann.

The Birlingen chapel

The Birlingen chapel.

This chapel is on the left side of the road from Cernay to Steinbach. The name Birlingen is quoted for the first time in 1295. The priory and burg around disappeared before 1618. Place for pilgrimage since the 17th century it is demolished in 1803 after the French Revolution. In 1894 a new chapel is built but it will also be destroyed during the First World War.
The current chapel restored in 1994 was built in 1930.

the Saint Thérèse Chapel

The Saint Thérèse Chapel

At the edge of Steinbach, you climb the little pathway on the left of the glen of Silberthal to reach the Saint Therese Chapel.
It was built in 1949 by some young people from Steinbach coming back from the Second World War to remember the people integrated by force in the German army.

the Saint Morand Chapel

The Saint Morand Chapel
Located at the top of the hills this edifice built in 1930 is one of the most beautiful chapels in the surroundings. From the top of this plateau you can see the bell towers of Cernay, Steinbach and Uffholtz, the Black Forest (a German wooded mountain range) and the Alpes.

The Ifiss Oratory

The Ifiss Oratory

This oratory is on the hills of the “côte 425”. It is decorated all the year long. For Christmas you can even admire a crib. It was rebuilt in 1927 after the First World War.