Obernai

Visit Obernai, Alsace

Obernai is in the Bas-Rhin department of the Alsace region, 25km south of Strasbourg. The greatest surprise of the town is how well it escaped damage during WWI and WWII, and much of the town appears unchanged from its heyday in the 15th and 16th centuries.

Exploring Obernai

A picture postcard pretty town, Obernai has lots of delightful medieval houses lining the narrow streets and small open plazas, all set within the original ramparts of the town.

Many of the houses are painted in the resplendent colours typical of Alsace. Each house is a different colour, has different patterns of beams, different shutter colours. It is one of the best and most 'traditional' of the villages - utterly charming.

Things to see in Obernai

- The Belfry (opposite which you will find the tourist office) has a 60 meter high tower which was once the steeple of, and is all that remains of, the Chapel of the Virgin. It has also been used as the town watchtower but is now the clock tower.

- On the  Rue des Pelerins (Pilgrim's Street) there is a Romanesque house built in 1240.

- The six buckets well is a Renaissance style well with Corinthian style columns and six buckets hanging from its canopy, each one planted with flowers. It is on the street which leads up to the St Peter and St Paul Church and gives a charming picture with the well in the foreground and the church in the background.

- The fortifications of Obernai run right round the town. They are 1400m long with 20 towers and 4 tower gates. There is a pleasant tree-lined walk which runs all the way round the outside of the medieval wall.

- Obernai's corn exchange was built in 1554 in Renaissance style with a touch of Gothic.

- The market place is a lovely square in the heart of Obernai. The belfry and town hall are at one end and the corn exchange at the other, and inbetween lots of lovely half-timber houses. Market day is Thursday morning.

Pick up a leaflet from the tourist office in Obernai next to the belfry and follow their suggested circuit (about half an hour on foot) to be sure of seeing all the sights.

Attractions nearby

Obernai is a good sized town with plenty of hotels, restaurants and shops that make it a good base for exploring the area the vineyards of the region. Obernai is on the Alsace Wine Route, hence there are a multitude of small attractive villages to discover in the vicinity.

The town is also at the foot of Mont Sainte Odile. Though it is a 15-20 minute drive from Obernai to get to the convent the views from there are excellent and the trip is recommended.

Photos of Obernai (click any picture to start the gallery)

Tourist classifications for Obernai: Village in bloom (ville fleurie) 3*; Recommended detour town (plus beau detour);

Suggested places to visit near Obernai, France

Distances shown are direct, driving distances will be greater.

More suggestions: Chateau Andlau 9km; Molsheim 9km; Epfig 12km; Ebersmunster 17km; Le Struthof 17km; Wasselonne 20km; Selestat 23km; Strasbourg 24km; Kintzheim 24km; Chateau du Haut-Koenigsbourg 26km; Marmoutier 26km; Bergheim 30km; Ribeauville 32km; Saverne 32km; Hunawihr 34km; Riquewihr 36km;

See these places and more on a map at places near Obernai

Obernai tourism: sights and attractions nearby

Domaine du Windeck - remarkable garden (4km) : Itterswiller - ville fleurie 4* (12km) : Jardin du chateau de Kolbsheim - remarkable garden (13km) : Le jardin de Marguerite - remarkable garden (18km) : Diebolsheim - ville fleurie 4* (23km) : Parc du château de Kintzheim - remarkable garden (24km) : Jardin botanique de l'université de Strasbourg - remarkable garden (24km) : Bischheim - ville fleurie 4* (26km) :

French version: see Obernai (Francais)