Top 15 Attractions in Saint-Louis, France You Can’t Miss

In Saint-Louis, located in the Sundgau region of Alsace, you are merely a few kilometers from the Tripoint, where France, Germany, and Switzerland converge. A day’s itinerary may involve sailing on the river ferry in Basel, followed by a meal at a traditional Alsatian eatery, and concluding with a visit to the renowned Vitra Museum in Germany.

The Basel region offers a multitude of attractions encompassing fine art, textiles, industrial design, and medieval crafts. With the Upper-Rhine Museum Pass, you have the freedom to traverse borders and move seamlessly from one exceptional museum to another.

Let us delve into the noteworthy activities in Saint-Louis:

1. Basel Cable Ferry

The crossing of the Rhine on one of Basel’s four ferries is brief but memorable.

The ferries operate using the swift currents of the river for propulsion, and they traverse without an engine; the vessels are attached to a steel cable suspended above the water, moving back and forth between Grossbasel and Kleinbasel all day.

These ferries have unique names: Leu, Ueli, Vogel Gryff, and Wilde Maa, and it is customary for the ferrymen to entertain passengers with stories during the journey.

2. La Petite Camargue Alsacienne

Upon departing north from Saint-Louis, you will enter a national nature reserve encompassing over 900 hectares, with an ecosystem reminiscent of the Camargue region in southern France.

This area represents the former floodplain of the Rhine, characterized by a mosaic of wetlands, grasslands, marshes, and flooded forests.

Within the reserve, there are 15 species of orchids and more than 600 varieties of mushrooms in autumn.

A point of interest during your visit is the Imperial fish farm, established under Napoleon III in 1852 for the cultivation of salmon and trout.

The museum located on the premises offers insight into the history of the farm, as well as how the Rhine’s straightening program in the 19th century impacted the local landscape.

3. Fondation Fernet-Branca

Housed within the former Fernet-Branca distillery, this modest yet intriguing contemporary art museum presents temporary exhibitions featuring both French and international artists, including painters, sculptors, and graphic designers from the 20th century to the present day.

In the summer of 2016, the museum showcased a display for French engraver and painter Philippe Cognée, while previous years included retrospectives for artists such as Serge Poliakoff, Olivier Mosset, and Charles Pollock, the older brother of Jackson Pollock.

A small shop at the museum also offers the option to purchase a bottle of Fernet-Branca, a distinctive bitter herbal liqueur.

4. Mémorial Maginot de Haute-Alsace

The region of Sundgau is dotted with fortifications established prior to World War II as part of the Maginot Line.

A short distance from Saint-Louis, near the village of Uffheim, lies a poignant remnant, a concrete artillery bunker, representing the last of seven constructed in the Altkirch sector to safeguard the left bank of the Rhine.

You can explore this two-story structure and examine the armored observation dome above two 47mm anti-tank guns, as well as an array of smaller caliber machine guns.

5. Basel Fine Arts Museum

This museum houses one of Switzerland’s most significant art collections, which originated in 1661 when the city acquired the Amerbach Cabinet, a compilation of works by the 16th-century German artist Hans Holbein.

It currently boasts the largest collection of pieces by the Holbein family on public display.

In addition, it features an impressive array of Renaissance and Baroque artworks from artists such as Hans Baldung, Rembrandt, Rubens, Breughel the Elder, as well as later contributions from impressionists like Manet, van Gogh, Cézanne, and Monet.

Furthermore, there is a remarkable assortment of 20th-century art from renowned figures including Kandinsky, Chagall, and Alberto Giacometti, amongst others.

6. Basel Paper Mill Museum

Adjacent to the 13th-century Gewerbekanal is a museum located in a genuine 15th-century paper mill.

It stands as one of the few attractions in Europe capable of preserving late-medieval paper-making workshops, showcasing how the intricate machinery was powered by water wheels from the canal.

General exhibits elucidate the evolution of paper manufacturing and its impact on writing, printing, and the dissemination of knowledge throughout the centuries.

Daily demonstrations of traditional crafts such as typesetting, typecasting, and bookbinding are conducted, and visitors can also create their own paper and experiment with vintage calligraphy techniques.

7. Basel Munster

More than five centuries after completion, the red sandstone towers of Basel Cathedral continue to captivate attention, standing as unparalleled landmarks in the city.

Originally, a Romanesque church occupied this site; however, it was destroyed by an earthquake in the 14th century, prompting the construction of the current structure under the guidance of Ulrich von Esingen, architect of the eminent towers of Strasbourg Cathedral.

Visitors can scale the 250 steps in both the south and north towers to witness stunning views of the city and the Rhine; however, there are equally enriching experiences to be found below, such as the tomb monument of Erasmus, the influential Dutch humanist.

Additionally, visitors can explore beautiful medieval frescoes in the crypt representing the Annunciation and Nativity.

8. Basel Altstadt

Located along a bend in the Rhine, Basel’s old town showcases a concentration of the city’s historical landmarks.

One notable crossing is the Mittlere Brücke (Middle Bridge), which dates back to the 1300s and stands as one of the city’s symbols.

The district is ideal for leisurely exploration, featuring numerous well-preserved 15th-century buildings amid a network of steep lanes that lead to elegant squares.

In the quieter parts, visitors gain insight into the ambiance of medieval life, while avenues like Freie Stresse reveal modern commercial establishments and several cafés along Gebergasse.

9. Jean Tinguely Museum

Few modern art museums are as engaging for both children and adults as the Jean Tinguely Museum.

The museum features whimsical metallic creations by the 20th-century sculptor.

Adults will appreciate the humor and irony of Tinguely’s designs, while the dynamic, colorful machines will ignite the imaginations of younger visitors.

Many exhibits are interactive, inviting engagement through pedals and buttons.

10. Cité de l’Automobile

On the French side of the Rhine, you can discover what many consider the world’s preeminent car museum located in Mulhouse, just north of Saint-Louis.

This expansive collection was amassed by the Schlumpf brothers, textile industrialists, and cleverly concealed within the old mills that house the museum today.

The collection features the largest single assortment of Bugattis, a marque famous for its exquisite craftsmanship, appealing to a wide range of automotive enthusiasts.

Encompassing 400 vehicles in total, arranged chronologically, the exhibition showcases some of the earliest models dating back to the 1870s.

Among the rarest examples are two Bugatti Royales from the 1930s—only six remain in existence!

11. Musée de l’Impression sur Etoffes

This museum is a must-visit for those intrigued by fashion, textiles, or industrial history, featuring an extraordinary archive of printed fabrics from the 18th century to the present.

Holding the world’s largest fabric sample collection, with two million samples, it serves as a vital reference for design professionals; renowned companies such as Ikea and Kenzo frequently draw inspiration from this archive.

The museum also includes extensive displays of vintage industrial machinery that narrate the story of cotton printing in Alsace.

12. Vitra Design Museum

Crossing into Germany provides an opportunity to visit one of the foremost design museums in the world, located adjacent to the Vitra factory.

The museum primarily focuses on furniture and interior design, exhibiting works from esteemed designers such as Dieter Rams, Charles and Ray Eames, Michael Thonet, Alva Aalto, and George Nelson.

It occupies the first building that Frank Gehry designed in Europe, showcasing his signature deconstructivist architectural style.

A recently added wing features a portion of Vitra’s extensive design archive.

13. Basel Zoo

Switzerland’s largest and oldest zoo also ranks as the most popular paid attraction in the country.

The zoo is renowned internationally for its successful breeding programs, having achieved numerous births of pygmy hippos (53), okapi (22), and cheetahs (18 well-documented at this site).

With 645 different species on display, there are several exciting new exhibits, including an expanded monkey habitat and a newly constructed elephant house within a 5,000 square-meter enclosure.

If visiting during winter, be sure to witness the daily commute of the penguins as they travel from the Vivarium to an outdoor exhibition area at around 11:00.

14. Regional Wine and Beer

Just north of Saint-Louis, the landscape is blanketed with endless hectares of vineyards, cultivating Gewürztraminer and Riesling grapes.

Gewürztraminer is often served as an aperitif, while Riesling pairs beautifully with traditional Alsatian dishes, which will be explored next.

Within the town, the local brewery boasts a legacy of over 200 years, operating successfully despite a temporary closure during the latter part of the 20th century.

Visitors can stop by the brewery shop to find a selection of blonde, white, amber, and an unfiltered, unpasteurized “spring” beer, which features a natural yeast deposit at the bottom.

15. Alsatian Food

Many travelers cross the border simply to savor Alsace’s exquisite cuisine, characterized by a blend of French and German culinary traditions.

Traditional taverns, known as “winstubs,” serve hearty classics such as baeckeoffe, a dish made from wine-marinated beef, pork, and mutton slow-cooked with onions, potatoes, and vegetables.

Another notable savory dish is tarte flambée, which features bacon and onions baked on flat dough topped with fromage frais.

Additionally, there is a local variation of sauerkraut that presents fermented cabbage accompanied by regional charcuterie, morteau sausage, and frankfurters.