Villages of Potters
Craftsmanship
Alsace has two potting villages, Soufflenheim and Betschdorf in northern Alsace. The clay soil of the nearby Haguenau forest is ideal for this activity and provides an ideal raw material for pottery workshops!
The age-old know-how of artisan pottery is the legacy of several generations. Today, just two dozen workshops are still in operation. This age-old art form knows how to renew itself, with more traditional pieces now being combined with contemporary productions, featuring original colours and shapes. The artisans will be delighted to open their doors and show you their work, at the crossroads of art and craft, for a unique aesthetic.
The poteries de Soufflenheim are terracotta pottery. These glazed potteries are used to cook food: terrines, baeckeoffe, moulds, kougelhopf or laemmele, etc. A good part of the typical Alsatian gastronomy is presented here.
The pottery of Betschdorf is made in salt stoneware, in the grey and cobalt blue tones typical of the village's pottery. This pottery, whose material is still fairly porous, cannot be used for cooking. It is used, for example, to make crockery and decorative objects. The entrance to Betschdorf is marked by a huge grey and blue pottery, which you won't want to miss! A picture-postcard village, you can also admire some beautiful half-timbered houses. Round off your visit with the eacute;e de la Poterie museum, where historic and rare pieces are on display.
Photography owned à Rolf Kranz
Leave with a gift that means something
Pack a little piece of Alsace in your luggage! During your stay, pick up a quality traditional pottery, either in a pottery workshop or on the Alsatian Christmas markets and support local know-how, which deserves to be known and perpetuated.
The Potters' Tour
The Tour des Potiers is a circuit pédestre that can also êute;alisé à vélo. The 3.5-kilometre route is self-guided through Soufflenheim, discovering its heritage and potters: an ideal activity for families, in the form of a treasure hunt for children.