HORNSTEIN

Hornstein means in German « hornstone » or « cornea stone ». Despite several searches, the origin of the name of this place unfortunately remains unknown to date.

East of Mittelburg hill, overlooking the Florival and the city of Guebwiller, the Hornstein is a coast bathed in the morning sun and therefore cooler than his brother-in-law Mittelburg. The slope is steady and marked (25-35%). At an average altitude of 330 meters, it is bordered in its lower part by small woods and old plots of vines on terraces left abandoned after the Second World War or snacked by the nearby city. But his main curiosity lies in his tower, erected in XVIII^nd century on the northern part by the family De Heeckeren d

Relying on the same geological base as the Mittelbourg, i.e. a limestone substrate of the Oligocene (-35 million years) with the presence of sandstone, it differs however by the nature of its soil characterized by a larger marl and clay component which makes it a marno-calcaro-grey soil. Heavier and therefore a little richer, it also has a much higher water supply.