Moder Riverside Walk & Ancien Moulin
While visitors flock to Strasbourg's Petite France for its photogenic canals, Haguenau quietly offers its own waterside magic along the Moder river — a gentle promenade past medieval mill buildings, weeping willows and half-timbered facades that reflect in the slow green current without a tour group in sight.
The walk itself
Begin at the Pont de la Moder near the Musée Historique and follow the right bank downstream for about 1.5 km toward the old mill district. The path is flat, paved and lined with lime trees, making it equally pleasant for a morning jog or a slow evening stroll with a takeaway Kougelhopf from the nearby bakery.
The Ancien Moulin — an old watermill whose timber-framed body juts out over the Moder on wooden piles — is the photographic highlight of the walk. It appears on most Haguenau postcards yet sees a fraction of the visitors that equivalent spots in Colmar or Strasbourg attract.
Best times and nearby stops
Early morning is magical: mist rises off the Moder, swans drift under the mill bridge, and the light is soft and directional — ideal for photography. By 8 am the boulangeries on nearby Rue de la Redoute are open, so you can collect breakfast before setting out.
The walk connects naturally to the Parc Municipal, a formal garden laid out in the 19th century with a bandstand and rose beds, where Haguenau families gather on Sunday afternoons. Combine the two for a half-morning loop that costs nothing and reveals the city's unhurried, authentically local character.
More of Haguenau
Discover where to stay, what to do and the best deals for your trip.
Explore Haguenau →
