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Voykit pocket guide · France
Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines
Half a day to one day: walk the old mining trails, see the Mineral & Gem Fair if you time it right, then move on to Colmar or Strasbourg.
Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines is a small Alsatian town built on centuries of silver and antimony mining. The main draw is the annual Mineral & Gem Fair (June), which fills the streets with dealers and collectors. Outside fair week, the town is quiet: a morning to see the mining heritage and a few half-timbered streets, then continue along the Alsace Wine Route.
- Country
- France
- Best months
- May–Oct; June for the fair
- Avoid
- Fair week if you want a quiet visit (no accommodation available)
- Stay
- 0–1 nights
Checked 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change; anything marked (check) is not confirmed.
Essentials
- Currency
- EUR
- Money
- Currency is the euro (EUR, €). Contactless cards work in most shops, cafés and restaurants.
- Daily spend
- Budget €50–80 excl. bed · Mid €80–130 excl. bed · High €130+ excl. bed (estimate; check)
- SIM and data
- Orange, SFR, Bouygues Télécom and Free sell prepaid SIMs in their shops and at tabacs; ID is required to register.
- Emergency
- Police 17 · Fire and ambulance 18 · European emergency number 112
- Plugs
- Types C, E · 230 V · 50 Hz · Round two-pin plugs; type E sockets have an earth pin sticking out, so Schuko (type F) plugs need a C/E hybrid or an adapter.
- Tipping
- Café or bar: Leave small change, €0.20–1.; Restaurant: Service is included; leave 5–10% in cash for good service.; Taxi: Round up to the next euro or two.; Hotel porter or housekeeping: €1–2 per bag or per night.; Tour guide: €5–10 per person for a half day, more for private guides.
- Water
- Tap water is safe everywhere unless signed otherwise. Restaurants must serve a free carafe of tap water on request.
- Toilets
- Paris has free automatic public toilets (sanisettes); elsewhere use cafés (buy a coffee), museums and stations, where some charge €0.50–1.
What things cost
| Item | Price |
|---|---|
| Coffee | €2–3.50 |
| Lunch menu (plat du jour) | €12–16 |
| Beer (demi / pression) | €4–6 |
| Taxi from Sélestat station to town | €25–35 |
Desk estimates, checked 2026-09; check locally.
Get in
By air
- BSL · EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse-Freiburg
- About 1 h 15 min by car or train via Colmar
- SXB · Strasbourg Airport
- About 1 h by car or train via Sélestat
Typical fares
- Sélestat → Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines by bus
- about €2–3, about 30 min (check)
- Taxi Sélestat → town
- €25–35 (check)
Show 7 more sections and the pocket cardHideGet around, See and do, Sleep, Phrase card, Etiquette, safety and scams, One and two days, Sources, Pocket card
Get around
Walkable centre. A car is useful for the mining trails and nearby villages. Bus lines connect to Sélestat and Colmar (check schedules).
See and do
Known for
- Mineral & Gem Fair (June)
- Historic silver and antimony mines
- Half-timbered houses in the valley
Day trips
| Where | How | Time |
|---|---|---|
| Colmar | Car (about 25 min) or bus (about 40 min) | About 30–50 min |
| Riquewihr | Car (about 15 min) | About 20 min |
| Strasbourg | Car (about 50 min) or train via Sélestat (about 1 h 15 min) | About 1–1.5 h |
| Europa-Park (Germany) | Car (about 45 min) | About 50 min |
Sleep
- Town centre
- A few hotels and guesthouses; book months ahead for fair week.
- Nearby villages (Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr)
- More options, 15–20 min drive.
Phrase card
| English | Say or show |
|---|---|
| Hello | Bonjourbohn-zhoor |
| Thank you | Mercimair-see |
| How much is it? | Combien ça coûte ?kom-byen sa koot |
| Where is the toilet? | Où sont les toilettes ?oo son lay twa-let |
| Do you speak English? | Parlez-vous anglais ?par-lay voo zahn-glay |
Etiquette, safety and scams
Etiquette
- Greeting: Say 'bonjour madame/monsieur' on entering any shop, bus or office; avoid: Asking a question before saying bonjour — it is read as rude
- Cheek kisses (la bise): Follow the other person's lead; one to four kisses depending on region; avoid: Initiating la bise with strangers or in business
- Addressing people: Use 'vous' and titles until invited otherwise; avoid: First names and 'tu' with older people or staff
- Restaurants: Wait to be seated in restaurants; call the waiter 'monsieur' or 'madame'; avoid: 'Garçon', snapping fingers, asking for the bill before you are finished
- Conversation: Debate is a pleasure; food, politics and philosophy are fair game; avoid: Asking about salary or religion; loud voices on trains
- Dinner at a home: Bring flowers (not chrysanthemums), chocolates or a good bottle; arrive 10–15 minutes late; avoid: Cutting the tip off a cheese wedge or asking for ketchup
- Dress: Smart-casual in cities; covered shoulders in churches; avoid: Beachwear in town centres
Scams and watch-outs
- No accommodation available during the Mineral & Gem Fair unless booked a year ahead.
- Mining trails can be steep and muddy after rain; wear sturdy shoes.
- Restaurants and shops close early outside fair week; plan meals ahead.
Very safe. The main risk is slippery paths on the mining trails. Keep valuables out of sight in the car during fair week.
One and two days
No timed day plan for Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines yet. Suggested stay: 0–1 nights. Build a day from the list below, mornings for the big sight.
- Mineral & Gem Fair (June)
- Historic silver and antimony mines
- Half-timbered houses in the valley
Sources
Written by Voykit; facts cross-checked against these sources, last desk check 2026-09. Prices, hours and rules change: check on the day.
- Wikivoyage: Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines, revision 5243085 (CC BY-SA 4.0): en.wikivoyage.org/w/index.php?oldid=5243085
Pocket card
Cut along the border and keep it in your wallet. Show the local-script lines to a driver.
Printed from Voykit (/sainte-marie-aux-mines). Written by Voykit; checked 2026-09. Estimates only: confirm prices, hours and entry rules on the day.