The wonderful forest of Klingel-Stauden in Théding
Unis pour la Terre
15/10/2025
When climbing the wooded path leading to the Sainte-Croix Chapel, time seems to stand still. There, on the heights of Forbach, the Warndt forest offers a soothing panorama, and one senses that this place was not chosen solely for the beauty of its view. It carries within it a story, or rather a legend, that spans centuries: that of Alice of Forbach.
It is said that Alice was the daughter of a nobleman, Théodorich von Werd, Count of Rixingen. Her beauty and charm attracted attention, and soon, two knight brothers fell madly in love with her: the lords of Siersburg and Felsberg.
Alice, flirtatious and indecisive, enjoyed being courted. But this rivalry, far from subsiding, grew until it became fatal.
The two knights decided to settle their dispute with weapons. A duel of no return. The outcome was tragic: both perished, leaving Alice facing an irreparable loss. Only then did she understand where her true feelings lay... towards the lord of Siersburg.
Grief and remorse struck her hard. She who had played with hearts now saw three lives broken by her fault.
Devastated, Alice chose to withdraw from the world. She had an oratory built on Mont Sainte-Croix, a place of prayer and contemplation. There, in the silence of nature, she lived her last years, far from the splendor and passions of her youth.
Legend has it that she was buried at the foot of the chapel's altar, in a tomb carved directly into the rock. Rediscovered much later, this burial still fuels the mystery surrounding her story today.
The Sainte-Croix Chapel, which has overlooked Forbach since the 13th century, still carries Alice's memory. Redesigned over the centuries, it remains a place of pilgrimage and contemplation, but also a spiritual stop for some pilgrims on the Way of St. James.
Even though Alice was never canonized, she is sometimes called "Saint Alice" by popular tradition. Proof that her legend, between tragedy and repentance, has left a lasting mark on people's minds.
It's difficult to separate truth from myth. Historians lack tangible proof to confirm all the details of this account. But it doesn't matter, because the legend of Alice of Forbach has managed to cross generations, carried by this mix of passion, guilt, and faith.
Today, climbing Mont Sainte-Croix is to walk in Alice's footsteps. It's stopping in front of the chapel, letting oneself be enveloped by the silence of the woods, contemplating the view, and imagining this young woman in search of redemption.
A place both romantic and spiritual, where history and legend intertwine to offer visitors a unique experience.
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