Saint Firmin decided to found his abbey here in 727 because the remote wooded valley was good for walking and meditation. The abbey, however, soon became one of the most powerful Benedictine abbeys in the region, with rights over 300 villages. The abbots, all well-born, owned mines, an exceptional library, and coined money. "As proud as the Murbach hound" soon became a popular saying, referring to the black hound decorating the abbey's coat of arms. From the church, follow the Chemin de Croix to the church of Notre-Dame-de-Lorette (1693) and enjoy the lovely views of the abbey in its countryside setting.