Augraben (rivière) walks

Two centuries ago, the Rhine flowed in braids. From 1842, with the construction of dykes by Tulla, then around 1930 with the construction of the Grand Canal, the river was brought back into a single channel and the Rhine ecosystem was profoundly altered. Today, there is a stark contrast between nature, which is becoming re-vegetated and adapting to the drying up of the river with diverse and unique flora and fauna, and the intense industrial activity surrounding navigation and hydroelectric power.

The Plaine de l'Au is a wetland area on the floodplain of the Rhine in the Pays des Trois Frontières, where the river, before its course was corrected by dykes (19th century) and then channelled (early 20th century), spread out into multiple branches.Between the Kembs hydroelectric plant in the north and the Grand Marais trail in the south, water accompanies us throughout this route, where biodiversity and human activities strive to coexist harmoniously.The time indicated does not take into account stops at the five observatories and other points of interest along the route. Please note: the Scheidgraben path between (6) and (7) is currently submerged (November 2026), making this hike difficult to complete.

Do you live in the urban area of the three borders and want to get away from it all without travelling dozens of kilometres? Come and discover the Petite Camargue to get some fresh air and observe many species of birds and plants in a well-preserved area. Leaving from the pretty village of Rosenau, you'll find it hard to believe that you're only 4 kilometres away from the airport as the crow flies.