Around Walscheid, following in the footsteps of Pope Leo IX

Park at the car park by the Walscheid lake.

(S/E) From the lake, take the Route d’Alsace to the right for about 50 metres.

(1) Turn left into the narrow lane and continue to the main road (D96). Cross the junction with care and head left onto the path running alongside the road, to the right of the drainage channel. After the benches, cross the road again and take the Route Forestière de Saint-Léon opposite.

(2) Turn right onto the path marked with a Red Triangle and walk to the promontory, which offers a fine view of Walscheid. Head towards the remaining façade of the original chapel (information panel on the left), and continue to the village, following the Red Triangle markings. At the four-way junction, go straight on, follow the road all the way down, then turn right to rejoin the D96. Follow this road to the right for about forty metres.

(3) Take the first path on the left and walk past Saint-Léon Chapel. Continue north towards Saint-Léon Grotto. At the fork about a hundred metres further on, turn right, then follow the sign for “Grotte Saint-Léon” to reach the grotto.

(4) Continue downhill until you reach the first houses.

(5) At the first junction, turn right onto Chemin Léon IX and, at the end of the street, turn left onto Chemin de la Vallée. Cross the D96 and take the Route d’Alsace until you reach the original fork in the road.

(1) Go straight on, then turn left to reach the car park (S/E).

Walscheid.

Saint-Léon promontory, panoramic view of Walscheid and the site of the first chapels.
(3) Saint-Léon Chapel, built in 1954.

(4) Saint-Léon Cave, the largest underground cavern in the Vosges Mountains.