Balschwiller walks

For geologists, this part of the Sundgau facing the Porte de Bourgogne is called the Fossé de Dannemarie. The landscape is gently undulating, with only one wooded hill emerging. At its summit stands the church of Gildwiller, where gazes and prayers converge.

This route invites you to discover the village of Bernwiller and its surroundings, with a quick detour into the forest to sit for a moment in front of the small Notre-Dame de l'Unterholz Chapel and admire it.

It is in late February and early March that you should go to meet spring in the forest of Saint-Bernard. This is where the snowdrops appear, signalling the end of winter.

This walk will introduce you to the small village of Heidwiller, which offers everything a walker could wish for: in its centre stands a castle dating back almost a thousand years, to the north lies a peaceful canal, and to the south, a hill offering an exceptional view of the region. Add to this a short nature trail and a variety of forest paths, and you have the perfect combination for a successful walk!

Along this trail of bunkers, explore fortifications dating back to the First World War, built by the German army. After the fighting in the summer and autumn of 1914, the Haute-Alsace front stabilised on along the line of Cernay-Dannemarie. The commune of Burnhaupt-le-Bas remains on the German side. In December 1914 and January 1915, the French offensive in this sector regularly broke the German lines at the cost of many lives.

The Chemin des Planètes, created by the Astroaspach club in partnership with the municipality of Aspach, is a 3 km route that offers an original way to discover our solar system through educational panels depicting the distance between the planets to scale: 1 metre walked represents 2,100,000 km in space. From the Sun to Neptune, what a journey!Along the way, you can also enjoy a stroll through the Litten Forest, its chapel (1862) and the village’s rural surroundings, walk through the narrow streets of Aspach and, at the end of the trail, cross the Jardin des Libellules (a community garden dedicated to water conservation and biodiversity).

The Riedweiher Pond, located near Galfingue, lies right in the middle of a small, very picturesque communal woodland. The walk takes you through the village and along the paths of this grove. As most of the paths are not signposted by the Club Vosgien, I recommend using the map in addition to the description.

The fighting of the First World War raged in the Sundgau region from August 1914 onwards. The French blew up the Dannemarie viaduct and the front stabilised and extended from the Vosges to the Swiss border. The front line ran a few kilometres from Illfurth, near Heidwiller. During this tour, you will discover several bunkers that served a variety of purposes, including ammunition depots, observation posts and artillery emplacements, as well as several casemates.

Fancy a stroll through the woods for a few hours? This route is perfect for you. Although it’s not difficult, it still lets you discover some of the “secrets” of this part of the Sundgau and make the most of a lovely time spent outdoors.

This forest route allows you to discover the Chapel of Notre-Dame du Chêne, the Steinbaechlein and hundred-year-old oak trees.

An easy walk that allows you to take in the forest air. Not far from Altkirch town centre, there are some beautiful views and the Erlen pond, where you can sit and enjoy the surroundings.

A lovely little walk, ideal for families in winter. It’s very easy but particularly pleasant on public holidays or Sundays, as you avoid the noise of traffic when walking alongside the RN83.

A lovely walk with very varied scenery, including forests, countryside, and views of the Jura, the Black Forest, the Vosges and the pretty village of Wittersdorf below, as well as Altkirch.

Hirtzbach is well worth a visit. The castle, English park and opulent residences of Unterdorf are neatly lined up on either side of the stream, whose banks are beautifully flowered in summer. Along the way, a rural and wooded detour leads to the site of the vanished village of Sankt-Glückern and the Landfürstenweyer, the Princes' Pond, with its still waters.

Here, you can easily travel through the centuries, from the Britzgyberg oppidum to the German military cemetery in Illfurth. However, as you cross the vast Altenberg massif and the unspoilt village of Luemschwiller, you might think for a moment that you have managed to suspend time.

A hike starting from Hirtzbach that passes through Largitzen and Heimersdorf. There are many remnants of theFirst World War along the route.

A hike through the beautiful Sundgau forests dotted with ponds, with no major difficulties except for the walking time. There are many places to stop for a snack along the route.

A wooded hill separates the Ill and Thalbach valleys. As you walk along it, you will discover an old vineyard, a quarry marked by tragedy, a botanical trail and the story of an unfortunate general. When you reach the Emlingen lime kilns, the 19th century suddenly springs to life, frozen in stone and iron.

The "Au fil de l'eau" circuit, between the Doller and Leimbach rivers, crosses a magnificent oak-lined avenue before entering the Vorwald oak forest, passes by two series of blockhouses, then the Müatergottesgartla Chapel, and reaches the banks of the Doller via farmland north of Reiningue. The entire route is marked with the Anneau Vert (Green Ring) sign by the Club Vosgien de Guewenheim

A very beautiful walk around a lake with views of the Vosges mountains and a bird observation post.

A long hike with superb views of the Vosges, the Black Forest and the Jura. There are numerous points of interest with information boards, benches and water points along the route.

A lovely family walk through forests and along riverbanks. Discover this dam, built between 1979 and 1982, which regulates the water table and ensures the supply of drinking water to the Mulhouse conurbation and its surroundings. It is a protected area; come and spot the birds in its nature reserve.

A circular walk around Michelbach dam with views over the Swiss Alps and 'Le Grand Ballon d'Alsace' on a clear day. Perfect spot for wildlife spotting. Along the way there are many signs giving some information about what to see and the history.

Enjoy a long hike starting from the centre of the village of Guewenheim and heading towards the Col du Hundsruck. You can enjoy beautiful views of the plain, Lake Michelbach and the heights of Bourbach, and have a meal at the Chalet du Hochburg in Rammersmatt. In good weather, you may be able to see the snow-capped mountains of the Alps.

A lovely walk in the Sundgau region at Chavanatte, 20 km south-east of Belfort. You’ll discover beautiful scenery along the Suarcine and magnificent half-timbered houses. This walk is easily accessible to all and can be split into three circular routes. It is signposted.

Follow the Doller river on this route, which showcases the villages of Sentheim and Lauw.

From the car park at Sentheim church, cross the Doller river and climb the hill above the village via the Way of the Cross and its thirteen stations, the Virgin of Rollenberg, the Eichwald forest and the old sports trail. Return via Knapphutte and the Miners' Chapel, then take a section of the geological discovery trail.

This hike takes you mainly through forest from Sentheim to Masevaux via the Wolflenloch discovery trail. The return route follows the Doller river, passing the Hohenstein Cave and Sainte-Anne Chapel.

From the car park at Sentheim church, a pleasant, undulating hike passes through Spannplatz between Bourbach-le-Bas and Rammerstatt, climbing towards the Col d'Hundsruck via the Hochburg shelter, where you can enjoy beautiful views of the Swiss Jura and the Bernese Alps in good weather. Then descend towards Bourbach-le-Haut, passing through the Col du Schirm and climbing up to the Rocher du Poilu to enjoy the magnificent view despite the somewhat overgrown forest, before returning to Sentheim via the Chapelle des Mineurs and part of the Geological Trail and Hasenwald.

A family walk that allows you to discover some of the attractions of Lutterbach, a town steeped in history and culture, home to one of the four basilicas of Alsace and a famous brewery rich in history, before enjoying the Bois de Lutterbach, the south-western part of the Forêt du Nonnenbruch (Marais des Nonnes), criss-crossed by numerous hiking trails and the green lung of the urban area.

A route partly through woodland, offering the chance to discover numerous sites and monuments. 

When you think of hiking in Alsace, the Vosges mountains spring to mind. But the Alsace plain also offers some very pleasant walks. This is the case with this short, family-friendly circular in the Bois de Lutterbach, on the outskirts of Mulhouse. This walk is completely safe and accessible to almost everyone. Most of the route is through forest. The highlight of the hike is halfway along the route: the Gros Chêne de Pfastatt (Pfastatt Great Oak).