Circular route in the Ingwiller–Lichtenberg–Rothbach triangle

On leaving Ingwiller, take the D28 towards Rothbach, then, at the bend, turn left onto Rue de la Promenade to reach the car park at the Ingwiller Club Vosgien chalet. (You can also park a few hundred metres further on, near the Seelberg Forest House.)

(S/E) With your back to the chalet, turn left onto the tarmac road^GR®531towards “MF du Seelberg, Lichtenberg”, also signposted as the “botanical trail”.

Blue Rectangle

(1) After a few hundred metres, you’ll pass the Seelberg Forest House. 100 m further on, leave the tarmac road and continue left onto the forest track, which climbs gently up to the Wimmenau Forest Track.

(2) Cross this and continue to the junction with the “poetry trail”.

Red Ring

(3) Continue to the left along the narrow path lined with numerous panels displaying poems.
Reach the highest point of the “Le Seelberg” trail and continue downhill to the crossroads near a picnic area and its chalet (accessible).

(4) Turn right onto the wide forest track, still following the “poetry trail”, and carry on. After 500 m, turn left to reach a viewpoint overlooking Lichtenberg Castle.

(5) Retrace your steps and continue left along the wide forest path, “the poets’ trail”.
After a wide bend, walk for about 200 m, then head towards “Le Tierkirchlein” on the left.

Yellow Ring, Blue Rectangle with a White Cross

(6) Reach the modest ruins of “Tierkirchlein Castle” and walk round them, heading down to the right along the narrow path.

Blue Ring

The path joins the forest track below at a very large rock, the hollow of which can serve as a shelter. Turn left and continue to the junction with the Bruderthal Forest Road.

Blue Ring, Yellow Ring and Green Ring

(7) Cross the Winebachel Stream via the wooden footbridge, then turn right.
The path, which is very damp in places, runs alongside several ponds and leads to a wide, open crossroads.
Take the forest path which climbs to the left up the valley towards the heights of the Rothbach Wood (a few damp sections). At the junction, take the path on the left after climbing for about 500 metres.

Red Ring

(8) Continue the climb to the wide crossroads and follow the path on the left towards Lichtenberg. At the Fork in the road, turn right and rejoin the^GR® 531 Blue Rectangle.

(9) Carry on straight ahead along the forest track until you reach the crossroads.

Blue Ring

(10) Take the path leading up to the plateau signposted ‘le chemin des châtaigniers’. Reach the Schaenzel plateau: viewpoint and picnic area.

Blue Rectangle, Blue Ring

(11) Continue towards Lichtenberg Castle through woodland and meadows. Reach the Carrefour du Calvaire after following the stony path to the first houses of the village of Lichtenberg.

(12) Take the tarmac road opposite the castle, then head up to the right along Rue des Jardins. Turn right and reach the entrance to Lichtenberg Castle via the cobbled ramp (open to visitors). Walk around the castle’s watchtower via the path running alongside the moat (panoramic views of the village and surrounding area).
After your visit, leave the grounds on the left and head towards Rue des Cochers. After 100 m, turn right (Green Ring) and head towards the Carrefour du Calvaire.

(12) Take the road on the right for 100 m.

Blue Ring

(13) Turn left onto the Sentier des Châtaigniers, which runs below the Schaenzel plateau, and continue to the junction of the circular route you passed on the way out.

Blue Rectangle

(9) Continue straight ahead along the^GR®531to the Buchwalderkopf Pass (picnic).

(14) Head towards Rothbach via Buchwalderkopf and Schneibenberg.

Yellow Ring, Red Disc, Red Triangle

(15) Climb to the summit of the Buchwalderkopf via the winding path (or go round it via the path on the left). Descend the winding path and turn left towards the junction with the bypass 150 m away.

Blue Rectangle, Red Ring

(16) Continue the descent, turning right to join the^GR® 531 towards Rothbach, until you reach a crossroads.

Yellow Disc

(17) Turn right, leaving the^GR®531towards Rothbach, passing through former quarries and a picnic area. The forest path runs past the old quarries to reach the Scheibenberg viewpoint.

(18) Descend the Scheibenberg via a narrow path lined with rocks towards Winkelberg. The path passes close to the active sandstone quarry.

Blue Ring and Green Ring

Continue along the path which descends to a fork in the road formed by two forest tracks.

(19) Take the Bruderthal Forest Road and, after 50 m, turn left towards Magdalenethal via the “Seelberg Botanical Trail”.
The path winds its way uphill through the woodland and joins a forest track; cross this and take the forest track opposite towards “Rebhiesel Steige” for 200 m.

Blue Ring and Yellow Ring

(20) Turn left towards “Seelhof spring via the vineyard path”. Continue to the S’Rabhiesel vineyard guard’s cottage.

(21) Walk round the front of the small shelter and turn left, then follow the narrow path through the orchards to reach a junction of forest tracks.

(22) Follow the forest track straight ahead and walk past the Seelhof Fountain. Continue until you reach the Wimmenau Forest Track.

Blue Rectangle with a white cross

(23) Carry on to the left until you reach the junction with the^GR® 531 (botanical trail), which you have already passed on the way there.

Blue Rectangle

(2) Follow the route back along the same path as on the way there, heading down to the Seelberg Forest House and on to the car park at the Club Vosgien chalet (S/E).

(4) Picnic area and shelter on the Poets’ Trail.

(14), (18) Picnic spot.

(21) S’Rabhiesel vineyard warden’s house: shelter available.

Plenty of benches along the route.

Lichtenberg Castle (open to visitors).

The Schaenzel plateau – Chestnut Tree Trail.

The botanical and poetry trails.

The sandstone rock formations of Scheibenberg.