Burg and Röschenz circular loop

From Wolschwiller, head towards Biederthal. Once you’ve left the village, the road goes through a wood. 200m after leaving the wood, turn right onto the path that climbs through meadows until you reach the water reservoir. You can park at the side of the path. From there, take the path that climbs towards the village of Burg, whose castle is visible, and which crosses the border a little further up (border marker).

N.B. In the description, (LJ) = Yellow Diamond and (PDJ) = Yellow Directional Sign.

(1) When you reach the junction on the road, take Rue Oberer Feldweg straight ahead. Continue along this street, passing under the access ramp to a barn, to reach the village square.

(2) On the square, opposite the fountain and to the left of the bench between the trees, take the road leading uphill (YD) and then, continuing along this route, the path (YD) that runs alongside private properties. From the square, you can also visit Burg Biederthal Castle (see ‘Places to visit’ section) by taking the road leading up to it (300m return).

(3) The path joins a track, which you follow to the left to reach the road further up. Ignore the track branching off to the left and continue along the road leading uphill opposite. It ends in front of a private property and continues as a path which you follow to the red bench at the edge of the forest.

(4) Take the path that starts behind the bench towards Raemelsberg (PDJ). It follows the Franco-Swiss border marked by a ditch (border markers all along the way). It crosses a nature reserve. Follow the markings (LJ) to marker no. 25. Before that, take a moment to admire the exceptional panorama stretching as far as the Vosges, the Black Forest and the Three Borders region from the Rittimatte meadow. A little further into the meadow, note the memorial erected in memory of Albert Haufmann (see ‘Places to see’ section).

(5) At marker no. 25 (information board for the nature reserve), leave the path that climbs to the summit of Raemelsberg and take the one that descends to the left (PDJ) until you reach a forest track.

(6) Turn right onto the path leading towards the pasture (PDJ + LJ). Go through the fence and down into the meadow to the road. Ignore the signpost inviting you to go down into the meadow opposite; stay on the road instead. Walk past Remel Farm (which can be seen below) and, after a short stretch through the woods, you’ll reach a junction with a path on the left.

(7) Take this path (signposted for the Blauenstein Castle ruins) and follow it for 1.5 km to the next crossroads (house below).
From there, you can visit the Blauenstein ruins (see ‘Places to see’ section) by heading down to the right (1 km round trip). The ruins are unremarkable, but there is a magnificent view from the top of the rock formations (Schlossfelsen).

(8) At the crossroads (where several paths branch off), turn left, then take the first path on the right towards Kleinlützel/Berg (information sign a little further up). Stay on this path, following the markings to the first house in Berg.

(9) At the first house in Berg, stay on the road (do not follow the signposted Höhenweg path to the right, which heads across fields towards the forest). At the first junction, by the farm, continue left to reach the cluster of houses further up. Walk past it; shortly afterwards, the road becomes a path that cuts across the fields. Continue along this path to the junction and turn left towards the forest (information sign). There, turn right and continue through the forest to the next crossroads.

(10) At the crossroads (information sign), head down the first path on the right (it follows a stream) until you reach a wide forest track. Take this track, climbing to the left (LJ on a tree) until you emerge from the forest. Walk past the farm further up and continue along the path through the fields to the forest (hayloft + picnic area). Continue along the Schützenebnetweglein path (sign) which descends to the next junction.

(11) At the junction, head down to the right onto the Mittlerer Ammergerstenweg path (signposted) until you reach the edge of the forest. It then runs alongside the woods and some huts before descending through the fields. At the bottom, at the junction, follow the path to the left towards the Burghof farm (large silos).

(12) When you reach the farm, turn right onto the road leading down to the village of Röschenz. Stay on this road, which passes through a residential area, until you reach the main road at the bottom of the village.

(13) At the junction with the main road, cross the road and turn left (ignore the signpost on the right directing you down into the village). Follow the road and take the first street (Zielweg) on the right after the bend. It passes through a residential area; follow it to the end, where there is a farm below on the right. Stay on the road that descends into the forest until you reach the junction at the end of the meadow, in the bend.

(14) At the junction, head up to the left then take the Weissweg path (signposted) to the left, which climbs through a sparse pine forest. Stay on this path until you cross another path called Sentenbergweg (signposted + LJ). Take this path, heading down to the left until you reach a small road (car park).

(15) Once on the road, follow it uphill to the right. At the bend, ignore the path starting on the right and continue along the road until you reach the edge of the forest. Continue along the path across the fields (stunning views of Laufen and the Jura) until you reach the forest.

(16) At the forest entrance, leave the Waldhüttenweg path on your right and take the Forstbergweg path on your left (signposted). The path climbs gently through the forest, makes a hairpin bend and descends to a junction.

(17) At the junction, head up to the right (PDJ) onto Ringhollenweg. Once at the top, the path runs alongside an open area with buildings (campsite?). Turn left to join another tarmac path a few metres further on.

(18) At this point, follow the signs for Challpass/Burg (PDJ). The path goes round what appears to be a seasonal campsite and leads to a car park and the Challpass road (747m). Head down to the right along the road for 200m towards Burg (PDJ). Take care, as this section is on the road!

(19) After the first bend, take the path leading down to the left (signposted), and follow it to the junction with a forest track. Cross this and continue down the slope opposite (signposted) until you reach the first houses on the hillside above Burg. Continue down to reach the village cemetery. There, turn left towards Burg (signposted). The path follows a flight of steps alongside the cemetery and leads out onto the road at the entrance to the village. Walk down to the crossroads.

(20) At the crossroads, turn right towards Flüh (sign) then left onto Rue Untere Feldweg (LJ). Stay on this road until you reach a junction you passed at the very start of the walk.

(1) Head down to the right (LJ) along the path that takes you back to the starting point (S/E).

Warning: this hike takes place in Switzerland (remember to bring your documents). The footpaths are marked solely by Yellow Diamonds (LJ) and Yellow Directional Signs (PDJ). The walking routes are very well signposted and therefore reliable.

Good walking shoes + walking stick
I completed this hike in 5 hours and 40 minutes of actual walking time. It is classified as ‘Difficult’ due to its length and the presence of a few fairly steep climbs (between (4) and (5), (14) and (15), (17) and (18)). Apart from that, there are no particular difficulties.
Water points all along the route.
Picnic area at Berg between (8) and (9), and before the point (11) at the forest entrance.

Places of interest:
- Burg Biederthal Castle (2), built in 1250, converted after 1600 and still inhabited today.

- The memorial dedicated to Albert Hofmann (4), a Swiss chemist, born on 11 January 1906 and died on 29 April 2008 in Burg at the age of 102. He is known for discovering LSD with Professor Arthur Stoll. Take the opportunity to sit on the bench where he used to enjoy the magnificent view that opens up before you.

- The ruins of Blauenstein (8). A fortified castle of which only a few sections of wall remain on a rocky outcrop north of Kleinlützel. It was probably built in the 13th century by the lords of Biederthal. After 1300, the lordship and the castle became fiefs of the Bishop of Basel. Probably besieged by the bishop around 1370, the castle was destroyed in 1411 by the people of Basel during the War of Neuenstein.
These ruins are worth a visit solely for the superb view from the rocky ridges. To reach them, follow the signpost along the road that takes you across the meadow past a building that looks as though it might collapse. Enter the forest and walk to the end of the path that passes beneath the rocky outcrops. You will then see the ruins on your left. Climb up above them for a clear, unobstructed view. Please note that the climb at this point can be dangerous in places and in wet weather. Take care.