Circular walk from Salm via the Sentier des Passeurs and La Chatte Pendue

Access the car park at the Maison Forestière de Salm, near the Mennonite cemetery, either from La Broque or from Grandfontaine via the Étang du Coucou.

(S/E) Cross the forest road to the south-west of the car park. Take the dirt track leading to a sculpture made of slats forming a circular gate. Go through this gate and follow the track for about 200 m.

(1) At the crossroads, take the track on the right. Follow this track to the junction with the Route Forestière des Seigneurs.

(2) Follow this forest road to the junction with the Route Forestière de la Vallée des Framboises at the 802-metre point.

(3) Turn left and follow this track to the next junction; leave the forest road and continue for about fifty metres until you reach a junction of marked paths.

(4) Leave the path to La Chatte Pendue on your left and keep to the right. The path is signposted with a Green Disc. You’ll come to the Passeurs monument on your right. It’s situated on the border between the Bas-Rhin and the Vosges (the former Franco-German border from 1870 to 1918 and from 1940 to 1945). Join the forest road.

(5) You are now in the sculpture area. Walk a few dozen metres to the left to view them.

(6) Then turn round and follow the route back in the opposite direction until you reach the junction with signs for “la Chatte Pendue”.

(4) On the right, follow the Green Disc and Yellow Rectangle markings for^{the GR®532}. You’ll join the Route Forestière des Quatre Hêtres until you reach the junction with the Route Forestière de la Cantine at point 807.

(7) Continue along this forest track (^GR®532) on your left. Do not take the marked path on your right (it goes downhill and then back uphill to cross the forest track again). Shortly afterwards, as you come out of a right-hand bend, rejoin the^GR®532.

(8) Leave the track and take the^GR® to the right to re-enter the biological reserve mentioned above. The markings are still the Green Disc and the Yellow Rectangle. Cross the metal staircase and begin the ascent towards La Chatte Pendue to the summit. The path is more technical on this section. It is forbidden to leave the marked paths in this protected area.

(9) At the summit, a panoramic view and an orientation board await you at the Chatte Pendue viewpoint.
Continue along your route, still following the Green Disc and the Yellow Rectangle. You’ll come to a junction with the protected area’s fence directly in front of you and a flight of steps with a metal footbridge to cross it.

(10) The path becomes a little steeper and narrower. Please take care. After a sharp bend to the left, head downhill to join the bend in the Route Forestière des Seigneurs.

(11) Cross the road and continue to follow the same signposts. You’ll pass the cup-marked stones along the way, then arrive at Salm Castle. See Practical Information.

(12) Take the opportunity to explore the castle ruins and enjoy the panoramic view from the viewpoint.
Continue along the signposted route and begin the descent. You’ll pass some wooden sculptures, a small cave and an information board. You’ll reach a junction with a wider track.

(13) Turn left, then leave the signposted path and return to the crossroads of tracks you passed on the way there.

(1) Follow the path you took on the way there in the opposite direction, pass under the circular wooden-slatted gate once more and reach the car park at the Salm Forest House (S/E).

Salm Castle: during this hike, due to restoration work, it was not possible to access the terrace at this site.

There are no water sources along the route, so make sure you bring plenty of water, especially in hot weather.
Take care on the steep paths between La Chatte pendue and Salm Castle.

Names and meanings of the Club Vosgien trail markers.

Smugglers’ Trail, Smugglers’ Memorial, artistic sculptures, La Chatte Pendue, cup-marked stones, Salm Castle.