Circular loop of abbeys, chapels and the southern pagan wall.

Mont Sainte-Odile, a mecca of Alsatian culture, is surrounded by numerous historical sites and beautiful hiking trails.
This circular route, starting from Hohenbourg Abbey at the top of Mont Sainte-Odile, follows the trails in the south-eastern part of the site and the trail that runs along the southern pagan wall, passing most of the points of interest in the area, all through the undergrowth.

Details

38405103
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 9.36 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 354 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 355 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 819 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 497 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in one of the car parks near Hohenbourg Abbey, which overlooks Mont Sainte-Odile.

(S/E) After visiting the abbey, stand with your back to the monastery entrance porch, then go down the east staircase on the left. Follow the forest path and its sandstone steps down to the Sainte-Odile Fountain, following the red triangle markings.

(1) Cross the D33 asphalt road and follow the path down to the forest road, marked with a blue cross. Take the forest path that descends to the forest road below, marked with a yellow triangle, and continue along it to the right, following the same markings.

(2) Continue along the forest road to the left, slightly downhill, towards the old Niedermunster Abbey, marked with a yellow triangle. A path allows you to walk around the ruins of the old abbey; it joins the path crossing the meadow that leads to Saint-Nicolas Chapel. Walk to this chapel.

(3) Return along the same path, then take the forest road to the fork at the foot of the old abbey.

(2) Continue left on the forest path towards the old Saint-Jacques Chapel and the Saint-Jacques holiday centre, marked with a yellow disc. A small marked path quickly leads to the ruins of the Saint-Jacques Chapel.

(4) Retrace your steps and turn left onto the forest path, passing close to the Saint-Jacques holiday centre facilities. At the junction of the D33 and D109 roads, turn right onto the paved D33 and follow it for about 40 metres until you find the path marked with a red triangle on the left, heading towards Mont Sainte-Odile.

(5) The forest path climbs up to the Wolfstal Fountain. At the fork that follows, continue on the sloping path to the left, towards the Beckenfels Rock, marked with a red and white rectangle.

Follow the yellow signposts to the end of the trail.

(6) From the pile of flat rocks at Beckenfels and its few picnic benches, continue along the Mur païen Sud trail, heading south, to Rocher du Panorama.

(7) A commemorative plaque to Kurt Mendel, author of the Guide des Vosges, faces the large Panorama Rock . Go around it by climbing the sandstone steps lined with the high wall of the southern pagan route and enter the enclosure of this southern belt made up of large stacked blocks. A Club Vosgien shelter is located nearby.
Continue along this pleasant, shaded and relatively flat path, bordered on the left by the stone wall, to the Maennelstein Rock.

(8) The Maennelstein Rock offers an interesting panorama of the surrounding area and has an orientation table; a Club Vosgien shelter and a picnic area complete the site.
Continue along the forest path and pass close to the summit of Rocher Schafstein on the left, then turn right onto the forest path leading to the memorial to the 1992 plane crash.

(9) Retrace your steps and follow the yellow signposts towards the Grotte des Druides.

(10) From the Druids' Cave, continue towards the Tumuli car park and Zumstein Gate until you reach the main road. Cross carefully to reach the path opposite that leads to Zumstein Gate.
The Porte de Zumstein is one of the four large gates in the pagan wall enclosure, providing access to the southern camp, "La Bloss".

(11) Follow the path that runs alongside the access road to Mont Sainte-Odile, then cross it and pass close to the Saint-Jean fountain. Continue along the path to the rock that serves as the base for the old Chapelle des Roches (benches).

(12) Walk along the beautiful forest path lined with the imposing rock faces of the Mont Sainte-Odile Convent plateau, on which are displayed the 14 polychrome ceramic stations by ceramicist Léon Elchinger.
The hike ends at the foot of the east staircase of Mont Sainte-Odile (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 753 m - Hohenbourg Abbey at the foot of the east staircase - Mont Sainte-Odile
  2. 1 : km 0.4 - alt. 678 m - Miraculous spring - Fontaine Sainte-Odile (Ottrott)
  3. 2 : km 1.47 - alt. 538 m - Fork in the road towards Niedermunster Abbey
  4. 3 : km 2.25 - alt. 502 m - Chapelle Saint-Nicolas (Saint-Nabor)
  5. 4 : km 3.22 - alt. 568 m - Chapelle Saint-Jacques (Saint-Nabor)
  6. 5 : km 3.46 - alt. 574 m - Fork in the road towards Mont Sainte-Odile
  7. 6 : km 5.07 - alt. 759 m - Les rochers du Beckenfels
  8. 7 : km 5.42 - alt. 775 m - Shelter - Rocher du Panorama
  9. 8 : km 6.64 - alt. 807 m - Belvedere and shelter - Maennelstein
  10. 9 : km 7.29 - alt. 808 m - Memorial to the 1992 plane crash
  11. 10 : km 7.69 - alt. 783 m - Grotte des Druides
  12. 11 : km 8.34 - alt. 742 m - Zumstein Gate - Carrefour de la Bloss
  13. 12 : km 9.09 - alt. 755 m - Site of the former Chapelle des Roches chapel
  14. S/E : km 9.36 - alt. 753 m - Hohenbourg Abbey at the foot of the east staircase

Notes

Panorama Rock shelter.

Maennelstein Rock shelter.

Worth a visit

Saint Odile Fountain
Remains of Niedermunster Abbey
Saint Nicolas Chapel
Saint Jacques Chapel
Panorama Rock and the southern pagan wall
Panorama and site of the Maennelstein Rock
Memorial stone commemorating the plane crash of January 1992
Zumstein Gate
The 14 polychrome ceramics

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
5 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
noelle martin
noelle martin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike with remarkable ruins. The memorial to the victims of the plane crash is worth a visit. But be warned, it is very physically demanding, especially along the pagan wall where the steps are of varying heights. At the memorial, we did not turn back, but continued along the red discs and red rectangles without going through the druids' cave. There are many ways to adapt the route if you start to feel tired. Thank you for this beautiful and interesting hike.

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Francine et Jack
Francine et Jack

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy access route. There are three car parks, so parking is very easy. The start at Mont Saint Odile is very busy, but once you start the descent, there are very few people. The route is well signposted, so it's easy to follow. I always check the app to be sure. The hike is entirely in the forest. We had a picnic at the ruins of the Saint Jacques chapel. There are also more options on the panorama trail. No problems with dogs. Take a moment to reflect at the monument dedicated to the plane crash. The three watchmen are impressive. I recommend this hike 200%. You can also continue to the northern pagan wall by going to car park 3.

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Hélène J
Hélène J

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant hike along forest paths, sheltered from the sun and heat for almost the entire route. The pleasure of discovering ruins and old buildings that have been restored made me appreciate it even more. I highly recommend this hike!

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CABRERA
CABRERA

A very beautiful hike, done yesterday on an empty stomach. The weather was on our side and there was no rain!
Thanks for all the information.
Tonio

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Agnès C
Agnès C

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Thank you for this lovely walk. Ideal in warm weather.

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Cf95
Cf95

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 12, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike. Easy-to-follow directions. Several stages and places of interest along the route.

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Marc Heitz
Marc Heitz

A superb walk dotted with remarkable sites, including the well-documented ruins of Niedermunster Monastery and remarkable remains of the pagan wall. A very beautiful, easy hike.

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Nine 68
Nine 68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike, well frequented but not overly so. It's a shame that the fog hid the beautiful views from us. Good shoes and walking sticks will make it more enjoyable, given the roots and stones that are often slippery. To be done again in very good weather... Thank you for this beautiful route.

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