Breitenbach walks

A lovely path through woods, fields, ponds and valleys, said to have been used by the monk Firminy, who would meditate whilst walking. As you walk, imagine the landscape in which this medieval monk might have walked.

A Franco-German trail that will take you on a journey of discovery through the remains of the Second World War, back to ancient times as you cross a Celtic oppidum, and to a battlefield from the Franco-Prussian War of 1870.

An easy hike through the forests of Alsting, Saarbrücken and Spicheren. The route passes through historic sites where major battles of the 1870 war took place. It also passes military cemeteries from the 1939–1945 and 1870 wars.

The Rodalben Felsenwanderweg is originally 45.5 km long; this covers a large part of it. A walk featuring impressive rock formations, caves and forest sections, and certified asa “Qualitätsweg Wanderbares Deutschland”. Classified as ‘Difficult’ due to its length, rather than ‘Very Difficult’, as most of the paths follow the contour lines; the descents into the valleys are gradual and the ascents are steady and not at all strenuous.

Starting from Etzling, this very picturesque walk crosses meadows and woodland before finally taking a path – known as the ‘Ancienne Voie Romaine’ – lined with hedgerows. According to some historians, this is in fact a road built under Louis XIV at the time of the conquest of the territory stretching as far as the Rhine.

A tarmac path leads to the former Simon Quarry, whose sand was used to fill in tunnels at the bottom of the coal mine. At the bottom of the quarry, a lake has formed; the water level is gradually rising, allowing the natural environment to reclaim the area.

A lovely forest path for the whole family. Lovely surprises will delight young and old alike. Start in the village or at the football ground, then follow the signs and markers along the way.

A beautiful walk to discover the Woelfling wind farm.

A lovely walk in warm weather, exploring beautiful little waterfalls and chapels along lovely leafy paths.

Gentle climb to Eulenfels, a spectacular but little-visited rocky site. Pass through the Wusteichelsbach peat bogs before climbing gently to the breathtaking Altschlossfelsen rock formation (very popular). Return to Eppenbrunn via the Rocher de Diane, on the French-German border, and the Teufelstisch rocks.

Colorado du Bitcherland for some. This is a pink sandstone formation 1.5 km long, 35 m high and with four "towers" towering over visitors. No remains of the castle exist, but the unusual shapes, rocky overhangs and colours that change with the light of day enhance this rock formation. Trail marked with the German "Premiumweg" label.

The Soonwaldsteig trail runs for 85 km from Kirn on the Nahe river, right through the Soonwald-Nahe Nature Park to Bingen am Rhein. We first hike parallel to the Hahnenbach valley to Schmidtburg and then tackle the Lützelsoon hills. The trail then leads through the Kellenbach valley into the Soonwald forest. At Rheinböllen, we cross the Guldenbach Valley and finally pass through the Binger Forest to the Rhine at Bingen am Rhein.

Gentle adventure meets evidence of the exciting Middle Ages "Off on a gentle adventure" is the motto of the 84-kilometre-long Soonwaldsteig trail. It runs across the densely wooded quartzite ridges of Lützelsoon and Großer Soon from Kirn on the Nahe to Bingen on the Rhine. The long-distance hiking trail is very peaceful on its five (possibly six) stages, and we do not pass any human settlements for more than forty kilometres. The trail follows many paths past several medieval ruins, a series of observation towers with some outstanding views, and finally, the romantic Rhine. The very first stage of the Soonwaldsteig shows that this long-distance hiking trail is full of surprises and will not disappoint nature-loving hikers.

A breathtaking walk that will make you feel like you're travelling at the foot of the Grand Canyon. A place to visit again and again, attracting many hikers, this is a beautiful family hike with plenty of tables for picnicking in the shade of the trees.

Why is it called the Alsatian Colorado... when it's just across the border in Germany? Our German neighbours call it the Altschlossfelsen or "Old Castle Cliffs". In any case, this easy horse ride between France and Germany, with no major difficulties or steep slopes, allows you to discover this beautiful pink sandstone rock formation, hidden among the vegetation.A short, easy hike, ideal for families with children who enjoy walking.

A beautiful walk in the Northern Vosges to discover the Colorado of Bitcherland.

Known as the Vosges Colorado or Alsace Colorado since the French Club Vosgien discovered this remarkable natural area relatively late in the 20th century, it is a magnet for hikers from France on fine days. Apart from the site itself, German forests are usually very quiet in autumn.Do not expect to see even the ruins of an ancient castle... nothing remains, but the real beauty of the site lies in the rocks with their magnificent colours.The French name is probably the result of an excellent marketing strategy, as this site is in no way comparable to the famous Provençal colorados (Rustrel or Roussillon). Apart from a few beautiful colours, it could more easily be compared to Luxembourg's Petite Suisse.However, the site is well worth a visit and even a detour!

A short 2-hour walk in the hills north of Bitche. Small spring, mini waterfall and discovery of a historic tomb from 1870.

The first climb is steep and tiring, but once at the top, you can admire the whole of Bitche from the rampart walk at the foot of the Citadel walls.

A pleasant little circular walk from the VVF holiday centre at Étang d'Hasselfurth towards Étang d'Entenbaechel, then looping back via the Widerschall and Hochkopf passes. The paths are very well maintained, easily walkable, with little elevation gain apart from the section between the two passes leading to the summit of the Hochkopf.

Starting from the quiet little hamlet of Bremendell, this easy walk takes you through the forests of the Bitche region, taking in several notable sites, including the village of Sturzelbronn and its abbey, as well as the Luchsfelsen.

The trail marked with the "Premiumweg" label is a meeting point between Alsace and the Palatinate, between The Northern Vosges and the Wasgau: two of the most beautiful natural sites in Europe thanks to their landscape of endless forests, pink sandstone rocks rising towards the sky and remarkable castle ruins. This 33 km trail was originally divided into two circular loops. Here is the second part, covering 16 km.

The "Premiungweg" marked trail is a meeting point between Alsace and the Palatinate. Between the Northern Vosges and the Wasgau: two of the most beautiful natural sites in Europe thanks to their landscapes of endless forests, pink sandstone rocks rising towards the sky and remarkable castle ruins. This 33 km trail was originally divided into two circular sections. Here is thefirst 20 km section.

A chance to unwind whilst exploring the local heritage. Why not take a stroll through a lovely green setting, with panoramic views and poignant reminders of the last war? An easy route awaits you for a round trip through the countryside, passing pastures, meadows, crops and orchards, and skirting the edge of a wood where you can discover a very distinctive area of military architecture: the Aquatic Maginot Line.