Bruchweiler-Bärenbach walks

The Napoleon Trail owes its name to a formation of red sandstone towering in the middle of the sparse woodland; with a little imagination, its upper section could be said to resemble the shape of Emperor Napoleon’s tricorne hat. The walk takes you past countless red sandstone formations, each bearing imaginative names, which rise up in wildly jagged shapes along the route. The walk also takes you past the Reinighof spring and through marshy wet meadows in the Wöllmersbach Valley.

A magnificent hike to discover the rock formations of the Palatinate Forest. You will walk through breathtaking scenery and discover Neudahn Castle, destroyed during the Peasants' War in the 16th century, one of the best-preserved castles in the Palatinate Forest

The Southern Palatinate is a true paradise for walkers. Quirky red sandstone rocks can be found at every turn, many of them bearing mystical names. The Büttelfelsen rock massif towers high above the town of Dahn and is up to 45 metres high. What makes it special is the rock hole at its centre, from whose viewing platform you can see as far as the neighbouring Lämmerfelsen. Also famous is the Napoleonfels, a red sandstone rock tower which not only lends its name to the Napoleonsteig trail but also lies on the Kaisertour, a route just under 10 km long.

The Dahner Felsenpfad (Dahn Rock Trail) is located in Rhineland-Palatinate. This circular route takes you into the forest to discover the giant pink sandstone rocks and the surrounding viewpoints. Refreshments are also available along the route.

Exposed rocky outcrops offer stunning views of the valley, mysterious medieval ruins can be explored, and well-signposted routes ensure a wonderful hiking experience in the Mittlerer Wasgau. Bizarre red sandstone formations line the path, you pass through imposing rock arches, and you walk through an idyllic meadow valley.

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.

This pleasant cross-border walk near Nothweiler is ideal for a family outing. Views of the ruins of the fortified castles of Wegelnburg and Löwenstein provide a reward during the ascent. On the German side, the route takes walkers to the Eisenerzgrube Nothweiler iron ore mine. Nothweiler is a romantic village with numerous half-timbered houses.

A walk made for children. The walk starts and ends at a superb medieval playground, with a splendid view of the Krappenfels. There are two partially renovated castle ruins and the fully renovated Fleckenstein Castle (entrance fee).

Discover ruined castles: Fleckenstein, Loewenstein, Hohenbourg and Wegelnbourg (Palatinate) and remarkable rocks such as the "Krappenfels" and those that line the Sentier des Roches (Rock Trail) and the climb to Wegelnbourg. These places are steeped in history and mystery, and offer some very pretty views.

Fleckenstein Castle is an eagle’s nest of extraordinary proportions, first mentioned in 1174. It had a reputation as an impregnable stronghold until it fell, without a fight, to the soldiers of Louis XIV in 1680. This walk invites you to discover this castle and the lake of the same name.

From Darstein, a village in the Wasgau – a region straddling the Franco-German border in the Northern Vosges and known as Vasgovie in French – set off to explore Immersberg, Hauselstein, Hockerstein, Nesselbergfelsen, Hühnerstein, Kühungerfelsen…

This moderately difficult circular hike takes you to five castles built in the 12th and 13th centuries, each with a different history. From the top of some of the castles, you can also enjoy magnificent views of the Northern Vosges and the German Palatinate.

The destination is the Wegelnbug, the highest ruin in the Palatinate, offering breathtaking 360° views. The ascent takes you past Fleckenstein Castle, whilst the descent offers the chance to visit Hohenbourg and Loewenstein Castles. An ideal hike for children. A fun (but chargeable) tour of Fleckenstein, with a playground near the Gimbelhof.

A short, easy circular loop starting from the Fleckenstein Pond and passing by the ruined Froensbourg Castle. Note: access to the troglodytic rooms on the upper levels is no longer possible (staircase not repaired).

Whichever route you choose in the breathtaking Dahner Felsenland, you’ll find stunning sandstone rock formations everywhere. Two of these are the Kahle Felsen and the Backelstein, south of Hauenstein. What hardly anyone knows, however, is that the German Shoe Museum is also located here, where not only the history of the shoe but also many a famous pair of shoes is on display.

A walk through the German forest north of Wissembourg, featuring some stunning views and sandstone outcrops (very similar to those in Colorado – Altschlossfelsen). There are a few sections with steep ascents and descents. This walk should be classified as moderate to difficult

On this second stage of your journey through the Vosges with Passion Vosges, you’ll pass numerous castle ruins – it’s a whole different experience. It’s an opportunity to discover the technical and architectural feats achieved at the time in such a hostile environment. This is particularly true of the semi-troglodytic castles of the Northern Vosges, where you find yourself wondering every time how parts of the structure managed to cling to the rock faces. A dizzying question. This stage is described by Franck Buchy in *Passion Vosges*, the hiking magazine published by *DNA* and *L’Alsace*. The entire route follows the Red Rectangle, unless otherwise stated.

This trail takes you to rocks and castles with magnificent, unobstructed views of the valley and Obersteinbach. You can visit the Bohemian Rock or "Tziganes", Wasigenstein Castle, Petit Arnsberg Castle and Wachtfels Rock with its breathtaking view. There is a short stretch of tarmac at the start and end of the hike. This is a fairly easy hike, but I have rated it as moderately difficult due to its length.

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.

A lovely, undulating walk through woodland in the south-western part of Obersteinbach. It will certainly appeal to walkers who love old stones from the medieval period and their history (Steinberg, Lutzelhardt, Schoeneck and Wineck), as well as those who admire the beautiful geological formations of pink sandstone, characteristic of the Northern Vosges (Steinberg, Windsteinerfels, Bayerischefels, Gabelfels).

A lovely walk that takes you from the Club Vosgien de Wissembourg car park to the Chemin des Cimes in Drachenbronn, passing close to the anti-tank ditches and following the path marked by boundary stones bearing the coats of arms of the communes of Climbach and Cleebourg. The only difficulty is crossing the ditch at point (7).

A route featuring numerous narrow paths that wind around the Col du Pigeonnier to the Col du Stiefelsberg, offering views over the Rhine plain, and back via the Chemin des Bornes, which passes through the Luchsenkopf and the Eslsberg.

A lovely walk through the Cleebourg vineyards and the old town of Wissembourg.