15/05/2024: Route modified to avoid private property.
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The starting point is the car park with a picnic area located on a bend between Romanswiller and Wangenbourg on the D224. Coming from Romanswiller, it is on the left.
(S/E) The hike starts by taking the small path that climbs into the forest to the right of the fountain, marked with a blue ring. The path climbs along the hillside towards the west, towards Wangenbourg.
(1) At thesecond forest path crossed by this trail, take the path to the right which descends towards the hamlet of Freudeneck. Keep to the right and you will reach a tarmac road.
(2) Continue straight ahead until the next fork. Turn right and at the next intersection turn left, then about 200 m further on, turn left again.
(3) When you reach the forest, turn right to climb up to Freudeneck Castle. After about 20 metres, the path climbs up to the castle via steps on the left.
(4) At the castle, continue climbing to the main forest path on Schlossberg hill above, then cross it.
(5) From there, leave the forest road and follow the Anneau Rouge trail north-west towards Kittel Felsen and Wangenbourg Castle. The trail goes around the massif and descends towards the forest road at Pont du Brocard.
(6) Cross the bridge and take the forest road in front of you. After about 50 metres, a path climbs up to the right towards Wangenbourg Castle. Follow it to the castle.
(7) At the castle, leave the clearing towards the village of Wangenbourg and immediately turn right onto the path, still marked with the Anneau Rouge sign, towards Langacker. At the crossroads after the footbridge, leave the Anneau Rouge sign, turn left and arrive at Langacker after about 100 metres.
(8) When you reach Langacker, on the south side, do not go up to the clearing but take the path that goes around it on the right at the edge of the forest.
(9) When you reach the other side of Langacker, on the north side, don't miss the Chevalet Rouge trail, which comes in at a sharp angle on your right. Take this path, which leads to Pont des Dames.
(10) At Pont des Dames, cross the D224 road and climb up opposite, still on the Chevalet Rouge marked path, towards Rotfels.
(11) Unfortunately, the view from Rotfels is blocked by tall trees. From there, head north on the marked Croix Jaune path, which gradually climbs up the hillside. At the fork, go right and you will come to a crossroads of forest paths.
(12) At this crossroads, take the path that branches off to the right at an acute angle. Descend the gentle slope to the forest road. Cross it and continue north-east on the Chevalet Rouge marked trail. Cross another forest road and after about twenty minutes, you will arrive at Heidenschloss and its shelter a few metres to the left of the path.
(13) From the shelter, retrace your steps and descend the slope on the left to the large forest road below the rock. Take this path on your right and follow it downhill. After a large bend to the left and then asecond to the right, you will arrive at a hairpin bend. Leave the forest path and continue straight on along the marked Croix Bleue path, which descends quite quickly to the D224.
All that remains is to cross the road to return to the starting point (S/E).
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