Route starting from Mont-Saint-Michel to Polenberg

In the village of Saint-Jean-lès-Saverne, follow the signs for Mont-Saint-Michel. The forest road leading there starts at the edge of the village near the cemetery and climbs into the forest in a north-northeast direction before turning west. A few hundred metres after this left turn, park in the angle parking bay on the left-hand side of the road.

(S/E) Opposite the car park, take the path marked with a red disc/blue ring heading west. After a few dozen metres on flat ground, the path begins to climb, turning to the right. When you reach a fork, leave the marked path and continue north. Shortly afterwards, you will come to a wide track marked with a blue rectangle. Cross it and continue straight ahead, still heading north. Stay on the main path, ignoring a path that branches off to the west at the entrance to a clearing. Walk along the clearing, passing a watchtower on the right-hand side of the path, and continue downhill to the next intersection.

(1) Take the path on the left, heading due west. This wide path runs flat along the hillside until it reaches a carriage road, near which (on the left) you will see a round sign indicating the location of an old hunting lodge. Follow the carriage road to the right. It first makes a very wide circular loop to the left, then a very wide circular loop to the right. At the end of this right-hand bend, pay attention because a sign on the left-hand side indicates that Schimmelfels is 20 metres away. Don't hesitate to go and explore this pretty little rock, even if the vegetation and the terrain don't offer an extraordinary view.

(2) Return to the main path and continue along it until you reach the next crossroads called Carrefour du Polenberg.

(3) Turn left onto Chemin du Polenberg. After about 200 metres, at the end of a circular bend, you will see a sign on the left-hand side of the path indicating Kompaniefelsen 130 metres away. Take the path down to the left, which leads to this overhanging rock. Go back up the same path to return to the main path and continue north-west. Less than a kilometre further on, a sign on the left-hand side of the path indicates that you have reached the Hanss Michel Cave. You can take a small, somewhat rough path (caution is advised if you are walking with children and keep dogs on a leash) that shows the pretty sides of a small rock. Retrace your steps and continue on the path that makes a sharp right turn.

(4) After this right turn, a sign on the left indicates the direction of the Zinsel Valley and Fallbaechel. Descend this path which, after turning left, passes in front of a rocky outcrop. This is the Polenberg Rock (although it is only marked on the map and not on the ground). Towards the middle of this rocky outcrop, you will see the path descend at a 90° angle to the right. It then turns eastwards and joins a farm track. Follow the direction of the Zinsel Valley on this farm track before leaving it less than 50 m further on to descend diagonally to the left. Along this path, which passes between old, stunted fir trees, you can see the moss surrounding the branches of these trees. The path turns north again at the junction with another farm track. Continue in the same direction until you reach a clearing where you can see a large covered playground and a house on the left. This is the nursery. Continue to the road.

(5) Take it to the left, pass in front of the buildings and when the carriage road makes a sharp right turn, go straight ahead into the forest.

(6) Immediately after, at the fork, turn right. After climbing a little, the road begins to descend gently before plunging towards Fallbaechel, a small stream at the bottom of the valley.

(7) Take the Chevalet Bleu marked road on the left, towards the Langenthal Cross. When it starts a hairpin bend to the left, go straight ahead and start the climb, still following the Chevalet Bleu. The slope is steep, but there are a few breaks. Once you reach a farm track, the Chevalet Bleu signpost indicates a path that climbs diagonally, deviating from the route marked on the map. This is not a problem, as you will rejoin the route on the map a little further on. It takes about half an hour to climb to the Langenthal Cross.

(8) Follow the signs for Chapelle Saint-Michel, still following the Chevalet Bleu. One kilometre further on, you will reach the large Club Vosgien chalet, behind which the chapel can be seen.

(9) Take the road in front of the chalet to return to the car park (S/E).

- The Kompaniefelsen offers quality shelter for a large number of people. Lighting fires is prohibited!
- La Pépinière (5) is a holiday home belonging to the village of Steinbourg.
- The Club Vosgien chalet at Mont Saint-Michel has a picnic room and the refreshment bar is open from mid-March to the end of October on Sundays and public holidays.

- Don't hesitate to linger at Mont Saint-Michel, which is often very busy at weekends. You can visit the chapel and, a little further on, the witches' circle, from where, according to legend, they flew off to Bastberg in the east. There is also an orientation table, sculptures and a panoramic view of the Alsace plain and the surrounding villages. Saverne and its castles are very beautiful.