Route of the wayside crosses and the Strangenberg from Westhalten

This lovely route showcases Westhalten’s religious heritage and its many crosses, its renowned vineyard and the dry hills of Strangenberg. The latter is a remarkable natural area home to several types of orchids, blood-red geraniums, wild tulips and grape hyacinths, as well as, in terms of wildlife, hoopoes, green lizards and vipers.
Walkers are treated to numerous views and panoramas of the village, the Grand and Petit Ballon mountains, the Alsace plain and the Black Forest.
Important: the route is mainly in open country, so don’t forget a hat, a cap and something to drink!

Details

33193628
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.33 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 164 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 167 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 396 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 245 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking available in the car park near Westhalten cemetery

(S/E) From the cemetery, turn right onto the small road leading out of the village towards the vineyard. After about 150 m, you will reach a crossroads and the Lutzlbourg Cross.

(1) Turn left and follow the vineyard path. At the first junction, continue straight ahead. Pass the Steintükweg Cross by turning left. The path becomes steeper. After a wide bend to the right and then a second bend to the right, it levels out and leads to a five-way junction at a place called Durstelberg.

(2) Turn right onto the small road that descends and leads to the crossroads and the Col du Neuland cross near a picnic area.

(3) Continue straight on between the cross and the car park along the tarmac path that climbs gently towards Strangenberg (marked with a Red Triangle). After the right-hand bend, continue to the car park.

(4) Turn right, skirting the car park, and enter the exceptional natural site of Strangenberg via a narrow path. Stay on the path and enjoy the surroundings and the view until you reach the junction with the marked path.

(5) Turn right onto the path marked with a Red Triangle and head back to the centre of Westhalten. At the bottom of the street, turn right and head towards the cemetery and the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 255 m - Car park near the cemetery
  2. 1 : km 0.15 - alt. 261 m - Clos des Ânes - Croix du Lutzelberg (Westhalten)
  3. 2 : km 1.69 - alt. 393 m - Crossroads – Durstelberg hill
  4. 3 : km 2.22 - alt. 352 m - Crossroads - Col du Neuland
  5. 4 : km 2.68 - alt. 385 m - Strangenberg car park
  6. 5 : km 3.31 - alt. 365 m - Crossroads at the foot of Strangenberg
  7. S/E : km 4.33 - alt. 255 m - Car park near the cemetery

Notes

Car park near Westhalten cemetery.
(3) Picnic table.
Places to eat and drink in Westhalten.

Worth a visit

Things to see along the walk:

  • The numerous wayside crosses.
  • The dry Strangenberg hill with its flora and views of the village, the Grand and Petit Ballon mountains, the Alsace plain and the Black Forest.
  • The Westhalten vineyard.

Reviews and comments

4.9 / 5
Based on 4 reviews

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

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

I really enjoyed this route; I’m going to do it again!

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User 17094593

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello. I completed the route yesterday, taking a detour that brought the total distance to 7.20 km. I really enjoyed it.

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bijou62
bijou62

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It’s a shame the detour to the Oelberg Chapel wasn’t included in the basic route; we did it and it’s definitely worth a visit.
We only came across one couple during this short walk

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Sam68380
Sam68380

Thank you for your message and your helpful comment. You’re right, I’ll be sure to add that!

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MONROB
MONROB

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 23, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely route. It might be worth pointing out that a large part of the route is in full sun, so the difficulty level is quite different in the middle of a sunny morning, even when it’s just 27 degrees in the shade in spring.

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