Sundgau route: Balschwiller-Gildwiller

For geologists, this part of the Sundgau facing the Porte de Bourgogne is called the Fossé de Dannemarie. The landscape is gently undulating, with only one wooded hill emerging. At its summit stands the church of Gildwiller, where gazes and prayers converge.

Details

179237
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.26 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 82 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 79 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 347 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 282 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ District: Balschwiller (68210)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.674773° / E 7.164559°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3621ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Leave your car near the Foyer de Balschwiller, at the edge of the village, heading towards Ammertzwiller D103

(S/E). Head south-east towards the centre of the village, following the road for 200 metres. Turn right onto Rue de la Forêt (blue ring).
Then go straight down a sunken lane.

(1) At the Falkwiller bridge, turn right onto the road towards Gildwiller-le-Mont (blue ring).
after 500 metres, take the first path on the left, which runs parallel to the Soultzbach stream winding below.

(2) At the junction with the D26, turn right (green triangle) and, 150 metres further on, turn right again towards the Way of the Cross and Notre-Dame du Mont (blue rectangle). The entrance to the forest marks the start of a beautiful fitness trail. Leave it on your left to climb the hill and reach the church and cemetery.

(3) Leaving the cemetery, turn left, cross Rue du Mont and pass to the right of the former Scouts de France house. Cross a meadow and continue into the forest, turning right onto a path and following the markings (blue ring). Stay on this path, which descends towards the Fontaine de Saint-Morand.

(4) Retrace your steps to the edge of the forest, then follow the path (blue ring) to the right. When you reach another path, at a table with benches, turn right towards Balschwiller (blue triangle).
Further on, ignore the path that branches off to the left towards Ammertzwiller.

(5) At the next crossroads, note the bildstock (wayside shrine) and continue straight ahead on the marked path (blue triangle, blue ring) until you reach the edge of the forest, where you will see a beautiful panorama.

Walk to the road, turn right to walk alongside the football stadium and return to the community centre (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 284 m - Balschwiller community centre
  2. 1 : km 2.65 - alt. 287 m - Falkwiller Bridge over the - Soultzbach (rivière)
  3. 2 : km 3.74 - alt. 293 m - Crossroads with the D 26, on the right
  4. 3 : km 4.52 - alt. 340 m - Church and cemetery of Gildwiller
  5. 4 : km 4.93 - alt. 327 m - Fountain of Saint-Morand
  6. 5 : km 5.95 - alt. 328 m - Crossroads, wayside shrine
  7. S/E : km 7.26 - alt. 284 m - Balschwiller community centre

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.9 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
User 12364827

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 09, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Track slightly muddy following recent showers.

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kleiklei
kleiklei

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This route is perfect for Nordic walking and for a stroll, even with a pushchair. You can add a circular route to the fitness trail after leaving Gildwiller village, passing through the barrier at the entrance to the forest on the left first, then turning right a little further up the Way of the Cross. At the end of the Way of the Cross, there are toilets opposite the church in Gildwiller-le-Haut, which is worth visiting if possible.

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ajvoyage
ajvoyage

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

a short, very easy and pleasant walk.

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Papinouxe
Papinouxe

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 08, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely little outing, easy going.

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guetty68
guetty68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Done and redone, and always the same pleasure in taking this walk with the Stations of the Cross and its beautiful church.

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damien.hartmann
damien.hartmann

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely family outing, culminating in the pilgrimage site of Notre-Dame-du-Mont in Gildwiller, with its Stations of the Cross and Saint Morand fountain. We weren't familiar with this part of the Sundgau region or this piece of local religious history, but now we're a little more knowledgeable!

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guetty68
guetty68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 23, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice walk...

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Mazubel
Mazubel

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 04, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant, easy walk for the whole family. Some open stretches but also wooded areas. Great when the weather is warm. Quiet paths.

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marwan
marwan

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A pleasant three-hour walk with no difficulties except for the condition of the path on the way there, which is somewhat muddy. The Way of the Cross in Gildwiller is magnificent, as is the church. The return journey is along a wide path through the woods and seems shorter.

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Bruno1953
Bruno1953

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Lovely walk, and nice trip to Mount Gildwiller

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Debit
Debit

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 23, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Lovely walk...

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Debit
Debit

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 14, 2017
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Lovely walk

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Christophe 68260
Christophe 68260

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 22, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A pleasant walk along easily identifiable paths. In autumn, the colours are superb in full sunlight.

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francois.satori@estvideo.fr
francois.satori@estvideo.fr

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 14, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A lovely walk in fine weather

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francois.satori@estvideo.fr
francois.satori@estvideo.fr

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2016
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

Lovely walk...

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