Sundgau route: the Hirsingue-Wittersdorf circular route via the Roman road

A long hike with superb views of the Vosges, the Black Forest and the Jura.
There are numerous points of interest with information boards, benches and water points along the route.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 20.22 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 6h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 257 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 257 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 403 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 303 m
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Hirsingue (68560)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.597592° / E 7.260425°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3621ET, 3721ET
  • Hour-by-hour weather

Photos

Description of the walk

Parking is available near the high-voltage transformer, accessible from Hirsingue via Rue du Roggenberg.

(S/E) Immediately take the path towards the north-east (red disc) in the direction of the woods.

(1) At the crossroads, go straight ahead and follow the red disc.

(2) At the next crossroads, go down the path on the left and follow the red disc.

(3) When you leave the woods, walk along the pond and, when you reach the hut, cross the bank and, at the edge of the woods, take the Red Ring marked path on the right.

(4) After about 1.2 km, the Anneau Rouge trail branches off to the left. Follow it to the calvary.

(5) When you reach the calvary (there is an interesting story about its origin), take the path on the right (communal heritage route). Before leaving the woods, admire the magnificent "survivor" oak tree.

(6) Continue along the edge of the forest towards the north, then enter the forest. The trail turns right and then heads north again. After a right turn, go deeper into the forest until you reach the next crossroads.

(7) At the crossroads, turn left and exit at the edge of the forest to admire the superb panorama. Return to the crossroads, turn left and follow the signs for Tagsdorf on the Green Disc marked path until it meets the Blue Triangle marked path.

(8) Turn left, north, onto the tarmac path and follow the Blue Triangle towards Tagsdorf.

(9) At the oratory, leave the asphalt and take the grassy path that branches off to the right.

(10) After a left/right turn, back on the asphalt, turn right and go up to the grove.

(11) At the crossroads, descend to the left for about 500 m along the asphalt road.

(12) When you leave the grove, take the path on the right that leads to the green waste bin.

(13) At the bin, turn right and follow the green disc, going straight ahead. After a left-hand bend, you will come to a crossroads.

(14) After passing under the high-voltage power lines, you can descend to the Saint-Brice Chapel (route indicated), crossing the road below. You can also shorten the hike by following the Green Disc and Red Disc markings on the right, in which case you can skip the chapel.

(15) Saint-Brice Chapel, a superb renovated building that is open to the public. Please respect this place... Retrace your steps back to the crossroads.

(14) Follow the green and red disc markings.

(16) When you reach the Roman road, turn left and follow the red disc to the Roman camp (which is apparently not a camp!) or turn right immediately and follow the red triangle + green disc to shorten the route, in which case ignore the passage through the Roman camp.

(17) Former "Roman camp". Retrace your steps.

(16) Continue straight ahead on the Roman road, following the Red Triangle + Green Disc markings.
After about 1.7 km, at the crossroads, leave the Green Disc path on the right, continue on the left and exit the woods onto the Red Triangle asphalt path.

(18) Immediately take the stone path on the right and continue to follow the red triangle.

(19) At the entrance to Bettendorf, go down Rue de Wittersdorf to the Calvary, then go up Rue d'Altkirch on the right, following the blue and red diamond, and continue straight ahead to the finish (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 395 m - High-voltage transformer
  2. 1 : km 0.69 - alt. 388 m - Continue straight ahead, following the red disc.
  3. 2 : km 1.35 - alt. 352 m - Turn left.
  4. 3 : km 2.3 - alt. 306 m - Lake shore
  5. 4 : km 3.51 - alt. 332 m - Turn left.
  6. 5 : km 4.06 - alt. 371 m - Calvaire, follow the Anneau Rouge trail.
  7. 6 : km 4.41 - alt. 380 m - On the northern edge
  8. 7 : km 5.22 - alt. 366 m - Return trip to the viewpoint
  9. 8 : km 6.31 - alt. 382 m - Follow the blue triangle.
  10. 9 : km 7.46 - alt. 314 m - Oratory
  11. 10 : km 7.84 - alt. 308 m - Turn right.
  12. 11 : km 8.68 - alt. 352 m - Left hairpin bend
  13. 12 : km 9.17 - alt. 328 m - Turn right, then left.
  14. 13 : km 9.58 - alt. 316 m - Green waste bin. Green Disc
  15. 14 : km 10.31 - alt. 329 m - Return trip to the chapel.
  16. 15 : km 11.01 - alt. 309 m - Chapelle Saint-Brice, after the - Thalbach (ruisseau) - Affluent de l'Ill
  17. 16 : km 14.24 - alt. 398 m - Return trip to the Roman camp
  18. 17 : km 14.76 - alt. 396 m - Roman camp
  19. 18 : km 17.13 - alt. 389 m - Follow the red triangle.
  20. 19 : km 18.63 - alt. 352 m - Turn right, Blue Diamond
  21. S/E : km 20.21 - alt. 395 m - High-voltage transformer

Notes

There are numerous water sources along the route, so be sure to wear sturdy shoes and bring a water bottle and filter.
The hike is relatively long, so bringing a snack may be a good idea. There are many places that are perfect for this, such as the Saint-Brice Chapel (15).

Worth a visit

There are numerous benches, information boards and beautiful views of the Vosges, the Black Forest and the Jura mountains along the route.

Between (17) and (18), you will be on the old Roman road.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 6 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
Blaireau421
Blaireau421

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

This hike is ideal for a beautiful day's walk. We pass by viewpoints with views of different villages, but they are still some distance away. The St-Brice Chapel is the highlight of this route; it is a real gem of our heritage. The Roman road is now only a name, as there are no traces left except for a few cobblestones still visible on the path before Bettendorf. It is a pleasant hike without any major difficulties! Thank you to the author!

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CHOQUET
CHOQUET

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 09, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant route through the rolling hills of Sundgau with beautiful scenery. The forest trails are lovely, and with very few people around, it's even better.

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Tino7
Tino7

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route that allowed us to get to know this corner of the Sundgau better.

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Tino7
Tino7

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route that allowed us to get to know this corner of the Sundgau better.

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ady68
ady68

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 21, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk in Sundgau. As we know the area well, we modified the route slightly!

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Henri E.
Henri E.

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 22, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route (shaded for about two-thirds of the way). A slight mix-up at the start. The high-voltage transformer is accessible from Roggenberg Street (not Loggenberg). I parked my car in the small housing estate nearby and walked a few minutes (uphill) to reach the transformer.
The paths are very pleasant and the scenery is magnificent. St Brice's Chapel is a magical place that is well worth the short detour.
Thank you for this lovely walk suggestion.

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