Sundgau Circuit: Wolschwiller - Burg - Le Raemelsberg

The Raemel mountain range, two kilometres long, blocks the horizon and rises to an altitude of 832 metres. It is the highest point in the Alsatian Jura, accessible via a picturesque limestone ridge, the Sentier des douaniers or smugglers' path, which follows the French-Swiss border. This is a fairly challenging walk, but it offers magnificent views of the Swiss Jura.

Details

179272
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.20 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 20 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 406 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 406 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 829 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 442 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start: park in front of Wolschwiller town hall, near a fountain.

(S/E) Take Rue de Kiffis (blue triangle sign).

(1) 200m further on, turn left onto Rue Brunnstube or Rue des Sources. Follow the red triangle markings and climb towards the forest (towards Naegeliberg), ignoring the paths on either side. Enter the forest following the red triangle markings. At the first fork, turn left (red triangle). Stay on the main path.

(2) At the fork, continue to the right. Follow Unterabyweg for about 1.3 km, first to the south-west and then west.

(3) At the T-junction, turn left towards Naegeliberg and Raemelsberg (blue triangle). Go straight up, then turn left onto the path called Spitzisweg.

(4) At the crossroads, turn left onto Bergweg towards Raemelsberg (yellow cross). Follow the main path for about 1 km, ignoring the paths branching off to the sides.

(5) Turn right onto a path towards Raemel, Burg and Mariastein (yellow cross). At the boundary marker, take the path to the left (yellow cross). Continue along the ridge to the north-east (yellow cross). Continue towards Burg, staying on the marked path (yellow triangle). At boundary marker 22, turn left and, 200 m further on, turn right.

(6) Walk between the Rittimatte meadow on your left and a ditch marking the border (yellow diamond). At a bend, continue straight ahead on the marked path. Descend to the centre of the village of Burg and reach a square (Dorfplatz) with a fountain.

(7) Climb up to the castle on the right via Rue du Schlossberg. Take the steps immediately on the right after the entrance porch to reach a viewpoint. Then descend to the small square with the fountain.

(7) Take Rue Gassweg. At the end of this road, take the gravel path that branches off to the right and runs alongside a group of horse paddocks.

(8) After crossing the border, marked by a customs sign, descend into a forest to the north-west, staying on the marked path (yellow triangle). Continue straight ahead until you reach the road.

(9) Follow it to the left to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 444 m - Wolswiller Town Hall
  2. 1 : km 0.4 - alt. 448 m - Turn left onto Rue Brunnstube
  3. 2 : km 2 - alt. 586 m - Fork
  4. 3 : km 3.31 - alt. 613 m - T-junction
  5. 4 : km 3.84 - alt. 691 m - Crossroads
  6. 5 : km 4.74 - alt. 762 m - Fork
  7. 6 : km 6.77 - alt. 699 m - Walk between the meadow and the ditch
  8. 7 : km 8.18 - alt. 518 m - Burg Centre - Dorfplatz
  9. 8 : km 9.06 - alt. 525 m - Border
  10. 9 : km 10.53 - alt. 452 m - Follow the road to the left. Cross the - Birsig (rivière)
  11. S/E : km 11.2 - alt. 444 m - Wolswiller Town Hall

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 34 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
rebertc
rebertc

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 05, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

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Loupie
Loupie

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Magnificent view and pleasant walk

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dbaegser
dbaegser

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

Nice route, well signposted

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PParisot
PParisot

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 20, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful route with some stunning views, especially on the Swiss side. Admittedly, the climb through the forest is a bit long with some fairly steep sections, but the ridge walk and the village of Burg in Switzerland are well worth the effort.
Thank you for this beautiful loop.

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Verena
Verena

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hike in the snow
Great experience 🥰

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Daniel V
Daniel V

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Personally, I didn't find the climb difficult enough to take off my shoes and do it on one foot in flip-flops. (I'm joking, of course.)

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Blaireau421
Blaireau421

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

I love this hike. Physically, it requires a bit of effort to get past Raemel, but from a scenic point of view, it's unmissable. The trail is well marked and the view is fantastic!

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lamdam
lamdam

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 18, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Stunning views in good weather with a glimpse of the summit of the Eiger 100 km away. There is a small path behind the castle leading down to the village of Burg. Follow the row of houses to reach it. The ladder up to the Rämel tower is moderately secure, with cylindrical rungs that are narrow and slippery when wearing hiking boots. Please take care.

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chch68
chch68

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 28, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, but quite challenging, with a steep climb.

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RegineBelfort
RegineBelfort

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 27, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route taken on a lovely spring Sunday.

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rvk68
rvk68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 19, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful route, beautiful views

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Marlyse et Gilbert
Marlyse et Gilbert

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 05, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

saturday, 5 February 2022

A very beautiful route with superb views of the peaks of the Bernese Oberland from the Raemelsberg tower
beautiful views of the Vosges peaks during the descent to Burg, which was quite steep and a little slippery
best to wear good walking shoes and use hiking poles!
after a stop at the beautiful Burg Castle, the end of the route is very pleasant through the forest to return to the starting point
starting point, with other discoveries such as the chapel dedicated to St. John of Nepomuk and a Way of the Cross.
To sum up, we had a wonderful afternoon and highly recommend this magnificent hike!

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Bertrand LEPERE
Bertrand LEPERE

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Took the route in the opposite direction, which was magnificent on a sunny autumn day with views of the Alsace plain and Switzerland in the mist. The Raemelberg tower was quite crowded.

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Michel Muller
Michel Muller

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 20, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route, mostly shaded, with magnificent views.
Thank you for this suggestion.

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malou68
malou68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful route with superb views.
To be repeated!

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