Col du Krappenfels (490m) walks

The Saverne State Forest has many unusual and mysterious places to offer, and this beautiful hike through the undergrowth is a fine example.Pass through the ruins of the Ochsenstein castles (the Grand, the Petit and Wachelheim), along the pretty Schlossberg ridge path to the Krappenfels Rock viewpoint. Further on, the Wuesterberg ridge path leads to the Mur Païen and the Pierre des Druides, the remains of an ancient Celtic place of worship.After these few bumps, it's easier going to reach the Schweizerberg plateau and the Neubaufels gazebo, finally arriving at the enormous fractured rock of the Seebfels. Please note: the summit of the Ochsenstein castles is now closed to the public.

This lovely, shaded walk offers beautiful views of the forest and the Rocher de Dabo with its Saint-Léon Chapel. It passes by the Château du Ochsentein, as well as several points of interest such as the Ottenad-Keller Fountain, a pagan wall, the Druids’ Stone and the Jean-Louis Haemmerlin Fountain.

A trail rich in discoveries. Throughout the route, this trail offers numerous remarkable viewpoints as well as points of interest dotted along the way. These elements help to make this day a memorable experience, combining discovery and enjoyment. Each of the sites visited allows you to broaden your knowledge whilst enjoying a leisurely walk, ideal for immersing yourself in the region’s natural and historical heritage. Highlights of this hike: the Wuestenberg Plateau – the castles of Ochsenstein, Petit Geroldseck, Grand Geroldseck, Haut Barr and finally the Brostch Cave and Tower.

The undulating paths you will follow on this lovely circular route, starting from the Billebaum car park, will take you to the heart of several Alemannic legends (La Spill, a 10-metre-high vertical monolith), to the Geissfels (a magnificent rock with a 40-metre drop and a remarkable view over Dabo), then, in the second stage, to the ruined Ochsenstein Castle (three 12th-century castles built on three sandstone spurs, with the summit area off-limits) and, continuing on from there, the long rocky plateau of the Schlossberg. Finally, the third stage takes in the Wuestenberg plateau, an ancient oppidum and Celtic place of worship (pagan wall, druid stone), the southern end of which begins with the Krappenfels, an enormous rock offering magnificent views, particularly of the Dabo rock.