Purpurkopf Pass and Guirbaden Castle from the Fischhütte

A pleasant hike passing through the Holdersbusch and Purpurkopf passes and visiting the ruins of Guirbaden Castle.

Details

18576448
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 14.36 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 336 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 335 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 575 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 342 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park after the Fischhütte restaurant.

(S/E) From the car park, join the D204 and follow it to the left (Blue Cross markings) for about 400 m to the Fackenthal campsite.

(1) Turn right and follow the Fackenthal Forest Road (marked with a blue rectangle).

(2) Follow the path that branches off to the left (marked with a blue rectangle).

(3) Follow the road on the right, then, a few metres further on, follow the path that branches off to the right to reach the Col du Holderbusch (marked with a yellow disc).

(4) At the pass, follow the path on the left (still marked with yellow discs) which leads to Purpurkopf, home to the ruins of an ancient Celtic camp. You can make a round trip to the summit by following the path straight ahead.

(5) After descending from Purpurkopf, continue along the path (marked with yellow discs) to Grendelbruch, passing close to the Magelrain Forest House. Cross the Magel bridge and you will reach a fork in the path.

(6) Turn right and follow Rue du Mont Sainte-Odile to the church.

(7) From there, follow Rue de l'Église, which branches off to the right (red-white-red rectangle markings). At the cemetery, continue straight ahead.

(8) You can now set off for the Grendelbruch Rock. Follow the markings to Guirbaden Castle via the Wolfgrube Pass.

(9) Turn right at the Wolfsgrube Pass.

(10) After the castle, continue along the same path and follow the signs to the ruins of the old Guirbaden Forest House.

(11) Follow the path that branches off to the right (marked with a red cross) and, at the D204, turn left to reach the car park before the Fischhütte restaurant (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 348 m - Car park near the Fischhütte campsite. - Magel (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.47 - alt. 342 m - Fork in the road near the Fackenthal campsite.
  3. 2 : km 0.85 - alt. 381 m - Path on the left
  4. 3 : km 1.47 - alt. 476 m - Fork to the right
  5. 4 : km 2.34 - alt. 542 m - Col du Hoderbusch (542m)
  6. 5 : km 3.28 - alt. 529 m - Fork towards - Purpurkopf (570m)
  7. 6 : km 6.89 - alt. 489 m - Fork in the road Rue du Mont Sainte-Odile
  8. 7 : km 7.47 - alt. 516 m - Church
  9. 8 : km 8.32 - alt. 516 m - Access to the - Rocher de Grendelbruch (612 m)
  10. 9 : km 10.71 - alt. 530 m - Col de Wolfsgrube (531 m)
  11. 10 : km 11.35 - alt. 565 m - Château de Guirbaden (Mollkirch)
  12. 11 : km 12.17 - alt. 488 m - Ruins of the old Guirbade Forest House.
  13. S/E : km 14.36 - alt. 347 m - Car park near the Fischhütte campsite. - Magel (rivière)

Notes

Refreshments available at the Fischhütte and Grendelbruch.
Picnic tables at Hoderbusch, Purpurkopf and Guirbaden Castle.

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.2 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Ease of following the route
3.6 / 5
Route interest
4.5 / 5
gizmo
gizmo

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk despite some very muddy sections due to forestry work. Congratulations to the volunteers at Guirbaden Castle for their dedication and hard work. I have visited several times in recent years and have been able to see the progress of the renovation work. We met some very friendly volunteers who were working and gave us some interesting explanations about the château. As the weather was fine, there were quite a few cyclists on the route, but that wasn't a problem; you just need to be understanding on both sides.

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Caro6768
Caro6768

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

A pleasant hike best enjoyed in good weather: most of the route is shaded and you will avoid the muddy sections caused by forestry work.
The duration is well suited to average hikers. There are no difficult sections, and the climb during the first few kilometres is steady and manageable.
Crossing the village is a little dangerous due to the narrow roadside, but it is quite short and you quickly return to a pleasant path.

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ohrel
ohrel

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Nice hike, but lack of signposting when arriving on the forest road after the climb from Dufackenthal.
A few trees lying across the path after Purpurkopf.

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Philippe Schwab
Philippe Schwab

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Without stopping, we did it in 3½ hours. A bit of forest road at the beginning, but overall, a well-balanced route without any difficulty, quite enjoyable.

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Maminouxe
Maminouxe
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A minor mix-up at the start meant we took the route in reverse. Not many viewpoints, but the castle (closed), the chapel, the ruins of the ancient Celtic camp, and the numerous benches made for a very pleasant hike. Be careful on the very dangerous start of the route on the road, as we were nearly hit by cars.

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blairo68
blairo68

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 15, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant route with no particular difficulties.
However, it should be noted that the Vosges Club's signposting is not always consistent, especially in terms of the positioning of directional signs.

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Thecla
Thecla

Thank you very much for your review!

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bubulle67
bubulle67

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 19, 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 hike, with magnificent forest passages on the way up to Purpurkopf, and plenty of cool spots (several streams) despite the day's heatwave (+30°C at 9:30 a.m.).
You can also visit the beautiful little St Catherine's Chapel after Grendelbruch, 50 metres on the left after a picnic table. There are additional picnic tables in the shade.
Access to the main building of Guirbaden Castle is possible by going all the way around (follow the castle access arrows).

The route was very quiet today with only 13 people and 2 cyclists, perhaps due to the intense heat.

Thanks to the CV for the signposting and to Thecla for the perfect directions and this beautiful route.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

Unless otherwise indicated,

The marking does not depend on the author or Visorando, and Visorando does not mark the trails.

However, if marking is essential for you, Visorando offers virtual marking with its GPS application.
This tool, provided free of charge by Visorando, helps to remove any doubts about orientation.

See you soon!

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Joelae
Joelae
• Edited:

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 21, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Not clearly marked, missing arrow signs. I would like to add the place name more often to be sure. I lost my way, it was a total of 19 km instead of 15 km.

The landscape is magnificent and the path is perfect! Except for the signage, I'm disappointed!

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