On either side of the Zorn

Getting to the start:
By train: Saverne SNCF station is located 1 km from Rue Erckmann-Chatrian.
By car: park on Rue Erckmann-Chatrian in Saverne.

(S/E) Walk up Rue Erckmann-Chatrian to the end. Turn right into Rue du Général Leclerc. Continue to the end, to the car park of a hotel.

(1) Take the Red Saltire marked trail towards Haut-Barr.

(2) After the castle, continue along the path towards Grand Geroldseck. Pass the Tour du Télégraphe, and reach Grand Geroldseck a few hundred metres further on.

(3) Continue along the path towards Petit Geroldseck and then towards Table des Sorcières, following the Red Saltire signposts.

(4) At the Table des Sorcières, take the^GR®53marked with a Red Rectangle to reach the Tour du Brotsch.

(5) Continue towards the Grotte du Brotsch. Pass by the Rocher du Brotsch and follow the path down to the cave. Then climb back up to the rock.

(6) Head down the path marked with a Red Ring on the left. Pass the Source des Pionniers. Pass the Grand Krappenfels and then the Rocher du Petit Krappenfels. Several lovely views.

(7) Head down the path on the left marked with red-white-red Red Rectangles, towards Stambach. About 500 m further on, at the junction, cross a wide path by first turning right then left, then immediately turn right onto a path heading due north. It continues with a few hairpin bends then turns west to join a track. Turn left for a few dozen metres until you reach the start of the left-hand bend.

(8) Head down the path on the right. Cross the railway line and head down the path on the left. Cross the road (take care) and follow the road to the left for 50 m, then take the path on the right towards Rappenfels. Cross the Zorn river and then the canal. Turn left onto the towpath for a few dozen metres.

(9) Follow the^GR®531path on the right, marked with a Blue Rectangle. Turn left onto the track, then immediately take the path on the right. Cross a track. Turn left onto a track, then take the path on the right, which winds its way up to Rappenfels.

(10) Retrace your steps for about a hundred metres and continue straight on towards the Saint-Vit Cave along the path marked with a Blue Rectangle. At the junction with a path, continue straight on to reach the Saint-Vit Cave.

(11) Take the path towards Greifenstein. At the three-way junction, follow the middle path to a crossroads.

(12) Leave the^GR®531temporarily and turn left towards Marienfels, a beautiful viewpoint over the Ramsthal. Retrace your steps to the previous junction.

(12) Continue straight on along the^GR® to Greifenstein Castle. After a visit, if you wish, continue along the path that goes round the castle. Pass the castle and head to the junction with the Yellow Saltire trail.

(13) Head down to the right towards Ramsthal Pond. Continue to a wide path.

(14) Cross it and turn left. Follow the path marked with a Yellow Saltire sign. Cross a path, then a ditch, then a road, then the Ruisseau de la Fontaine Mélanie and turn right towards the Étang du Ramsthal. Continue along the tarmac path for about 150 m.

(15) Turn left before the level crossing. Green Disc markings. After the left-hand bend, take the path on the right (fitness trail) which runs alongside the Ruisseau de la Fontaine Mélanie. Further on, turn right; the path approaches the railway line and leads to a passage under the railway tracks.

(16) Go under the railway line, cross the bridge over the Zorn (Rue Lohbach) then follow Rue du 19 Novembre to the left. After 100 m, at the traffic lights, cross the road and climb the steps leading to the canal embankment. Follow the canal to the left. Climb the path leading to the footbridge over the canal and cross.

(17) Cross Rue du Haut-Barr and turn right. After 50 m, take Rue Erckmann-Chatrian on the left and head towards the car park or the station (S/E).

No water points.
Shelters at the Grotte du Brotsch (under the overhanging rock) and at the Grottre Saint-Vit (inside the chapel).

On the route:
The castles of Haut-Barr, Grand Geroldseck, Petit Geroldseck and Greifenstein.
The Brotsch and St Vit caves.
The Brotsch Tower.
The Telegraph Tower.
The Brotsch, Krappenfels, Rappenfels and Marienfels viewing rocks.
Off the trail:
The rose garden, the botanical garden and the old town of Saverne.