From Ribeauvillé to Dusenbach Monastery through the woods

This short walk takes you up to the Dusenbach, avoiding the dangerous road to Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. From the Dusenbach, you can climb up to the Taennchel or the castles.

Details

1591018
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.26 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 209 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 203 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 424 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 268 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Start: Rue du 3 Décembre, opposite the small buildings with a small car park (around number 70).

(S/E) With your back to the car park, turn right onto Rue du 3 Décembre for about 200m.

(1) Turn left into Rue Saint-Morand (several Club Vosgien waymarkers). At the rapidly approaching Y-road junction, turn right. Follow the yellow cross waymarkers. The path has been bulldozed for a few hundred meters, but after that, it's very pleasant.

(2) At the junction, continue straight ahead following the Yellow Cross waymarkers. Stay on the contour for a while, then descend into the Strengbach valley.

(3) At the bottom, turn right into a hairpin bend. Go past the bridge, cross the road carefully and follow it to the right for 100m. Then turn left towards Dusenbach.

(4) Take the left-hand path with crosses up to the monastery. Ignore a few side paths on the way. When you reach the monastery (which you can visit), turn right onto a small road.

(5) Follow this road to the right, towards Ribeauvillé, for 300m. Leave the road for the Sentier Maria Raydt, which turns left towards Ribeauvillé (blue triangle waymarkers). This pretty path goes through woodlands, past a lovely viewpoint, then past an educational orchard, and finally through vineyards.

(6) When you reach the road, follow it to the left as far as the roundabout. Then turn right into Rue du 3 Décembre.

(1) Continue along Rue du 3 Décembre to the start (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 272 m - Rue du 3 Décembre - Small car park
  2. 1 : km 0.2 - alt. 278 m - Carrefour de la boucle
  3. 2 : km 0.86 - alt. 342 m - Intersection
  4. 3 : km 1.96 - alt. 313 m - Turn right towards the - Strengbach (rivière)
  5. 4 : km 2.35 - alt. 307 m - Start of the Way of the Cross
  6. 5 : km 3.04 - alt. 418 m - Small road after the - Le Monastère de Dusenbach
  7. 6 : km 4.59 - alt. 279 m - Route
  8. S/E : km 5.26 - alt. 272 m - Rue du 3 Décembre - Small car park

Notes

Start: Rue du 3 Décembre, opposite the small buildings with a small car park (around number 70).

Note: The IGN map is not accurate. Please refer to the description.

Refreshments: Snacks at the monastery (ask for details).

Facilities : Picnic tables at the foot of the Way of the Cross.

Worth a visit

Visit Ribeauvillé and the Dusenbach Monastery. See their website for Masses and catering.

Factory outlet Beauvillé near the start of the hike. (High-quality fabrics)

At the bottom of Ribeauvillé, casino with spa.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 32 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
User 5550982

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice walk on the way there without any major issues, but the return trip from the monastery was difficult and it took us a long time to find the right path.

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User 5550982

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Advertised as easy? More like a bit risky! The signposting is very sparse, the paths are difficult, but the route is excellent.

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User 11413186

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

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

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pasci59
pasci59
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike through the forest (ideal when it's very hot). The only difficulty is the climb up to the monastery via the Way of the Cross.

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Jacques R
Jacques R

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a varied route, mostly through forest, with pleasant views to enhance the experience

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jldequin
jldequin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A magnificent and surprising walk.
Starting in the woods, ideal in hot weather, the climb up to the monastery is surprising with its Stations of the Cross, leading to this monastery nestled in the greenery.
We didn't meet anyone until we reached Ribeauville on the way back.
A must-do to stretch your legs and take a break from the crowds in the village.

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virgule
virgule

Well done to him

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PeterSmith
PeterSmith

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Very nice walk in the woods - the hillside, the river and the monastery are very beautiful.
Done with a toddler (2 and a half years old - but without a pushchair, and a very good walker).

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MimiCalou
MimiCalou

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 14, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely woodland walk with lots to see, including a church. Highly recommended

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olivier56220
olivier56220

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

Lovely walk with the Way of the Cross and a visit to the chapels with a very interesting history of the monastery.
We had a great time in the peace and serenity of this natural setting and its architecture.
I highly recommend this walk 😀

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buck
buck

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route takes in some very beautiful paths with fine views of the château on the first section and ND de Dusenbach and the valley on the return path to Ribeauvillé.

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abbamoin68
abbamoin68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely route from Ribeauvillé, with views of the town and castles; beautiful path through the woods, beautiful climb to the monastery via the imposing Way of the Cross. Visit the church, where a magnificent and imposing nativity scene is on display, a must-see.
Beautiful path on the way back to Maria Reydt.

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pierre.bonifay
pierre.bonifay

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 30, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Interesting route, well done to the Club Vosgien for maintaining a path that is often marked out on very steep and crumbly slopes. Nice views of 2 of the 3 Ribeauvillé châteaux and the vineyards on the way down. Very pretty undergrowth too. The Way of the Cross on the way up to the monastery is very original.

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mmasson
mmasson

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 09, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely route in very fine weather. Starting from Ribeauvillé, a fine view of the 3 châteaux.
At the bottom of the descent onto the main road, the path is a bit rocky, sloping and obstructed by a few tree branches.
The visit to the chapel of the Dusenbach monastery is very relaxing and the site is very well documented. The blue triangle path on the descent to Ribeauvillé requires attention because of roots and stones.

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Sebbod81
Sebbod81

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk up to the monastery with the life-size Way of the Cross. Really good time and lovely scenery.

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