Discover Niedermunster Abbey and Mont Sainte-Odile

A pleasant and easy hike to discover the ruins of Niedermunster Abbey, the Lucie Fountain, Mont Sainte-Odile and the southern passage of the Mur Païen.

Details

29047902
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 10.16 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 396 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 392 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 817 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 501 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Access to the start of the hike from Obernai via the D426 to Ottrott, then the D103 to Saint-Nabor. Car park in front of the Saint-Jacques holiday home at the exit of Saint-Nabor (on the D103).

(S/E) With your back to the holiday home, follow the path on the right (marked with a yellow disc) for about 400 metres, then turn right and walk back to visit the ruins of Niedermunster Abbey. Continue along the same path (marked with a yellow disc and yellow triangle). Follow the path on the right (marked with a yellow disc and yellow triangle) to reach Carrefour du Chasseur.

(1) Take the path on the right, which veers to the left (marked with a yellow triangle) and passes in front of the Lucie Fountain.

(2) It then makes a circular loop and leads to the Sentier des Pèlerins further on.

(3) Take it to the left (marked with a yellow cross) to reach a crossroads at the foot of Mont Sainte-Odile.

(4) Follow the path on the left to reach Mont Sainte-Odile.

(5) Climb the stairs on the left as you leave the abbey and take the Way of the Cross (red-white-red rectangle markings). Continue to the Chapelle des Roches.

(6) Ignore the path on the right and continue straight ahead on the path (marked with red-white-red rectangles, then yellow trestles) that passes by the Panorama Rock. Continue on this same path, which is the Mur Païen. You will come to a crossroads.

(7) Keep left on the path (marked with a blue triangle) that leads to Rocher du Kappelhouse.

(8) Continue along this same path to reach the D109 further on.

(9) Carefully cross the road to the left, then follow the path that runs alongside the D109 on the right to reach the car park of the Saint-Jacques holiday home at the exit of Saint-Nabor (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 568 m - Car park in front of the Saint-Jacques holiday home
  2. 1 : km 2.2 - alt. 543 m - Carrefour du Chasseur
  3. 2 : km 3.28 - alt. 557 m - Lucie Fountain
  4. 3 : km 4.33 - alt. 539 m - Pilgrims' Trail
  5. 4 : km 5.56 - alt. 675 m - Crossroads at the foot of Mont Sainte-Odile
  6. 5 : km 6.06 - alt. 760 m - Mont Sainte-Odile
  7. 6 : km 6.43 - alt. 755 m - Chapelle des Roches
  8. 7 : km 7.79 - alt. 798 m - Mur païen crossroads
  9. 8 : km 8.66 - alt. 679 m - Kappelhouse Rock
  10. 9 : km 9.3 - alt. 620 m - Route D109
  11. S/E : km 10.16 - alt. 568 m - Car park in front of the Saint-Jacques holiday home

Notes

(5) Refreshments available at the self-service café or restaurant at Mont Sainte-Odile.
Between (6) and (7) Club Vosgien shelter at Panorama Rock.

Worth a visit

Ruins of Niedermunster Abbey.
Lucie Fountain.
(5) Mont Sainte-Odile: possibility of visiting the basilica.
Between (6) and (7) Panorama Rocks.
(8) Kappelhouse Rocks.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 16 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.8 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Joelae
Joelae

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful circular allowing you to discover the four highlights:
- Abbey ruins
- Water source
- Mount Sainte-Odile
- Païen Wall
Interesting to see. We really enjoyed it.

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Papa67
Papa67

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A beautiful hike on an autumn day with its colours.
The basilica, or rather its ruins, was a wonderful discovery. Without straying too far, the main path rejoins the route after the chapel. You have to cross a pasture (the trail is visible on the ground) and there is a turnstile at the top of the pasture to exit.

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WILY68
WILY68

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike through the forest to discover Niedermunster Abbey and the sanctuary of Mont Sainte Odile. Beautiful panoramic views.

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francis.votion
francis.votion

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A very touristy route and a pleasant way to get to the mountain.

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rombechat
rombechat

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 03, 2025
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. We really liked the Lucie Fountain and the surprisingly well-maintained stream that runs alongside the path.

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corinnedgd
corinnedgd

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A very pleasant walk. Easy to do as the slopes are gentle. The slope at the end in St Odile is a little steep but it's not long and it's almost the end of the climbs. The cafeteria allows you to eat your packed lunch, which is very convenient. The route is pleasant.

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Jecanto
Jecanto

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 04, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

On Wednesday, 30 October 2024, we took advantage of a magnificent autumn day to enjoy a beautiful hike amidst the season's shimmering colours. After leaving the fog behind in Barr, the sun was shining from the start. Everything went smoothly, and Visorando proved to be indispensable: with all the possible hikes in the area, it would have been easy to get lost without this invaluable aid. It was a successful outing, rich in discoveries and memories!
It's a shame that the route doesn't take in the memorial to the Airbus crash (20/01/1992), which is not far away.
It's still a beautiful hike 👍🥰, with plenty of elevation gain!
Jecanto7

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Claude-Meignen
Claude-Meignen

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 19, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful, easy hike (except for the final climb up Mont Sainte-Odile)
Wonderful discoveries at Mont St Odile, including part of the pagan wall!
Beautiful forest, beautiful views...
The tour of Niedermunster Abbey adds an extra point of interest!
We set off from a small car park next to the Merovingian tombs before arriving at the mountain!

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Chantalea
Chantalea

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk to the ruins of Niedermunster Abbey, Mount St Odile and the southern pagan wall.
A very pleasant return trip to St Jacques, with little traffic.
A well-shaded route, ideal in summer!

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Mireille4400
Mireille4400
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : May 09, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Great route.
We ate at Mont Saint Odile,
In the self-service restaurant.
Never again, the food was not good.
And the plates and cutlery were dirty.
Bring sandwiches.
Book a table at a gourmet restaurant.

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dominus67fra
dominus67fra

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 06, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful spring route
Thank you for sharing

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pastuyy
pastuyy
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

hello, very beautiful hike with some interesting viewpoints
a few people around Mont St Odile, but as soon as you move away
you're alone in the world again. Very shady route

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saint-raymond.jacques
saint-raymond.jacques

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very pleasant hike
Well marked

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Balbo Rando
Balbo Rando
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello,
A very beautiful hike, ideal weather, a weekday, not many people on Saint Odile.
Pleasant trails to walk along, with the pagan wall along part of the route.
I highly recommend it.

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Philippe Schwab
Philippe Schwab

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent route, and quite original to approach Saint Odile from this side.
Of course, as you approach the summit, there are the usual crowds, but the 10km are on trails and it's very well balanced. Definitely worth doing again!

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