Emlingen walks

The scene of the terrible battle of 19 August 1914, the Talrain Forest, situated "Auf dem Berg" (literally: On the Hill), which overlooks the villages of Emlingen and Wittersdorf, offers views of Altkirch and the Black Forest and will teach you more about the key figures in this battle via the Path of Remembrance, part of which this route follows.

A wooded hill separates the Ill and Thalbach valleys. As you walk along it, you will discover an old vineyard, a quarry marked by tragedy, a botanical trail and the story of an unfortunate general. When you reach the Emlingen lime kilns, the 19th century suddenly springs to life, frozen in stone and iron.

On this route through the fields, you will take a small section of the Circuit de la Mémoire (Memorial Trail) with signs recounting the military exploits of the First World War. You will also have the opportunity to walk around the lake, which is impressive in size and pleasant in all seasons, with numerous benches dotted along the route.

Here, you can easily travel through the centuries, from the Britzgyberg oppidum to the German military cemetery in Illfurth. However, as you cross the vast Altenberg massif and the unspoilt village of Luemschwiller, you might think for a moment that you have managed to suspend time.

A long hike with superb views of the Vosges, the Black Forest and the Jura. There are numerous points of interest with information boards, benches and water points along the route.

Below the Hochistross, the high road from Altkirch to Basel, villages dot the Thalbach valley. The old grain mill in Hundsbach has recently been restored, much to the delight of artists and history lovers.

A lovely walk with very varied scenery, including forests, countryside, and views of the Jura, the Black Forest, the Vosges and the pretty village of Wittersdorf below, as well as Altkirch.

An easy walk that allows you to take in the forest air. Not far from Altkirch town centre, there are some beautiful views and the Erlen pond, where you can sit and enjoy the surroundings.

The Chemin des Planètes, created by the Astroaspach club in partnership with the municipality of Aspach, is a 3 km route that offers an original way to discover our solar system through educational panels depicting the distance between the planets to scale: 1 metre walked represents 2,100,000 km in space. From the Sun to Neptune, what a journey!Along the way, you can also enjoy a stroll through the Litten Forest, its chapel (1862) and the village’s rural surroundings, walk through the narrow streets of Aspach and, at the end of the trail, cross the Jardin des Libellules (a community garden dedicated to water conservation and biodiversity).

A lovely walk in the Sundgau starting from Willer.

The fighting of the First World War raged in the Sundgau region from August 1914 onwards. The French blew up the Dannemarie viaduct and the front stabilised and extended from the Vosges to the Swiss border. The front line ran a few kilometres from Illfurth, near Heidwiller. During this tour, you will discover several bunkers that served a variety of purposes, including ammunition depots, observation posts and artillery emplacements, as well as several casemates.

This walk will introduce you to the small village of Heidwiller, which offers everything a walker could wish for: in its centre stands a castle dating back almost a thousand years, to the north lies a peaceful canal, and to the south, a hill offering an exceptional view of the region. Add to this a short nature trail and a variety of forest paths, and you have the perfect combination for a successful walk!

It is in late February and early March that you should go to meet spring in the forest of Saint-Bernard. This is where the snowdrops appear, signalling the end of winter.

Hirtzbach is well worth a visit. The castle, English park and opulent residences of Unterdorf are neatly lined up on either side of the stream, whose banks are beautifully flowered in summer. Along the way, a rural and wooded detour leads to the site of the vanished village of Sankt-Glückern and the Landfürstenweyer, the Princes' Pond, with its still waters.

Fancy a stroll through the woods for a few hours? This route is perfect for you. Although it’s not difficult, it still lets you discover some of the “secrets” of this part of the Sundgau and make the most of a lovely time spent outdoors.

A short hike in the foothills of the Jura to discover the renovated Grand Canyon in Zillisheim, passing by the German cemetery from World War I and the Saint-Brice Chapel in Illfurth.

A hike through the beautiful Sundgau forests dotted with ponds, with no major difficulties except for the walking time. There are many places to stop for a snack along the route.

A hike starting from Hirtzbach that passes through Largitzen and Heimersdorf. There are many remnants of theFirst World War along the route.

Rantzwiller, a small village in the Sundgau region, is a lovely place to live. The area around the village, particularly the hamlet of Heilhof, is well worth exploring and offers some lovely views.

Passing through the pretty village of Flaxlanden and its Lourdes Grotto, discover a First World War military site in the hills above Zillisheim. Learn a little about nature with the discovery trails along the route and enjoy the many views that await you along the way!

A peaceful route offering beautiful views of the villages south of Bruebach, with the city of Basel on the horizon and the entire Alpine range as a backdrop. You’ll frequently be able to admire the German-speaking Swiss Alps straight ahead, with the Eiger and the Jungfrau and their magnificent pyramidal peaks, and at the other end, on the right-hand side, when the weather permits, Mont Blanc.

The route runs almost entirely through the forest, in the shade of the trees or exposed to the icy wind in winter. You may spot a few roe deer startled by your presence if you keep quiet. The route is straightforward but features numerous fallen trees that you’ll need to go round.

This route takes you on a walk through Bruebach and its surroundings, mainly through the surrounding woods.

According to Marc Glotz, "The Sundgau has only two Romanesque churches, both founded by the dynasties that shared the region in the Middle Ages: the Habsburgs and the Ferrettes. While Ottmarsheim evokes Carolingian grandeur, Feldbach recalls monastic simplicity. You leave it as if returning from a pilgrimage, with a renewed sense of serenity and the impression of having encountered the fleeting shadows of the counts."

The Riedweiher Pond, located near Galfingue, lies right in the middle of a small, very picturesque communal woodland. The walk takes you through the village and along the paths of this grove. As most of the paths are not signposted by the Club Vosgien, I recommend using the map in addition to the description.

This route invites you to discover the village of Bernwiller and its surroundings, with a quick detour into the forest to sit for a moment in front of the small Notre-Dame de l'Unterholz Chapel and admire it.

The circular route offers a partially shaded section covering around 60 to 70 per cent of the trail, with gentle slopes. It follows the route of the historic Igetalweg (partly paved), which farmers once used to reach their fields with ox-drawn carts thanks to its gentle, even gradient. Do not use this circular route in strong winds.

A family hike that follows the Sentier des Croix to the Chapelle des Malgré-nous, then climbs the hills to follow the Sentier des Deux Chênes, decorated with wooden sculptures and dotted with educational panels.

A walk to discover Brunstatt and its hills, mostly through fields, with beautiful views of the Vosges mountains.

Speaking of this part of the Sundgau, André Gide wrote:"One is constantly surprised, as one crosses the forest, to find oneself in the presence of an unsuspected sheet of water, mysteriously asleep in the shelter of the beech forests; rushes adorn narrow sandy beaches at the edge of large fields of water lilies. There are also several reminders of the First World War and the front line that separated Largitzen from Bisel.

Walk from the centre of Zimmersheim up a steep climb towards the Schoofberg, where the reservoir is located. Pass through the Buchwald and Zuhrenberg woods to enjoy views of the Alps in good weather and a bit of cool air. Return via the south of Zimmersheim, across open terrain.

A route inviting you to explore the two neighbouring villages of Seppois-le-Bas and Seppois-le-Haut. You will also enjoy sections through the forest, including the Gobenwald.