Ferrette, the Grotte des Nains, the Rossberg and the Kastelberg

Ferrette is a medieval town situated in southern Alsace, in the Sundgau region at the gateway to the Jura. There are many places to see around the town, including the castle, the Loechlenfelsen, the Grotte des Nains, the Rossberg and the ruins on the Kastelberg. This walk forms a double circular route. You can therefore split the route into two sections. There are numerous viewpoints along this circular route, particularly in the first section, but most of the route runs through woodland.

Details

46172536
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 22.50 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 8h 50 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Difficult

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 846 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 844 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 675 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 460 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park in front of Ferrette church.

Yellow Rectangle Markings

(S/E) With your back to the car park, take the alleyway on the far left, passing in front of the church. Pass a path on the left, then another on the right, then continue straight ahead until the next junction.

Blue Disc markings

Head up to the right and reach the castle.

(1) Enter the castle, climb to the top of the keep to enjoy the view, then descend to the junction at the castle entrance.

(1) Turn right, then right again, and follow the path down to the track.

(2) Head straight up towards the Loechlenfelsen. Pass close to two viewpoints , taking care of the drop-off. Continue.

No signposting

Then keep straight ahead and rejoin the marked path.

Blue Disc markings

Turn right then keep left until you reach the Loechlenfelsen viewpoint.

(3) Return to the junction with the unmarked path and turn right. When you reach the track, head straight up and then take a first turn left then right to reach the Heidenfluh.

(4) Enjoy the view, then take the path starting to the right of the arrival trail. Stay on this side and head straight on to the Erdwiebelenfelsen viewpoint.

(5) Continue left towards the Grotte des Nains, then turn right twice to reach the site.

(6) Head back to the previous junction.

Markings: Yellow Rectangle

Descend the steep slope to the bottom of the valley.

Blue Triangle markings

(7) Walk up the track for a few metres, then continue to the left. Follow this track until the climb ends. Turn right to reach a fork. Go left, then straight on to the Gros Chêne.

(8) Turn back to the junction, then head down to the left towards Sondersdorf. Pass a junction and a path marked with a Red Triangle to reach a crossroads before the village.

(9) Keep to the right to reach a steep track. Follow it, then descend the other side of the hill. At the bend, keep left to reach the road.

(10) Cross over carefully and continue straight on until you reach the D432.

Blue Disc markings

(11) Cross with care. Continue to the left of the Don Bosco lodge. Enter the forest to reach a fork.

(12) Continue to the right towards Rossberg. Then keep to the right and go straight on to the summit and its panoramic tower.

Red Disc markings

(13) Continue along the path that descends to the left of the tower towards Vieux Ferrette. At the track, first turn left then right. Cross a second track and, at the next junction, follow the second track on the left to the junction by the reservoir.

Red Triangle markings

(14) Turn right, then immediately left. Keep to the right until you reach the crossroads.

No markings

(15) Continue to the church, then return to the crossroads.

Yellow Triangle Markings

(15) Turn right, follow the track that runs alongside the road. At the junction, keep left and continue to the next path on the right.

(16) Carry on straight ahead and straight ahead again at the next junction to reach a hairpin bend. Go up to the left and continue to the next junction.

No signposting

Turn right towards the viewpoint, then left.

(17) Return to the Yellow Triangle marked trail.

Yellow Triangle markings

Turn right, then right again until you reach a shelter. Go round it to the right, keeping the paths on your right.

Red Rectangle with white cross markings

(18) Climb up to the right four times to reach Kastelberg. Then continue straight on to reach a prehistoric site.

(19) Return to the shelter via the same route.

Yellow Triangle Markings

(18) Continue to the right, then straight ahead, slightly to the left, along the path towards Bendorf. This section may be muddy. On leaving the forest, turn left into the meadow until you reach the track.

(20) Keep to the right. Head straight on until you reach the road. Follow it, then, at the first junction, turn left and continue to the church.

(21) Turn sharply left until you reach a junction.

No signposting

Follow the lane to the right, then the track that continues it to the road.

Blue Saltire

Take care, follow it and you’ll reach the pass.

(22) Head right at the fork and stay on the path until you reach the sign for “Grotte du Docteur Herringue”. To find the entrance to the cave, it is advisable to turn left at a right angle towards the forest, follow it until you reach a bench. Then take the path that starts on the left to reach the cave.

(23) Return to the grassy path and keep left. At the next junction, continue right until you reach a four-way fork.

(24) Keep straight ahead. Do the same at the cistern, then you’ll reach a junction you passed on the way out.

(12) Head down to the right to the main road.

(11) Turn left onto the path and head down to the barrier: continue, then keep left, follow the bend in the main road and go straight on to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 493 m - Car park in front of the - Église Saint-Bernard (Ferrette)
  2. 1 : km 1.36 - alt. 571 m - Château de Ferrette
  3. 2 : km 1.8 - alt. 521 m - Track
  4. 3 : km 2.16 - alt. 569 m - Loechlenfelsen
  5. 4 : km 2.68 - alt. 636 m - Aire de pique-nique du Heidenfluh
  6. 5 : km 3.29 - alt. 601 m - Erdwiebelenfelsen
  7. 6 : km 3.59 - alt. 572 m - Grotte des Nains
  8. 7 : km 4.17 - alt. 460 m - Bottom of the valley
  9. 8 : km 6.09 - alt. 580 m - Le Gros Chêne de Sondersdorf
  10. 9 : km 6.78 - alt. 535 m - Sondersdorf
  11. 10 : km 8.26 - alt. 595 m - D23
  12. 11 : km 9.24 - alt. 563 m - D432
  13. 12 : km 9.6 - alt. 599 m - Junction for the second circular loop
  14. 13 : km 10.37 - alt. 675 m - Rossberg (Ferrette)
  15. 14 : km 11.22 - alt. 534 m - Reservoir
  16. 15 : km 11.67 - alt. 493 m - Vieux-Ferrette crossroads
  17. 16 : km 12.7 - alt. 500 m - Junction
  18. 17 : km 13.45 - alt. 550 m - Viewpoint
  19. 18 : km 14.52 - alt. 590 m - Shelter
  20. 19 : km 15.18 - alt. 650 m - Prehistoric remains
  21. 20 : km 16.39 - alt. 573 m - Meadow and track
  22. 21 : km 18.26 - alt. 538 m - Bendorf Church
  23. 22 : km 19.16 - alt. 593 m - D41.2
  24. 23 : km 19.6 - alt. 618 m - Grotte du Docteur Herrings
  25. 24 : km 20.48 - alt. 635 m - Four-way junction
  26. S/E : km 22.5 - alt. 493 m - Car park in front of Saint-Bernard Church (Ferrette)

Notes

-Tables available at (4), (8), (13), (14), (18)
-Motorhome parking at (11)

Worth a visit

-(S/E) Ferrette and its church.
-(1) Ferrette Castle.
-(3) Loechlenfelsen.
-(4) Heidenfluh.
-(5) Erdwiebelenfelsen.
-(6) Grotto of the Dwarves.
-(8) Big Oak.
-(13) Rossberg.
-(17) Viewpoint.
-Between (18) and (19): bunker.
-(19) Oppidum.
-(23) Dr Herrings’ Cave.

Reviews and comments

3.7 / 5
Based on 1 review

Reliability of the description
4 / 5
Ease of following the route
4 / 5
Route interest
3 / 5
gilberlou
gilberlou

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk that starts at the castle and the cave; otherwise, there’s not much to it apart from enjoying the countryside in the sunshine.
The ‘very difficult’ rating is an exaggeration; there are no difficult or exposed sections, and apart from the distance—which depends on your fitness level—there’s nothing to justify it.
Otherwise, the description is accurate – no complaints.

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.