Country:
City:
Car park near Alexandre Chatrian’s birthplace in the centre of the hamlet.
(S/E) With your back to the writer’s birthplace, head through the passage between the houses and cross the stream. On a concrete electricity pole is the ‘Red Ring of the Calice’ symbol, marking the start of the walk.
Red Ring signposting
(1) Follow the gently sloping forest path. Look out for a ‘Yellow Saltire’ and ‘Blue Ring’ sign, then continue to the Calice forest road.
(2) Cross it and immediately take the steep path on the left, which leads to the very pretty Rocher du Calice with its distinctive shape.
(3) Continue left along the forest path leading to the Grand Rommelstein. The first part of the route is lined with large rocks, the first of which is spectacular; the second, flatter section leads to the Grand Rommelstein viewpoint: a beautiful vantage point.
(4) Descend to the foot of the enormous rock and head towards the Place du Bon Dieu.
Note: the path between the Calice and Grand Rommelstein rocks is closed from 1 February to 31 August to protect the peregrine falcon. The Calice Rock remains accessible, however: to continue, follow the path marked with Yellow Saltire signs to reach the Place du Bon Dieu.
Green Ring signposting
(5) Head straight along the gently sloping, stony forest track: look out for the forest sign indicating “route forestière du Bon Dieu”. In the second section, the forest track becomes a narrow path winding along a ridge amongst tall ferns and a few rocks of the Eichelkopf: there is a viewpoint on the right. The route ends with a descent to the hamlet known as Le Parc aux Bœufs, a lovely spot for a picnic with a shelter.
(6) Head down to the left along the stony forest track leading to the Col du Brechpunkt (picnic spot available).
Marked with Yellow Rings
(7) Take the path on the left leading to a crossroads (Croix de Haspach, situated a few metres to the right).
Cross the forest road at the Haspach Cross, then head straight on to reach the junction of the Red Triangle and Red Ring trails. Continue straight on along the ‘Haspach Cross circular’ forest path.
Red Ring signposting
(8) On the left: a few views of the large rocks of the Peugstein and, further on, a view of the Rocher de Dabo. The path descends and runs alongside the Hirschthal forest track before joining the stony Bloescherplatz forest track
(9) Continue to the left along this Bloescherplatz forest track to the pass of the same name.
Marked with a Yellow Ring
Two options from the Bloescherplatz Pass (10)
(10) Option 1 (lower route): Head down to the left onto the first forest track, the ‘Circuit de la Saliere’ (lower route).
(11) Continue to the right and, after 200 metres, take the path on the right at the junction.
(12) Carry on along this path. The rocky ridge runs alongside you until you reach the junction with the “Circuit de la Salière” (upper route).
(10) Option 2 via the top route: (Best option)From the pass, take the next forest track on the left, following the same “Circuit de la Salière” signposting (upper loop). This track overlooks the previous one and, after 950 metres, leads you to a small path on the left signposted “Roche de la Salière” . Pass in front of a first large rock, then descend a few steps to find yourself facing an arch-shaped rock topped by a chalice … a real geological curiosity well worth a detour. Continue along this narrow path, which joins the ‘high circular’ route, then carry on straight ahead to reach the junction of the two routes.
(13) Carry on straight ahead to reach the forest track overlooking the hamlet of Grand Soldat. Walk downhill until you reach the centre of the hamlet and arrive at the car park (S/E).
Visorando Member
Easy 
Difficult 
