Grendelbruch walks

From the mountain village of Grendelbruch, this loop, mainly located south of this village of 1,250 inhabitants, sets off to explore the Piton du Falkenstein, a magnificent rocky outcrop offering a beautiful view of the Bruche Valley. This hike continues via the Col du Bruchberg, the climb through the stubble fields to the Signal de Grendelbruch and its 360° view, then follows the climb to Hohbuhl through the forest. Next, pleasant trails take you to the Col du Beyerlager and then to the Col de la Franzur. You will make some magnificent discoveries, alternating between village streets, forest, undergrowth, thatched roofs, forest roads and pretty little trails. And there are plenty of viewpoints!

Rediscover the largest fortified castle in Alsace, currently undergoing restoration.

This hike takes you past the Grendelbruch Rock and the Breitsteige Rocks. Unfortunately, the latter are increasingly hidden by vegetation. There are other rocks that are more easily accessible: see § Practical information. In the description, however, I will indicate a way to avoid the most difficult parts.

A lovely, easy walk with many breathtaking views of the Bruche Valley, the Donon, the Wisches quarry, the Alsace plain and the Château du Guirabden. This is a simple circuit in terms of length and elevation, with a mix of forest paths and trails through either forest or pastureland.

Hike that goes around Grendelbruch on its southern side. Passes through several mountain passes and offers magnificent views at Schelmeck and Falkenstein peak. A little bit of tarmac at the start (crossing Grendelbruch) then a mix of forest paths, trails through woods and meadows.

Here is a short hike to quickly and easily discover Purpurkopf. Recent archaeological excavations suggest that it is the oldest castle in Alsace and not a Celtic camp. There is a lot of information and videos on the internet. It is located in the commune of Rosheim, not far from Grendelbruch.

A short, easy hike passing through places with evocative names: Goldbrunnen (golden fountain), Carrières d'Or (golden quarries) and Purpurkopf, an ancient Celtic and Roman site.

This hike is not particularly difficult and offers magnificent views of the valleys and the Donon. It combines a forest path with a balcony view and a forest crossing.

On a steep hillside above the village of Mollkirch, this trail invites you to discover the mysteries of the forest. Druids, elves, dolmens and stones dot the trail, along with a dozen information panels. The walk also includes a visit to one of the largest fortresses in Alsace: Guirbaden Castle.

This circular walk takes you from the pastures of the Grendelbruch heights to Schirmeck and the Donon, returning via the Bruche valley. It takes in roads, forest roads, forest paths and cycle routes.

Starting from Lutzelhouse; beautiful hike with several viewpoints over the Bruche Valley and the Alsace plain. Best done in spring/summer/autumn. In winter, you will need snowshoes for the higher ground.

A very pretty hike on the western side of the Bruche Valley. The Mutzig Rock, rising to 1,010 metres, offers remarkable views of the valley and the surrounding mountains, such as the Donon, the Schneeberg and the Champ du Feu. The Porte de Pierre is a natural monument of pink sandstone sculpted by erosion. It is an astonishing discovery, this block perched there as if it came from nowhere, plunging you into a half-dream.

A beautiful hike with magnificent views of the Bruche Valley, the Langenberg, the Donon and the Champs du Feu. A circuit encompassing magical places such as the Jardin des Fées (Fairy Garden) and the Porte de Pierre (Stone Gate), with its highest point at 1,008 metres, the Rocher de Mutzig. The signposting is a little sparse in places, so the IGN 3716ET map is essential.

Guirbaden is a ruined castle built on the Mollberg hill above Mollkirch. Its ruins are considered the most important in Alsace.

A beautiful hike in the Obernai forest, on little-used paths, allowing you to discover the castles of Hagelschloss, Dreistein, Birkenfels and Kagenfels. The route also runs along the pagan wall (a magical place) on its western side, passing through the Koeberlé gate. You will discover the Kienberg, little known but offering a beautiful view, ideal for a picnic. Finally, you will walk along a large part of the magnificent Chemin des Bornes. Please note that this hike is long and includes some very steep climbs, which explains its difficulty. Shortcuts are available for those who do not wish to complete the entire route.

This is a pleasant and easy walk in the forest, requiring no great physical fitness as most of the route is on forest roads. Please follow the practical information regarding the signposting.

Nideck Waterfall, Ruins of Nideck Castle, Schneeberg, Ruins of Petit Ringelsberg, Ruins of Grand Rengelsberg.

A short, unpretentious route passing by the ruins of the Grand and Petit Ringelstein castles. Small viewpoint of the valley at Grand Ringelstein Castle. Route circuit, but steep in places.

Loop hike starting from Klingenthal. The circuit takes us to the summit of the Heidenkopf, where you can climb the tower to enjoy a 360° view from the orientation table. We then reach the place known as Verloreneck (meaning "lost corner") with its surprising arrangement of megaliths, known as Merlin's Garden. The circuit is mainly through forest.

A short, easy walk through the vineyards of Ottrott.

Le Nideck is well known and quite popular. This circuit takes you past several points of interest and has a few pleasant surprises in store. It has the advantage of passing through some uncrowded areas and along a slightly exposed path with beautiful views. The hike does not include the bottom of the waterfall, which can however be easily reached by adding a 50m climb.

This relatively short circuit is ideal for family walks with children (please note that it does have a significant elevation gain). It takes you to the Oberhaslach Forest, where you can see the strange sculptures that are part of the Sandweg Symposium. It is a walk that combines art and nature for your viewing pleasure. Enjoy your hike!

Walk at 1,000 metres in the forests around Rothlach. Curiosities, places of remembrance and breathtaking views make this hike a successful outing.

The climb from the Ringelstahl Forest House to the Fallenlapp rock (altitude 650m) through a beautiful beech forest will take you to a magnificent viewpoint over the entrance to the Bruche Valley. The place is enchanting, ideal for meditation or a picnic. A little further on, the Breitberg rock also offers an interesting viewpoint.The elevation gain to Fallenlapp is significant (approximately 170m) but remains reasonable.

This loop starts in Ottrott-le-Haut and passes by the castles of Ottrott, the Elsberg shelter and the Hohenburgerberg, returning to Ottrott via the Compostela pilgrims' trail.

This is an easy walk to discover the Wurmberg. It is located in the Bruche valley near Gresswiller. It is a small hill with terraces. You can see a wide variety of plants and orchards and, if you are lucky, some animals, especially birds.

This balcony trail offers a pleasant walk to discover the trees and plants of the local flora overlooking the village of Natzwiller and offers beautiful views of the picturesque landscape of the Rothaine valley. A variant along the way gives you the option of a round trip to a important memorial site.

Hike to the Champ du Feu by climbing up the Serva

Landscapes of the Northern Vosges, combining unspoilt nature, medieval ruins and forgotten legends. Passing by Hohenstein Castle and its belvedere, the hike crosses the Petit Ringeslberg and offers a return trip to the Rocher du Pfaffenlapp, a spectacular rock formation. Then head for the Kasperlehepp Pond, nestled in a small clearing, a peaceful body of water surrounded by reeds and ferns. Continuing the climb, you reach the ruins of Nideck Castle, perched on a rocky promontory. Further on, below, a path accessible by steps allows you to approach the Nideck Waterfall, some twenty metres high, which cascades down a basalt wall, forming a circular loop rich in discoveries. Legend has it that a young giantess, while walking here, discovered a tiny man in a field. Intrigued, she took him back to her father, giving rise to the legend of the Giants of Nideck, immortalised by the Brothers Grimm.

The Mur Païen, 10.5 km long, is the remains of an ancient wall located around the perimeter of Mont Sainte-Odile. At an altitude of 764 m, the summit overlooks the Alsace plain. The Abbey of Hohenbourg, founded by Saint Odile, stands there.

The 10.5 km long "Mur Païen" (Pagan Wall) is the remains of an ancient wall located on Mont Sainte-Odile, a mountain in the Vosges, in the Bas-Rhin department, rising to an altitude of 764 metres and topped by a convent founded by Saint Odile, the Abbey of Hohenbourg, which overlooks the Alsace plain.

This classic stop in Alsace is more of a stroll than a real hike. The magnificent convent, flanked by beautiful little chapels, built entirely of pink Vosges sandstone, offers stunning views of the Alsace plain in all directions.

A short, easy hike offering a beautiful waterfall in both summer and winter, as well as stunning views.

A walk passing by many historical points, following the astonishing pagan wall around Mont Sainte-Odile.

This is a circular hike, with Mont Sainte Odile as its highlight, an iconic place of pilgrimage dedicated to the patron saint of Alsace. There are beautiful views of the Alsace plain from the site, with orientation tables. In good weather, you may be lucky enough to see Strasbourg Cathedral. The route also takes you along the mysterious Mur Païen (Pagan Wall). On the way back, you will see the ruins of Hagelschlos and Ottrott castles (which are not open to visitors). Please note: dogs are not allowed inside the monastery grounds.

A pleasant short hike through the hills and forests of Hohwald.

This very short route takes you along a small section of the Mur Païen, then past the Grotte des Druides and the site of the Air Inter Airbus 320 crash on 20 January 1992. This easy walk is an excellent way for anyone wishing to learn how to use mobile GPS tracking.

Let's follow the route that prisoners took in all weathers from Rothau station to the Natzweiler-Struthof concentration camp. They were not equipped with hiking boots or sticks to climb this mountain.

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.

A lovely walk to discover Birkenfels Castle with beautiful views, easy to do with children.

In a beautiful forest setting, you will cross numerous streams and arrive at the waterfall formed by the Andlau river in the middle of the rocks. A short hike with moderate slopes and a pretty destination, ideal for young children or occasional walkers.

This route is the first part of thefourth stage of a seven-day tour of the Alsatian side of the Vosges mountains. Most of the route is on forest roads in good condition. The signage is excellent, consisting of signs with an orange or red mountain bike logo and the letters TMV (Traversée du Massif Vosgien).

This hike will take you from Hohwald to Champ du Feu and Col de la Charbonnière. There are beautiful views of the Vosges from Crête des Myrtilles.

Le Hohwald is a bit like our "Little Switzerland of Alsace". It has a Swiss-like calm and a feeling of tranquillity. The hike is mainly on forest roads, paths and trails (about 4 hours, not including breaks), accessible to families, with beautiful views of the village and some of the surrounding peaks such as Neuntelstein (970m) and Ungersberg (901m). On a clear day, you can see Haut-Koenigsbourg (757m) and the Rocher du Coucou antenna (856m).

A pleasant loop starting from Hohwald, passing by the Andlau waterfall and the Kreuzweg. Can be done as an afternoon walk or a half-day outing including lunch at the Kreuzweg farmhouse inn.

A walk from Champ du Feu to the Andlau Waterfall (also known as the Hohwald Waterfall) via Chaume des Veaux, with views of the Ungersberg, Val de Villé and Haut-Koenigsbourg

This route allows you to discover the Sentier des Roches de Mutzig first, then continue on to a less wild section at Felsburg and then hike on the classic Tour du Schiebenberg. This route alternates between sections in the forest and in the fields.

An easy hike to Champ du Feu, the highest peak in the Bas-Rhin at 1,099 metres above sea level, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks. Pass by the tower, yurts and stunning viewpoints over Climont and then the Val de Villé.

Loop hike starting from Barr. Follow the Kirneck river, then the former Barr railway line to Birkenfels Castle. Beautiful view from the Jadelot kiosk. On the way back, you will discover Landsberg Castle.

A hike through stubble fields and forests, with superb scenery. Departure from Belmont, with the option of refreshments at Col de la Charbonnière

The camel trail is part of a lovely circular walk that starts at the Auberge du Moenkalb. Discover boundary stones dating from 1778 that were used to mark the boundaries of forest plots. The initials ABGW stand for Amts Barr Gemeine Waldungen. Take a look at the trees in this diverse forest (fir, hornbeam, elm, chestnut, maple, etc.). Allow 20 to 30 minutes to visit Landsberg Castle.

This route takes you through the vineyards of Alsace's "Suisse d'Alsace" region, along the Alsace Wine Route, passing through villages near Balbronn. Winegrowers line the route, offering visitors the chance to stop for a quick tour of their cellars and, why not, a tasting. The Loejele is a wooden barrel used to carry drinks to the fields, vineyards and forests. A third of the hike is on tracks or tarmac roads.

An easy hike that will take you to the two castles of Andlau: Andlau and Spesbourg.