Griesbach-au-Val walks

A pleasant walk in the hills and forest of Griesbach-au-Val. Numerous views of the village, the Munster valley, Gunsbach and Wihr-au-Val, and the Vosges mountain range.

A few kilometres from the town of Munster, the village of Gunsbach is best known for one of its famous residents, Dr Albert Schweitzer, who had his house built here in 1928 in the village where he grew up. His house is now a museum open to visitors. This circular route, following beautiful paths and trails, climbs up to the Heidenruckenkopf, descends via the Hexenplatz, and passes by the Narrenstein with its unique view of the town and the Fecht valley. It circles the town of Munster and its main attractions, then climbs back up via beautiful paths, notably the Heidenbach trail, and finally descends to Albert Schweitzer’s House.

A walk through the town of Munster and its surroundings, centred on the theme of water. It is suitable for families. Come and discover Munster’s heritage through some twenty fun and educational panels, placed along the route. Do take a moment to explore the old wash houses in particular. The walk also offers a glimpse of the hydroelectric power stations still in operation.

This forest hike offers views of the Munster Valley, the Petit Ballon and even the Alsace plain, with a stop at the summit of the Staufen, the Schrankenfels Ruins, a number of picnic spots and a little exercise and tranquillity.

This historical route allows visitors to discover the history, traditions and heritage of Soultzbach-les-Bains, the smallest and most charming medieval town in Alsace! This walk, which sometimes follows the river, features 16 information panels and starts at Saint-Jean-Baptiste Church.

Le Petit Ballon is one of the iconic peaks of the Vosges. This challenging hike takes you up to Le Petit Ballon via its northern slope, specifically from Munster. It is divided into two sections, each 8 km long. The first section involves a climb of over 800 metres in elevation between Munster and the summit, whilst the second section takes you back down. From the top, there is a splendid view of the highest peaks of the Vosges as well as the Munster and Florival valleys. It is also worth noting that the descent is more wooded than the ascent.

A hike that starts at the foot of the Solberg antennas, runs along the heights of the Wasserbourg valley, then crosses over to the Metzeral valley, offering beautiful views of the ridges. Along the route, you will come across some remains of structures from the First and Second World Wars.

A short, shaded circular walk at the foot of the Petit Ballon, offering beautiful views of the Munster valley.

A very beautiful hike, long and challenging due to the elevation gain of over 1,000 m, but very rewarding for the views it offers. Lovely paths and trails through the woods.

A ride for mountain bikes and electric mountain bikes in the Val Saint-Grégoire to reach the Tanet massif. The circuit mainly follows cycle paths or forest tracks and allows you to discover the beauty of this site, which was once home to a ski resort.

This hike covers both sides of the ridge separating the Stosswhir valley and the Metzeral valley, offering views of the ridges, the Col de la Schlucht and the Trois Fours on the way there, and the Petit Ballon massif and the Schnepfenried on the way back. Numerous ruins from the First World War dot both sides of this ridge, which was the dividing line between French and German troops. Eight thousand five hundred men died on these slopes.

A hike with very varied landscapes and paths: small hiking trails, forest paths and exceptional views of the surroundings of the Munster Valley, the Grand Ballon and the Alsace plain from the summits of the Petit Ballon and Steinberg.

This is a short hike with varied and accessible landscapes along trails and paths. It is pleasant in summer as there is plenty of shade. It is in the last quarter of this hike, starting from Wasserbourg, that you will feel your legs the most over a few hundred metres.

A beautiful, challenging hike that takes you around the Petit Ballon via its farm inns and offers superb panoramic views of the surrounding Vosges peaks of Hohneck, Schlucht, Schnepfenried, Grand Ballon and the valleys of Metzeral, Guebwiller, Linthal and Wasserbourg, not to mention, in good weather, the Black Forest and Swiss Alps.

Discover the Petit Ballon and its superb panoramic views of the Hohneck, Schlucht, Schnepfenried and Grand Ballon peaks and the valleys of Metzeral, Linthal and Wasserbourg, not to mention, in good weather, the Black Forest and the Swiss Alps.

This route is just 2.4 km long and not particularly difficult. Two-thirds of the route is shaded, with the remainder in open country offering beautiful panoramic views of Munster and its valley. With an extra 400 metres (there and back), you can reach the summit of the Hoernleskopf.

The Petit Ballon tour starts at the Wasenmatten farmhouse inn. A challenging start (+300 m) precedes a gentle descent with superb views of the surrounding mountains - the Vosges, the Black Forest, the Jura and, for the lucky ones, the Alps.

The starting point for this hike in the Petit Ballon massif is at Wassmatt, at an altitude of over 800 m, which reduces the elevation gain. After reaching Buchwald with its hundred-year-old beech trees and panoramic view of the Wasserbourg valley, the Alsace plain and the Black Forest, the route takes us to the peaks and then plunges through the forest to Boenlesgrab. The return journey, which is more peaceful, passes through Dreischoepf and Hanspen before reaching Wassmatt again.

A superb hike that passes along the Steinberg ridge, dotted with large granite boulders rising skywards. The summit of the Petit Ballon offers a beautiful view of the Vosges ridge. The Steinberg is reputed to be a major energy hub in the Hautes-Vosges. This hike is also not particularly difficult, even though it includes a few steep climbs.

The Linge region was the scene of bloody battles in 1914 and 1915. It is the remains and traces still very much visible on the ground that you will discover as you follow this route. On this section of the Linge-Barrenkopf front, barely 2 km long, one of the bloodiest battles of the Great War in the Vosges took place between 20 July and 16 October 1915. It claimed the lives of more than17,000 young French and German soldiers.

A very varied hike possible in all seasons, which first crosses the Linge battlefield to discover the geography and remains of one of the deadliest places of the 1914-18 war. After this moving start, you can enjoy magnificent panoramic views as you head towards the highest lake in the Vosges mountains: Lake Forlet. Walking through its majestic glacial cirque, you can admire the exceptional views offered by the ridges overlooking the lake.

Enjoy panoramic views of the Munster Valley from the Steinberg stubble fields and the path to Lameysberg, then on the way back, enjoy the scenery on the slopes of Petit Ballon from the Herzog Trail viewpoint.

A lovely walk that winds through woodland and stubble fields, with the odd slightly technical section but nothing too difficult (you do need to stay alert). Beautiful views over the Alsace plain and the Kaiserstuhl, and further afield towards the Jura and the Alps. This walk is also dotted with farm inns, all of which are well worth a visit: Wassmatt, Buchwald, Kahlenwasen, Hilsen, Strohberg. But you’ll have to choose...

Panoramic walk amid sculptural rock formations, witnesses to the ancient past of the Vosges mountains. This site is also famous for being a high-energy place in Alsace!

The route begins in alpine pastureland, then passes through very shady forests.

A short and easy hike that will allow you to discover the imposing granite ‘megaliths’ of the Steinberg, with views stretching far into the distance. Ideal after a meal at one of the farmhouse inns near the Petit Ballon.

Hugging the hillside, through the forest and across a magnificent plateau, this is a lovely little walk starting from Osenbach towards Bickenberg. In spring, the plateau’s meadows are filled with countless flowers, offering a scene brimming with beauty and serenity.

Notre-Dame du Schauenberg, a place of pilgrimage, is located at an altitude of 410 metres on the side of a hill in the Vosges mountains, between Gueberschwihr and Pfaffenheim in Upper Alsace. The site is known for its warm welcome, its peaceful setting with views over part of the Alsace plain stretching south to the foothills of the Bernese Alps, and the atmosphere of contemplation that reigns there. 30/08/2023. Message from the moderator: hike modified at (9) to stay on marked paths. Please do not stray from the paths when hunting is open/permitted.

Moderately difficult hike on the heights of Petit Ballon.

A hike offering magnificent views over the Munster Valley, the Alsace Plain, the Black Forest and, on a clear day, the Jura and the Alps!

The aim of this hike is to reach the Petit Ballon with as little climbing as possible. Due to its position, away from the other peaks of the Vosges, the view stretches far into the distance.