Illwald

Head to the church in Illhaeusern.
Start at the church square, home to the renowned Auberge de l’Ill restaurant (5 stars).

(S/E) Take Rue de Collonges au Mont d’Or, which runs alongside the Auberge and the adjoining Hôtel des Berges.
Cross the village to join the D106 (Rue du 25 Janvier) at the Protestant chapel. Continue straight on along the D106 to cross the bridge. At the Zimmermann joinery, turn left at the Y-junction.

Blue Diamond signpost

(1) At the Moulin du Ried, take the stony path on the left.
Pass a pond on the left, then the path follows a stream, the Bennwasser, on your left.
Cross a farm track via a bridge with a purple railing on the left (Elevation 176). Continue straight ahead until the next bridge, also with a purple railing.

(2) Cross the bridge (elevation 175) and continue to the right, following the stream with the handrail on your right, until you reach a bridge with a rusty railing. Cross the bridge and head towards the edge of the forest, 150 m away.

(3) You are now entering the Illwald Forest. Continue along the forest path, keeping straight on, following the Schiffwasser stream, with the handrail on your left. Continue to the Chapelle du Chêne.

(4) This chapel houses a shrine and a covered picnic area. Continue straight on until you leave the woods, cross the floodplain and reach the D 424 road.

(5) Turn left onto the cycle path and cross the first bridge.

(6) At the roundabout, take the forest track on the left.

Signposted with a blue diamond and a Red Ring

Follow the handrail on the right along the Hollockgraben stream until you reach the bridge named Hollockgraben (elevation 173).

Signposted with a Red Ring

(7) Turn left onto the Ill path, which leads into the forest, until you reach a Y-junction (elevation 173) with shelters for beehives.

(8) Turn right until you reach a 90° left-hand bend (marker 172).

(9) Cross four bridges to reach a T-junction (elevation 174).
Turn right and follow the ‘Schiffwasser’ stream (you will be retracing part of the route you took on the way there) until you reach the edge of the forest and the bridge 150 m away. After the bridge, turn right and join the ‘Petit Rheinweg’ stream, following it with the handrail on your right until you reach a bridge crossing the stream (marker 174).

(10) Turn right and take the long straight path across the meadow to the edge of the forest (marker 173). With a bit of luck, you’ll spot some fallow deer grazing. Before the bridge, turn left onto the path that runs along the edge of the forest and leads to the old Junghurst forest house.

(11) Turn left, cross the fields and then a wood to reach the village of Illhaeusern at the Truite restaurant.

(12) Turn right onto the D106 road towards Guémar. Continue for 180 m until you reach a Y-junction
Turn left onto Rue de la Fecht.

Route signposting

Cross the bridge where a small concrete structure from the Maginot Line remains.

(13) At the junction, turn right (Rue du Stade) and pass the village sports facilities (football pitch). Follow the cycle route signs to the bridge crossing the River Fecht and entering Guémar. Do not cross the bridge; instead, head up to the top of the bank. Follow the river upstream, with the handrail on your right, to the next bridge with a wayside shrine. From the top of the bank, you can admire the ramparts of Guémar.

(14) Cross the bridge and return to the other side of the river to the ramparts of Guémar and the Porte des Pêcheurs with its watchtower.

Yellow Ring Markings

(15) Walk around the ramparts, starting on the left and following the markings. This will take you past the various watchtowers and lead you to the village’s main gate. Wander through the village streets to admire the old half-timbered houses, then return to the Porte des Pêcheurs.

(15) Turn left onto the path at the top of the Fecht river bend. Follow the river’s course, passing the old wash house, then the old tobacco drying sheds (four large wooden buildings).

(16) Continue straight on to return to Illhaeusern and its church (S/E).

- Puncture repair kit, padlock.
- Drinks.

Picnic areas:

At the Chapelle du Chêne (benches, table and shelter).
Restaurant de la Truite in Illhaeusern.
Auberge de l’Ill (note: 5-star rating…).
Restaurant de l’Ange in Guémar.
Restaurant Kayser et Nicola.

Guémar: a former medieval stronghold of the Lords of Ribeauvillé, the village of Guémar preserves the remains of 14th-century fortifications (upper gate and ramparts) and the 10th-century castle (Molkenburg), which are still visible. A route through the ages with information panels on ancient trades and medieval activities.

La Canardière de Guémar: a botanical trail runs alongside the one-hectare pond where aviaries are home to golden pheasants and peacocks.

Illhaeusern, a former fishing village, takes its name from the Ill, the river that flows through the village. This village is home to two post-war churches renowned for their stained-glass windows.
From this village, you can explore the Ill and the Fecht with a boatman, cross the Ried and the Illwald Forest (a nature reserve) in a Canadian canoe or kayak at your own pace, or go for a walk around the village.
In the Church of Saints Peter and Paul, you can admire an altarpiece created by the Strasbourg artist Christoff Baron. The work consists of nine spaced-out panels forming a square measuring 3.50 metres on each side and depicting a crucifixion.