Isteiner Klotz, Huttingen and Römerstrasse through the vineyards

Start at the car park opposite the Istein rock on Kapellenweg / Im Innerdorf, at the western entrance to the town (municipality of Efringen-Kirchen).

(S/E) With your back to the car park, follow Kapellenweg to the right. Walk past the cemetery. Opposite the entrance, turn right onto a path reserved for cyclists and pedestrians. Take the first street on the left, uphill, and follow it to the end.

(1) Turn left. Walk past the Stapflehus and continue straight on until you reach the “Stapflehus” sign 50 m further on. Turn right towards Isteiner Klotz and go under the railway bridge. Ignore the path on the left and then the one on the right. Stay on the tarmac path, marked with a Yellow Diamond. You will reach a fork in the road.

(2) Leave the tarmac road and take the dirt track on the left, still marked with a Yellow Diamond signposting Isteiner Klotz. The path runs along the edge of dry stone walls and becomes a footpath. At a monument, take the path on the left, still signposted, towards Isteiner Klotz. A wire fence secures the path as it runs along the cliff. After a few steps, you’ll reach a table and a bench at the top of the Klotz. A railing provides safety for walkers.

(3) Take in the view, then take the path uphill towards the vineyards. At the “Isteiner Klotz” signpost, turn right onto the path marked “Klotzenweg”. Stop at the “carnival bonfire” site to admire the view. At the “Klotzenweg” signpost, go straight on and follow the path marked with a Yellow Diamond at every junction.

(4) You’ll arrive at a lovely, open picnic spot with a magnificent view. Continue along the path marked with a Yellow Diamond to Huttingen.

(5) At the "Huttingen" signpost, turn right onto Römerstrasse. Please note that this road is also used by cars. Cross a junction, passing a cemetery and a chapel. Cross another junction and continue straight on until you reach the "Kirschenanlage" signpost.

(6) Turn right onto the dirt track marked with a Yellow Diamond. Further on, cross the road – watch out for cars – and continue along a dirt track, then take the path on the left, running parallel to the road. It passes a hut, turns right and winds its way up through the vineyards. Follow the path to the end. You will come to a tarmac road.

(7) Turn left, then straight on at the next junction. Follow the tarmac road downhill and arrive at the junction for the Isteiner Klotz.

(2) Turn left onto the tarmac road, heading in the opposite direction to the outward journey, until you reach (1).

(1) Continue straight ahead and take the second street on the right. Go straight ahead.

(8) Cross the footbridge over the Hodbach and immediately turn right onto the path running alongside the car park. Follow the stream to the next junction. Turn left, then immediately right onto Neue Strasse. Continue to the end of the street.

(9) Just before reaching the main road, take the path on the right that runs alongside the road. Further on, cross a small bridge over the Hodbach and you will reach the sign for “Istein Friedhof” (the cemetery). Turn left; the car park (S/E) is 50 m away.

Between (1) and (2), the route is the same for both the outward and return journeys.

To get to the start of the hike, if your GPS does not recognise the Kapellenweg in Istein, enter: Gedenktafel Kloster Frouwezu Ystein as the destination.

The village of Istein with its distinctive architecture and numerous unique houses, including the Stapflehus built in 1621, the Chänzeli in 1599, and the oldest, the Arche, dating from 1553.

The Saint-Vit Chapel, perched high up in the rock (many steps to climb) opposite the car park, is open from Easter to All Saints’ Day from 9 am to 6 pm.

https://www.gruenguertel.ch/fr/cherche/isteiner-klotz