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(S) Go to the roundabout on the D5 (Cernay road) at Hartmannswiller and the Meyer guesthouse. Take the "forest road" to the Hartmannswiller Shooting Association and its shooting range. Park in this car park.
(S/E) Turn left onto the gravel "forest road" towards "Hartmannswillerkopf via the Zeller canteen", marked with red, white and red rectangles. You are now on the old German logistics route. After 550 metres, you will see the first German concrete shelter on your right. Shortly afterwards, on your left, you will pass the Hartzmannswiller water tanks dating from 1931. Further on, you will come to a crossroads called "Treffpunkt" (meeting point) with a wooden fountain. Continue straight ahead.
The forest path turns left (called curve 00) and crosses the valley. You can leave the path and take a trail on the right that goes up the valley, or continue along the forest path, where the climb is less steep, to curve 0 (elevation 471).
(1). This is the option shown on the map.
Turn right and continue climbing.
You will arrive at the valley floor called "Feuchte Ecke" (Wet Corner) where you will find the two "Musik Tempel" (Music Temple) shelters. Continue along the forest path. After 250 metres, on your left, you will see a group of shelters called "Buse Buben" (Boys' Buzzard). After the shelters, at the Y-junction, turn left and stay on the forest path towards curve 1. At the second Y-junction, continue left to reach an intersection.
(2) Turn left onto the path, which is less well maintained and climbs steeply. The path turns into a trail. It joins a forest path at the old 14th Pioneer cemetery and a shelter called "Villa Heimatblick" (view of the homeland).
(3) Beautiful view of the Alsace plain and Germany. There is a bench where you can stop for a picnic.
Continue along the forest road to the LIR 124 (Land Infanterie Regiment) cemetery. The path descends. Follow the blue disc and yellow circle markings. At a Y-junction, take the path on the right which climbs up to the Uhlans cemetery and its collection of German gravestones.
(4) Ignore the path on the left which leads to hill 574 and Sandgrubenkopf. The structures are badly damaged and there is no view due to the trees. Take the forest path on the right.
It climbs and follows the boundary of the commune and its blue and white markings. After 100 m, at the T-junction, turn right, following the blue disc and yellow circle markings.
After 400 m of climbing, at the Y-junction, turn right onto the path that descends towards Cantine Zeller, following the same markings. You will arrive at Cantine Zeller from above.
(5) This site includes a series of fortifications and a chapel. There are tables and benches where you can enjoy the beautiful view over the Alsace plain.
Continue along the forest path downhill. You will pass the "Ratzburg" fort on your right and a little further on, "Hanseatenstein", a stele in honour of the75th Infantry Regiment.
After crossing a valley, you will come to a Y-shaped crossroads at an elevation of 615 metres. Take the forest path that descends to the right until you reach another crossroads at an elevation of 584 metres, marked as curve 1.
(6) Take the hairpin bend to the right towards curve 00.
Before a well-marked valley, take a path on the left.
(7) Continue downhill in a straight line until you cross a forest track at a hairpin bend at altitude 444. Continue straight ahead, cross a clearing and join a forest track at altitude 381. Turn right onto this track and you will come to a large crossroads with a wayside shrine on your left.
(8) Take the forest path on the right, marked with a red cross, pilgrims' path. At the edge of the forest, you will arrive at the vineyard with a view of the village of Hartmannswiller. You will notice a stele dedicated to pilgrims.
The path enters a wood. Turn left, leave a path on your left and join the valley. Go straight ahead at the crossroads, cross the stream and, at the fork.
Please note: there is a problem with the owners of the estate. 12 May 2023. Moderator's note
(9) take the path on the left that runs alongside the stream and arrives at the heights of the Ollwiller estate.
When you reach the farm buildings, turn right, walk along the castle and then take the long straightroad lined with poplar treeson the left until you reach the Hartmannswiller roundabout.
Turn right to reach the car park (S/E).
(9) Pending modification by the author: suggestion by a moderator.
Before the barrier (elevation 342), turn right, South Croix Rouge, and return to the fountain you passed on the way there (elevation 392).
Turn left and follow the same route back to the (S/E).
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