La Lauch walks

This walk, mainly through woodland, follows the River Lauch before climbing through the Belchenseebach Gorge, past a succession of magnificent waterfalls, to reach the romantic Lac du Ballon.The path is sometimes steep and some sections are slippery, but they are safe and the view is well worth the effort. A relaxing return journey with the option of stopping for a bite to eat at a farmhouse inn.

The first half of the route, up to (5), is wooded, which is pleasant in hot weather. The second part, however, follows theGR®5in open country. There are no major difficulties, except perhaps the slightly steep climb to the Col d'Oberlauchen. There are beautiful views during this hike, particularly at the Col d'Oberlauchen, then all along theGR®5and at the summit of the Trehkopft.

This is a varied route, as it winds through the forest and the Vosges hills, offering magnificent views of the valleys and surrounding ridges at every turn. The Lac de la Lauch, whose dam dates back to 1894, is as beautiful as ever in its green setting.

A beautiful hike in the Vosges, alternating between forest and stubble fields. Stunning views from the Grand Ballon.

A short walk from Guebwiller will take you through the Alsatian vineyards to the Croix de la Mission, where you will have a beautiful view of Guebwiller, the Grand Ballon and, above all, the Alsace plain.

An easy walk (except for a slightly steep initial climb) that passes through the beautiful and wild pink sandstone quarries of Buhl. The pretty quarry trail continues to the famous Menhirs de l'Appenthal and its cyclopean wall. The walk ends along the vineyards, offering a beautiful view of Hugstein Castle and passing by the strange birthing chair, which is said to have been used in ancient times for childbirth.

With its lake, forests, scree slopes, waterfalls, peat bogs and rushing streams, the bottom of the Florival valley around the Lauch river is home to many wonders. This is a short hike, but it requires a good level of fitness to tackle some steep slopes and tricky sections.

The route is marked with small green triangles on the ground (available at the Tourist Office)

Lakes and waterfalls, stubble fields and forests, peat bogs and scree slopes, springs, high-altitude beech forests... the Hautes Vosges sometimes offer a remarkable variety of landscapes within just a few kilometres, provided you are willing to climb a few slopes.

Route des Crêtes: discovery route of the Vosges mountain peaks starting from Markstein and heading north.

The Petit Ballon is a must-see summit in Alsace. Rising to an altitude of 1,272 metres, it offers a splendid view of the Vosges mountains. There are various ways to reach it. This circular hike takes you to the Petit Ballon from the village of Linthal. The climb starts in the forest, then becomes more open from halfway up to the final viewpoint at the summit. For those who would like to do the hike in the opposite direction, it is more difficult.

A long hike taking you through four communal forests: those of Lautenbach, Guebwiller, Bergholtzzel and Orschwihr. It features four climbs with an elevation gain of around 150 to 250 metres, the gradient of which varies depending on the section. There are numerous points of interest, including the town of Guebwiller, the viewpoint in the Bergholtzzell Communal Forest, and the Oelberg Calvary. The walk offers the chance to discover the remains of several castles as well as the Hochfelsen rock formation. Furthermore, it takes you around a small peak rising to an altitude of 688 metres: the Engelstein.

Lake, high-altitude forest and stubble fields: a concentration of the beauty of the Vosges with the added bonus of a magnificent panorama. Refreshments available at a farmhouse inn along the route. Particularly pleasant in autumn when the beech trees turn yellow and mushrooms abound in the undergrowth.

Near the source of the Lauch, on the secondary ridge between Breitfirst and Petit Ballon, Lauchen is an area of stubble fields with remarkable views and forests, including the most beautiful and highest altitude beech forests in the Vosges mountains. It is also a peaceful area, within the Guebwiller integral biological reserves, dominated by the Klintzkopf, home to the emblematic animal of the Vosges, the capercaillie or wood grouse.

A very varied route to reach the highest point of the Vosges and walk along the ridges, enjoying numerous panoramic views of the surrounding valleys. The Petit Ballon massif also offers a very beautiful setting.

This walk, suitable for most people, presents no particular difficulties. It will allow you to discover the heritage of the village of Lautenbach and enjoy a beautiful view of the Florival Valley and the Vosges ridges.

Let yourself be carried along the Lauch to discover the rich natural and historical heritage of this remarkable site. Amidst fields, wooded areas and wetlands, a mosaic of natural environments and landscapes will accompany you throughout your walk, where man and nature share a history stretching back several centuries.

This route offers a comprehensive tour of the three beautiful sandstone quarries above Guebwiller, which were in operation until the early 20th century. Starting north of Buhl, the route crosses and explores the major sandstone quarries of this massif, those of Buhl, as well as Guebwiller and Bergholtz. This route will take you beneath and above the quarries, passing through the Col du Dreibannstein, which features a Club Vosgien shelter and tables. After skirting the quarry walls, the route offers views of Guebwiller, its Grand Ballon and the Florival valley. The quarries and the very pleasant trails are a delight for the region’s rock climbers. But they also appeal to hikers, with views of the valley, the Vosges, the plain, the sandstone cliffs, and more...

This walk offers beautiful views of Guebwiller and the Florival, and allows you to explore the old quarries of Buhl as well as the ruins of Hugstein. It can be combined with a visit to Guebwiller: industrial wastelands and villas, Saint-Léger Church, the Dominican Convent, the former Notre-Dame Collegiate Church, the Deck Museum, etc.

Why not set off to explore the Grand Ballon d’Alsace on a lovely circular walk? We suggest a loop with a gentle, shaded ascent that’s pleasant on hot days. Only the sections before the Grand Ballon are exposed to the sun; the rest of the way, there’ll always be a tree to shelter you from the heat.

A challenging climb to the Grand Ballon from Sengern (past Guebwiller). The route passes by the beautiful Lac du Ballon and the Gustiberg farmhouse inn, both of which offer very pleasant places to stop for a break.

An easy route, gently undulating across the highest peaks of the Vosges, through stubble fields and forests. Magnificent views over the surrounding valleys.

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

Issenheim is a small town with a population of 3,000. It was formerly known for the Gast spinning mill. This mill was one of the largest in the region and processed wool into yarn. It is also the starting point for this walk. The first part runs along the banks of the Lauch, passing Villa Spetz and Saint-André Church. The return journey is via Rue de Guebwiller, passing in front of the chapel of the former Antonine convent of Saint-Joseph.

An ideal walk to start the season, taking you around Colmar and across the Alsace plain to the Rhine. It mainly follows cycle paths or routes, rural roads or quiet roads, with the exception of a few sections where you need to pay attention to traffic.