La Lauch walks

This hike, mainly in the forest, follows the Lauch river and then climbs up through the Belchenseebach gorges, alongside a series of magnificent waterfalls, to reach the romantic Lac du Ballon. The trail is steep in places and some sections are slippery, but they are safe and the views are well worth the effort. The return journey is relaxing, with the option of stopping for refreshments 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 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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.