La porte haute walks

Stage thirteen, from Ribeauvillé to Le Bonhomme, is very long and involves a significant climb. It marks the hiker’s entry into the Hautes-Vosges and its first major peaks: Hirzberg and Brézouard, via the Lapoutroie valley. With a mountain atmosphere and superb views in store.

This route forms the first part of the fifth stage of a 7-day tour on the Alsatian side of the Vosges. The route follows mainly forest tracks in good condition. The signposting, which is excellent, consists of signs bearing an orange or red mountain bike logo accompanied by the letters TMV (Traversée du Massif Vosgien).

With this superb twelfth stage of the Vosges crossing proposed by Passion Vosges magazine, published by Les Dernières Nouvelles d’Alsace and L’Alsace, the hiker visits a series of castles, starting with the iconic Haut-Koenigsbourg. After a lovely detour into the valley of the mountain village of Thannenkirch, a final climb leads to the steep and spectacular site of the three castles overlooking the charming wine-growing town of Ribeauvillé, the end point of this 20-kilometre route.

Hiking trail from Sélestat station, easily accessible from many towns in Alsace, to Ribeauvillé, from where you can return to Sélestat station by bus. The route offers magnificent views of the Vosges mountains from the outskirts of Sélestat, with Kintzheim Castle and Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle on your left, the village of Châtenois opposite you, and Ramstein and Ortenbourg castles above Scherwiller on your right. You will pass through part of Châtenois before tackling the climb to Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle, a major tourist attraction in Alsace. You will finally end your journey in the middle of the vineyards, between Bergheim, a charming fortified village in the foothills of the Vosges, and Ribeauvillé, your destination.

Vine growing is an integral part of the Alsatian landscape. There is also a route named after it. This route is the fifth stage of the vineyard walk and connects Dambach-la-Ville to Obernai. There are numerous vantage points, indeed they are almost everywhere outside the villages. The villages themselves are very typical, with pretty half-timbered houses and undeniable charm. The region’s heritage is equally well represented.