The seigneury of Ban de la Roche

Bellefosse, known as ‘Béfoss’ in the local dialect, was part of the former seigneury of Ban de la Roche. This walk will take you up to the heights of Bellefosse to explore the ruins of La Roche Castle, known as ‘zum Stein’ or ‘Steinschloss’, then across the peaks, where you’ll discover the former seigneurial farmstead of Lachamp. Finally, you’ll have the chance to enjoy a meal at one of the two farmhouse inns: the Ban de la Roche or the Promont.

Details

30153233
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.91 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 850 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 840 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,986 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 2,218 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

From Fouday, take the D57 towards Bellemont. Turn right at Walderbach onto the D757 and drive to the Bellefosse swimming pool and its car park.

Blue Triangle signposting

(S/E) From the car park, head towards the Rue Principale; then, at the junction, take the path opposite called ‘La Hutte’ towards Château de la Roche until you reach the junction where the circular route begins.

Yellow Triangle and Yellow Saltire markings

(1) Turn left. Then turn right twice towards the castle.

(2) Look out for the castle ruins on the right, then continue for a further 300 m, climbing above the old stronghold until you come to a path.

Markings: Yellow Cross

Turn left for 200 m and continue to the right along the signposted path which climbs gently towards the Haut Lachamp farm amidst the meadows.

(3) Walk past the farm and continue to the road at a bend. Walk carefully along the right-hand side of the road for 700 metres until you reach the next path (signposted ‘Ferme du Promont’).

Yellow Saltire Markings

(4) Turn sharply right. Cross a forest track to reach a junction with a footpath.

Red Ring signpost

Head straight on to reach the houses and the Promont farm-inn.

(5) Turn right at the houses onto a path that climbs gently to a ridge. Take the path leading down at the first fork. You’ll come to a second fork.

Blue Triangle signpost

(6) Turn right onto the hairpin bend. Then continue straight on until you reach the crossroads at the start of the circular route.

(1) Carry on straight ahead and follow the route in reverse to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 2,218 ft - Swimming pool car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.27 - alt. 2,372 ft - Crossroads of the circular loop
  3. 2 : mi 0.84 - alt. 2,740 ft - Château de la Roche (Bellefosse)
  4. 3 : mi 1.28 - alt. 2,881 ft - Haut Lachamp Farm
  5. 4 : mi 2.24 - alt. 2,828 ft - On the ridges
  6. 5 : mi 3.13 - alt. 2,510 ft - Ferme-auberge du Promont
  7. 6 : mi 3.88 - alt. 2,398 ft - Sharp junction
  8. S/E : mi 4.91 - alt. 2,218 ft - Swimming pool car park

Notes

Walking shoes, drinks, clothing and protective gear suitable for the weather.

Find more walking routes on rando-bruche.fr, the Bruche Valley Tourist Office’s walking website.

Relax at the Bellefosse swimming pool, open only in July and August (tel. 07 89 78 49 45).

Worth a visit

  • The 12th-century Château de la Roche is the stronghold of the former imperial fief of Ban de la Roche. In 1469, the Bishop of Strasbourg had the castle destroyed following a seven-day siege to put an end to the abuses of its occupant, nicknamed ‘the brigand lord’.
  • The Bruche Valley was crossed by two major Roman roads: the Via Donon and the

Salinatorum (the salt road). Athird, less important road is said to have started from Obernai, passed through Champ du Feu, and descended along this ridge towards the Col de Steige.

  • From 1584 onwards, you would have left the Ban de la Roche—which had become Protestant—by crossing the ridge after the Haut Lachamp farm to arrive on the other side, in the Catholic Ranrupt valley, a possession of several successive lords, notably the Habsburg family in the 14th century. The Ban de la Roche was thus a Protestant enclave in a predominantly Catholic region.
  • Other points of interest around Ranrupt include: Climont jams, the Haut Bois farmhouse inn, the Notre-Dame des Malades Chapel, the Ehret Création glass and porcelain workshop, the Étang de Steige, and more. Do feel free to pop into the Bruche Valley Tourist Office or visit their website for further information.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 8 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
Wildcath57
Wildcath57

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 27, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with few, if any, other people around

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virgule
virgule

Something to do one day.

It's a very pretty area, much less crowded than the rest of the Vosges mountains. It's also a region steeped in history, particularly that of Pastor Oberlin, who was the driving force behind this valley for many years.

https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jean-Fr%C3...

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Ricoborgo
Ricoborgo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 31, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful route with no particular difficulties. There is a magnificent viewpoint at the top of the (ruined) Bellefosse castle. However, be careful when accessing it, as users do so at their own risk via a staircase that is a little old but still quite sturdy! There is a short section of road that requires a little caution, especially on a sunny day, as it is busy with cars and motorbikes!
I recommend this very pretty 8 km walk, which is said to take 3 hours but can be completed in 2 hours at a leisurely pace.

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dajacky
dajacky

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 11, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Please note:
When leaving the "PISCINE" car park, follow the signs for "La Hutte". There is no sign for La Hutte in the village. There were two of us doing the walk, but there were also other people in the car park who were looking for the starting point based on the blue triangle sign. Either you go up to the left towards the houses higher up, or you go down to the next crossroads on the right. Which is the right start?

Everything else was fine, a lovely walk along the Seigneur du Ban de la Roche.

Thank you for your work, it's really great.
Well done!

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Feuilloman
Feuilloman

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 02, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with beautiful meadow and forest scenery. My only regret is that there is a rather long stretch along the roadside.

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Helmbacher Michel
Helmbacher Michel

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Hello, everyone!
The idea for this hike, which we did last Sunday, 10 March, came from a recent photo of the Château de la Roche, also known as Zum Stein," which I found on the internet. It showed this medieval fortress beautifully cleared of the tree vegetation that once blocked any panoramic view from the top of the rocky outcrop on which it stands, and even completely hid it from view behind the surrounding forest.
Today, Zum Stein looks truly impressive, and I can only suggest you pay it a visit, less than an hour's easy climb from the village of Bellefosse...
The circular route of our hike also offers incredible views of the Champ du Feu mountains, the 2 Donons, the Rocher de Mutzig, the Climont, the Moyenmont and the wind turbines above Saales and the Grande Fosse... And, the icing on the cake, halfway through, I recommend stopping for a bite to eat at the Promont farmhouse inn (booking recommended)...
Go on, discover these "gems" for yourself via the slideshow link below.
Happy hiking to you too!
Michel Helmbacher
2024.03.10 Ban-de-la-Roche/Bellefosse/Château Zum Stein/Haut-Lachamp farm/FA Promont/Bas-Lachamp "Google Photos"

https://photos.app.goo.gl/7hV8HSYihJGt3x...

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cyberstorik
cyberstorik

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

The route offers some beautiful views. At the end of the route, just before you reach the junction (opposite Bas Lachamp), I recommend taking a short detour of about 200 metres to the left, towards a bench under a service tree, where the view of the Donon is well worth a few minutes' contemplation.

The section of the route along the busy road is admittedly not very pleasant, but the verges are wide, so it's not particularly dangerous. The hike mainly follows wide paths, with few trails, which is why I've only given it 4*.

For food lovers: the Fromont farmhouse inn only accepts bookings and is closed in the evening.

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fschmittstutz
fschmittstutz

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 24, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A short, gentle walk, mostly shaded. Water for your dog at the start of the walk, after the road section and, of course, at the farmhouse inn.

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CM67
CM67

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Numerous viewpoints. A very pleasant hike, mostly through forest.
A small part of the hike is on a busy road, so be careful on this section.

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