La Thur walks

This is a must-do circuit for all hiking enthusiasts.

A peat bog, a lake and two peaks on the ridges with views of the main Vosges mountains. On clear days, especially in winter, you can see the Black Forest and the Alps.

More of a Sunday stroll than a real hike, this trail around Lake Kruth-Wildenstein, which is accessible to people with disabilities, will give you a breath of fresh air. It is particularly pleasant in summer when it is very hot in the valley.

This short family hike takes you up to the ruins of Wildenstein Castle along a discovery trail dotted with information panels. On the way back down, you can walk around the lake and, once you arrive, enjoy the peaceful surroundings with a trip on a pedalo or, for the more energetic, a walk among the trees in the tree-top adventure park right next to the car park.

An easy hike that can be done with children.

From the village of Husseren-Wesserling to Storckensohn, the Chauvelin route is a route for lovers of beautiful landscapes and views. Le Chauvelin, one of whose highest points is the Huselberg (706 m), is an isolated mountain in the heart of the Saint-Amarin valley. This rocky outcrop has withstood the passage of powerful glaciers. This walk takes you back to the time of the glaciers and the pastoralism of our ancestors.

For a long time, the Thur was used as a dumping ground for the dye works in the Thann-Cernay valley and beyond, as far as Ensisheim, for chlorides from the potash mines.Today, these industries have disappeared, which is regrettable, but the polluted ditch has regained its wild beauty and the trout have returned. Starting from the Ensisheim Pond, this route offers a tour of the river, its tributary the Old Thur and its forest, the Thurwald. Please note: Japaneseknotweed invades the banks of the Thur every year, obstructing the view of the river between May and November.It is best to do this hike between November and early May.

Climb the granite lock of the Schlossberg and discover the history of Wildenstein Castle. Along the way, look for and find traces of human presence in these surprising places steeped in history. Enjoy the views of the lake and the villages of Kruth, Oderen and Wildenstein. This site offers a natural atmosphere full of life in both spring and summer. In winter, let yourself be carried away by the peaceful and magical atmosphere of this site.

A beautiful hike that begins with a steep climb to the ruins of Wildenstein Castle. Continue through the forest via the Abri du Tal and the top of the Bockloch waterfall to reach the village of Wildenstein. Return along the Thur and the western shore of the lake.

Enjoy a beautiful unobstructed view of the Thann valley from the Blaufels shelter. The route is shaded as it is mainly in the forest, ideal for hot summer days.

Follow the energetic rhythm of the water to discover all the wonders of this site. Let yourself be carried away, just like Abbé Sifferlen, the historian and writer, by the magic of the place: “These cyclopean rocks, these mysterious chasms, these enveloping woods, these roaring waters when the waterfall is at its peak, make one dream of dwellings inhabited by legendary fairies.”

A short hike to discover the Rangen vineyard and religious buildings.

From Oderen, a magnificent climb to Trehkopf, a paradise for paragliders, passing by the viewpoints of Uhufels and Gommkopf over the valley and the surrounding Vosges peaks, via the Treackerké shelter and the old Trehkopf cemetery, following pleasant paths mostly through the forest. After enjoying the ridges of Trehkopf and Jungfrauenkopf and a 360° view, the return journey will take you via the Treh farmhouse inn, Sainte-Anne Chapel, the Schalm shelter, the Katzensteg viewpoint and the Hensbach woods.

Hike offering beautiful views.

Water is ever-present throughout this route; starting from the lovely Eiblen Nature and Leisure Park, it follows the edges of the large pond, the tree-lined banks of the Ill and then the water body of the former gravel pit. It then enters the tranquillity of the Thur Forest and its banks to reach the Little Prince Park. Return along the banks of the Vieille Thur, then back along the Thur to its confluence with the Ill, ending with a final glimpse of the park’s waterbird ponds. Please note : Japanese knotweed, an invasive plant, regrows every year along the banks of the Thur from its rhizome, starting in March–April. Its growth accelerates (2 to 8 cm per day) and the plant can reach 2 or 3 m by July, obstructing the view of the river. It flowers in September–October (beautiful colours) and dies off by November.To enjoy the view of the waterways, it is best to undertake this walk between November and early May.

From Fellering church, climb towards Le Treh via the Siebach stubble fields and the Schwitzerwald forest. The path is quite steep but offers a stunning view of the Saint-Amarin valley. The descent follows the forest on the eastern slope down to Ranspach and the botanical trail back to Fellering.

Discover the Rangen vineyard and Thann’s medieval past.

Starting from Bitschwiller-lès-Thann, climb to Camp Turenne via the Wickenbaechle path, the Ostein Farm Inn, the Triade shelter and Rocher d’Ostein, then climb to Molkenrain via the Friends of Nature refuge. Return via Camp Turenne, Baerenthal, Camp des Pyramides, Place des Canaris and Roche Albert. This loop walk passes numerous vantage points overlooking the Thur Valley and the surrounding peaks, such as Thanner Hubel and the Grand Ballon, as well as iconic historical sites on theFirst World War front.

This walk takes you through deciduous forests and a rocky landscape, which is unusual in the Vosges mountains, where one is more accustomed to fir and spruce trees. The variety of landscapes is another highlight: forest, meadows, orchards and vineyards.

There are several possible starting points for this figure-of-eight circular route, which offers some beautiful views over the Thur Valley, Lake Kruth and the Route des Crêtes. There are very few tarmac roads and lovely little granite paths on this route, which is pleasant, shaded and challenging, winding through the Vosges forests with their varied tree species or across the high-altitude scree slopes.

Start from Thann Kattenbach, climb to Camp Turenne via the Croix du Rangen overlooking the grand cru of the same name. Pass by the Waldkapelle and the Rehbrunnel shelters, near the Wotan Oak and Becherkopf, to the Camp Turenne monument, then a round trip to Rocher Ostein, offering magnificent views over the Thur valley and the neighbouring Vosges peaks. Descent via Camp des Pyramides, Place des Canaris and the Roche Albert viewpoint, followed by the Greenway along the Thur and a climb to Engelbourg (Œil de la Sorcière) to enjoy the view over Thann.

This is a relatively accessible hike, taking you from viewpoint to viewpoint to Engelbourg and the Œil de la Sorcière from Bitschwiller, then gently back up along the river on the cycle path.

Head for the Route des Crêtes and the Le Treh farmhouse inn! Get your calves ready for the long climb you’ll face to reach the summit at an altitude of 1,139 metres. The traditional cheese-maker’s meal awaiting you there is well worth the effort. Le Treh is open every day except Mondays and Tuesdays.

Cernay is a small town with a population of 11,000. It is situated at the entrance to the Thur Valley. This route allows you to discover much of Cernay’s heritage, starting from the town’s historic centre. The walk begins near Saint-Étienne Church and then heads towards the suburbs, which bear witness to the town’s industrial past. The route then winds back and forth between the suburbs and the town centre, allowing you to discover as many historical and cultural sites as possible.

Vieux-Thann is best known for its industrial heritage. However, there are green spaces that allow you to escape this atmosphere entirely. This route takes you to discover them all. The walk passes by Saint-Dominique Church and Place Bernard Thierry-Mieg, as well as the Espace Rammersweier. Other points of interest along the route include the town hall and Place Scherrer.

The Drumont is one of the iconic peaks of the Vosges. Although much less well known than the Grand Ballon or the Ballon d'Alsace, it is an ideal spot for lovers of 360° panoramic views. The area is very popular with paragliders. This hike takes you up the Drumont from the Tourbière du See, which is home to a rich natural heritage. The outward journey follows the most direct route and the return journey takes you via the waterfalls and the Saint-Nicolas Chapel. To finish the hike, there are two small hills to climb, which offer views of the Thur valley.

Set off to meet the storks of Cernay from the charming little village of Uffholtz, passing by numerous points of interest and beautiful views of the region. In good weather, you will also be able to see the Alps!

Nineteenth stage: From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura mountain range. For this final stage, you will take the ViaJacobi, the ancient pilgrimage route that leads German pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela via Geneva. Following in their footsteps, you will reach the city of Constance (Konstanz), nestled in southern Germany. Constance charms visitors with its medieval charm, particularly in the picturesque Niederburg district, where narrow streets and half-timbered houses tell centuries of history. Its majestic Romanesque cathedral, the Münster Unserer Lieben Frau, has watched over the city since the Middle Ages. Finally, Lake Constance (Bodensee), a true natural gem, stretches out at the foot of the Alps and unites three nations — Germany, Switzerland and Austria — in a landscape of serene beauty.

Stage 18 From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. This stage, starting from Uesslingen, first takes you through peaceful agricultural pastures before skirting the vineyards of an old monastery. You then reach Warth, home to the Ittingen Charterhouse, which bears witness to more than 850 years of history and spirituality. Passing through Frauenfeld, the capital of the canton of Thurgau, you leave the hustle and bustle of the city behind and return to the tranquillity of the banks of the Thur. The route takes you to Pfyn, then offers a beautiful immersion along the river, punctuated by the passage of the superb Eschikofen customs bridge. A stage combining heritage, nature and the gentle flow of the river.

Seventeenth stage From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura ridges. Through the landscapes of northern Zurich, this stage takes you from Embrach to Uesslingen-Buch, following the rivers and villages that line the Huguenot Trail. From hamlet to hamlet, you will walk along well-marked footpaths, between discreet forests, peaceful farms and typical bell towers. Gradually, the scenery opens up onto the vast agricultural expanses of the Thur Valley, signalling the proximity of the German border. This route, rich in heritage and contrasts, ends gently by the river, in the peaceful countryside of Uesslingen.

This exceptional hike links Les Rousses, in the heart of the French Haut-Jura, to the city of Constance (Konstanz), on the shores of the lake of the same name, following the ridges of the Swiss Jura. A demanding but magnificent 405 km route that crosses the most iconic landscapes of the Jura mountains: high-altitude pastures, deep forests, alpine viewpoints, villages steeped in history and forgotten military ruins.

A long hike, almost flat, but covering a significant number of kilometres. This route will take you through villages and towns such as Hartmannswiller and Cernay. When conditions allow, the view stretches as far as the Alps. Apart from the theme of religion, which is very prominent with the various small churches and the Thierenbach Basilica, the theme of the First World War is also present on the way back. Most of the hike is in open country. Only a quarter of the hike is covered between Wattwiller and the basilica of Thierenbach.