La Vancelle walks

Perched on the heights of La Vancelle, a small mountain village, Frankenbourg Castle is one of the must-see ruins in the Sélestat-Haut-Koenigsbourg region. Looking for a moderate hike to explore this remarkable site and enjoy the tranquillity of the trails in the heart of nature? Then this is the one for you! Starting from La Vancelle, whatever the season, this lovely walk will take you to the castle in an hour and a half, allowing you to spot a few points of interest along the way whilst enjoying magnificent views of the Rocher du Coucou, the Val de Villé, the Val d’Argent and the Alsace plain.

A short circular walk providing access to Frankenbourg Castle via the easiest route, starting from La Vancelle. The castle enjoyed a strategic location at the entrance to two valleys: the Val de Villé along the Giessen (the salt road) and the Val d'Argent along the Lièpvrette (the silver mines). The route takes place in the forest and offers beautiful views from the castle courtyard.

This easy circular will take you to the well-preserved Frankenbourg Castle. From there, you can enjoy views of the Alsace plain and the Black Forest in the distance.Further on, along a shaded path, you will see glimpses of the Villé valley and the superb rocks of La Roche des Fées. On the way back, the Rocher du Coucou viewpoint overlooks Frankenbourg Castle, and finally a small viewpoint offers a view of Lièpvre.

This outing will take us to an enclave of the Dukes of Lorraine in Alsace, a little-visited valley in the heart of the Vosges forest. This route through mountainous countryside, on well-marked trails, presents no difficulty other than its length and elevation, even in the depths of winter, provided that the snow cover does not hinder progress.

Muttergottesbrennel is a mystical place that could have become famous, but history decided otherwise. On the side of Frankenberg and near Neubois, this hike will take you to castles, forests and fabulous rocks.

This is an unmissable hike in the Villé Valley, which takes you past some unusually shaped rocks (the Cheval Tombé, the Salière and the Roche des Fées) and leads to the Rocher du Coucou with its stunning views of the valley and the Central Alsace plain, as well as the iconic Château du Frankenbourg, which once protected the area.

This short walk around Col de Fouchy will take you through the northern part of the Val d'Argent, passing Col du Petit Haut, Rocher de la Salière, Roche du Cheval Tombé and Col du Rougerain. A full programme of forest paths and trails accessible to all. Not suitable for pushchairs as some paths are too narrow.

Located in the heart of Alsace, Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle dominates the entire plain at an altitude of 755 metres. It is impossible to miss this iconic monument, one of the most visited in the region! This landmark is also the starting and finishing point for many hikes. If you prefer short routes, this one is for you. Starting from the Col du Schaentzel, it will take you past several points of interest and allow you to reach the castle in just 1 hour.

The Bernstein estate is a magnificent place where mountain biking is a pleasure. During this ride you will discover the castles of Thanvillé, Bernstein, Ortenbourg and Ramstein. The views from these castles are generally breathtaking. This route is suitable for all weather conditions and all seasons.

Loop hike starting from Fouchy, through beautiful pine and deciduous forests. Gradual climb to Col du Petit Haut, alternating between paths and trails. Return via pleasant trails on the slopes of Rougerain and Guichat, with the Rocher de la Salière and the Roche du Cheval Tombé. The walk ends with part of the heritage trail "Une forêt en pays welsche" (A forest in Welsh country) and the viewpoint at the Fouchy reservoir.

This short hike in the hills above Villé takes us from the River Giessen to theGR®532trail along the ridges, with beautiful views of the Champ du Feu massif on one side and the Col de Fouchy on the other the other.

Route updated in April 2026 following the completion of the Châtenois bypassA cycle route alternating between roads and cycle paths in the Villé valley, with some lovely views.Route along a departmental road with moderate traffic (from Villé to Neubois).Forest track to La Vancelle.Separate cycle path to Val de Villé, path at the foot of Ortenbourg Castle.Return to the Villé Valley via the “Route du Sel” cycle path through the forest to Saint-Pierre-Bois.Finish via the cycle path alongside the country road to Villé.

A circular walk from Triembach-Au-Val, taking us to the heights of Albé and its vineyards. Superb views of the village of Albé from both sides. Return via Villé and Bassemberg along the Giessen river.

Circular walk starting from Triembach-Au-Val, heading towards Saint-Maurice and climbing the Baerenberg in the forest, then returning via the Saint-Gilles Church, emblematic of the Villé valley, and the village of Saint-Pierre-Bois.

A pleasant circular walk around Villé, passing through Triembach-au-Val, Albé, a village renowned for its Pinot Noir and beautiful winegrowers' houses, Breitenbach and its orchards, Saint-Martin, the beautiful Honcourt forest, and ending along the Giessen in Villé.

A short circular route starting from Triembach-au-Val, taking you to the summit of the Schrann, above Albé, for a beautiful panoramic view. On leaving the village, the route winds through the forest, then passes through the mountain vineyards of Albé, and ends in the beautiful Bachmatten valley.

A lovely circular walk starting from Sainte-Croix-aux-Mines, alternating between open landscapes (offering views of the valley, the Taennchel massif and the Grand Brézouard) and beautiful forests; a route dotted with hamlets featuring old, isolated mountain farms.

A lovely little walk covering a variety of paths. A very pretty view awaits you from the Belle-Vue gazebo. This route is ideal for trail runners wishing to explore the Villé Valley on foot.

This route is used for the running events we offer throughout the year. It can easily be done on foot or by running, and is accessible to all. You will take wide forest paths, trails, village streets and a cycle path.

This route is the one I use for a trail running event as part of my work. It’s a loop of just under 8 km that’s fairly straightforward if you run regularly. The advantage of this route is that it can also be done as a family walk. Walking, it takes around 2–2½ hours. This walk will allow you to explore the forest surrounding Villé, which overlooks the villages of Saint-Martin and Maisonsgoutte.

The Val de Villé tourist office publishes very well-designed hiking maps. Today, we are following trail No. 12, known as the Route de la Honel, which will take you through villages and forests with scenic views and rock formations. This hike is particularly beautiful in spring when the orchards are in bloom and the views are still unobstructed, as the forest canopy has not yet fully formed. The trail is fairly easy.

A circular hike from Thannenkirch to discover the Taennchel massif, renowned for its positive telluric energy and dotted with numerous remarkable rocks. The route is mainly through forest, offering some beautiful views of the Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines valley to the north, the Colmar plain to the south and east.

A circular hike passing by Ortenbourg Castle and the ruins of Ramstein Castle, then Bernstein Castle. Wide panoramic view from the Bernstein Tower. Return via the Bellevue summit and along the ridge with some remarkable rocks, including the Falkenstein climbing site. Forest trail with numerous viewpoints from castles and rocks (Villé valley, Haut-Koenigsbourg, Central Alsace plain).

Hiking route starting from Thannenkirch to visit the castles of Haut Ribeaupierre, Girsberg and Saint-Ulrich, as well as the monastery of Notre-Dame de Dusenbach.

Discover the Taennchel massif and its impressive sandstone rocks of the Vosges from the picturesque village of Thannenkirch.

Circular hike in the Villé valley, starting from Saint-Martin, going around Breitenbach and returning via Maisonsgoutte. The route is mainly open, winding through meadows, offering some beautiful views of the valley, and ending in the forest.

Circular starting from Urbeis in the Villé valley, following the heritage trail on the theme of the mining past, then passing by the ruins of Bilstein Castle, the village of Climont and the Col d'Urbeis.

A circular hike starting from Châtenois, which takes us to the summit of Hahnenberg, where we can enjoy a beautiful view of the central Alsace plain. The route continues around the Montagne des Singes animal park, then returns through the vineyards above Kintzheim.

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.

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).

This hike will allow you to meet pilgrims on their way to Compostela and to walk through the woods following theGR®5. There are no orientation difficulties, as all the paths are marked. A variant will allow you to climb up to the Château du Haut Koenigsbourg.

A lovely little walk at the foot of Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle, passing by the Rocher du Sanglier and the Roche des Fées, then descending through the pretty Vallon des Moulins.

A beautiful circular hike from the wine route to Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle. Climb up through the beautiful valley of the mills. Loop around Haut-Koenigsbourg and return via Langenberg. Beautiful views of the Alsace plain and the Black Forest, with an orientation table. The castle courtyard is free to visit. Don't hesitate to make a detour from (6) or (7).

This is a short hike through vineyards and woods at the foot of the majestic Haut Koenigsbourg castle. There are several points of interest along the route: the Rocher du Sanglier (Boar Rock), the Fontaine du Chevreuil (Deer Fountain), the 1791 boundary stone and the old medieval vineyard. There is a beautiful view from the orientation table. It is not classified as "easy" because the descent through the old vineyard is quite steep.

A pleasant, easy walk suitable for the whole family. Along this route, there is an orientation table identifying the key features of the panorama (view of the Alsace plain). After the orientation table, the route follows the old vineyard path, lined with ancient dry stone walls, through an old forest with views of Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle.

This is a hike of around twelve kilometres that allows you to see most of the interesting rock formations in the magical setting of the Taennchel. The walk starts at the Club Vosgien chalet at Schelmenkopf, above Ribeauvillé. To get there from Ribeauvillé, take the road to Aubure, then at the hamlet of ‘La Pépinière’, turn off towards La Grande Verrerie. Please note: this route is inaccessible in winter as the path is unpaved.

In Alsatian, Ungersberg means the ‘Mountain of the Hungarians’: the highest sandstone massif in the Val de Villé, situated between the mountains and the Alsatian plain. The ascent and descent of the Ungersberg, along rocky paths, is quite steep; walking poles and good footwear will be a great help. The Club Vosgien has erected the Héring Tower at its summit, offering a sweeping view of the Alsace plain and the neighbouring peaks.

This 12-kilometre hike will take you to the main rocks of Taennchel and the amazing Source des Corbeaux, starting from the small car park at the bottom of the Grande Verrerie.

Take time to discover Orschwiller on this short 1-hour tour. Soak up the village's remarkable built heritage and the works of contemporary art scattered around the village.

This walk is one of seven heritage trails created by the Vallée de Villé. By following these routes, you will discover the secrets of the villages' heritage as well as the most beautiful places and viewpoints in the Vallée de Villé. The Albé heritage trail takes you through the most picturesque village in the valley and its vineyards, where you will discover several interesting sights in the commune.

This lovely circular starting from Scherwiller Town Hall takes you to Ramstein and Ortenbourg castles, through vineyards and the beautiful Ortenberg forest. Stunning views over the Alsace plain, Haut Koenigsbourg and the Vosges mountains.

A short family walk around Breitenbach. Beautiful views of the Val de Villé. Numerous benches line the route. Educational information boards about the flora and fauna brighten up the start of the route.

Ortenbourg Castle, built in the 13th century, is one of the most spectacular castles in Alsace. Dominating the vineyards overlooking Scherwiller, with breathtaking views of the Alsace plain, the Villé valley and the Val d'Argent, it is a must-see attraction. So, whatever the season, why not discover its secrets on an easy hike starting from the charming village of Dieffenthal?

A circular walk starting from Dieffenthal, taking us to Ortenbourg Castle, where we can enjoy a beautiful view of the Alsace plain. Then on the Villé valley side to Kasmarkt. Return via the medieval village of Dambach-La-Ville.

This circular walk will allow you to discover a botanical garden, a Celtic rock, the Wolfskirche rocks and the castles of Ortenbourg and Ramstein, while skirting a protected forest (APB)

This moderately difficult route passes through beautiful, diverse forests with several points of interest. You can rest or eat at the Clausmatt inn, run by the Espoir association.

A short hike around the three castles of Ribeauvillé, which runs alongside several pleasant little streams and passes by two fountains.

Discover the three castles of Ribeauvillé by climbing via Fontaine du Chevreuil. The descent follows theGR®5.

It’s a lovely walk that allows you to see the three castles of Ribeauvillé from a slightly different angle to the traditional route. The GPS track takes the shortest route. To see the three castles, follow the route description. Avoid at all costs during the Christmas market or on Pfifferday. Ribeauvillé has recently become extremely touristy.

This short hike will take you to the amazing Schluesselstein Rock, then to the foot of the Taennchel and finally to the Dusenbach Monastery. Return via the famous Maria Raydt trail.

This short hike takes you up to Taennchel from Ribeauvillé via the most direct route. There are two variants that allow you to visit Château Haut Ribeaupierre or the Notre-Dame de Dusenbach monastery along the way. It is only 11 km long, but has an elevation gain of over 600 m. Only suitable for walkers in good physical condition.

This is a pleasant hike that will take you through vineyards and woods to the amazing Rocher du Schlüsselstein, then to the foot of the Taennchel and finally to two of the three castles of Ribeauvillé. There are a few climbs, but overall it is an easy route.

A beautiful hike around the three castles (Bernstein, Ramstein and Ortenbourg) via the Brischbach valley and its magnificent views.

A short hike starting from a chapel and leading up to the ruins of a fortified castle. From the top of the keep, you can enjoy a panoramic view. The route mainly follows forest paths and, in places, vineyards.

Short hike from the car park of Saint-Sébastien Chapel on the heights of Dambach-la-Ville. The route takes you through the vineyards, the Kriegshurst crossroads and Berstein Castle; it can be done in either direction. Along the way, there are views of the vineyards, Dambach-la-Ville, the Alsace plain and the Black Forest, with benches and tables where you can take a break. An alternative route between the castle and the chapel takes you via the Kasmarkt crossroads.

This walk is a round trip taking you to the ruins of Bilstein Castle.

A beautiful hike that is not too long but includes a few steep hills. While the old town's heritage is remarkable, the route on the heights of Ribeauvillé is also worth a detour with its three castles and the monastery of Notre-Dame de Dusenbach.

A fairly demanding hike, as there is a long climb right from the start, but one that offers numerous incredible views.You start by climbing up to the three castles via paths through the vineyards, then ascend the Taennechel via its fairly steep south-eastern peak, known as the Rocher de la Paix d’Udine, which also offers a rather striking view over the Alsace plain. Next, we explore the numerous sandstone outcrops dotting the ridge before descending back to Ribeauvillé.

An easy walk through the Alsace vineyards, with pretty landscapes of vine-covered hills and villages such as Bergheim.

A lovely day trip through woods, mountains, vineyards and Alsatian villages, with visits to Hunawihr and Riquewihr. Magnificent landscapes and superb villages.

Climb up the Three Castles Trail, superb view of the region, visit the ruins of two castles (the third is closed to the public), then walk through the forest to reach the N.D. de Dusenbach monastery, descend via the original Way of the Cross.

Enjoy a magnificent walk along the ramparts of Bergheim, dotted with numerous medieval towers.

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 short walk takes you up to the Dusenbach, avoiding the dangerous road to Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines. From the Dusenbach, you can climb up to the Taennchel or the castles.

This is a long hike that will take you through vineyards and woods to three castles: Reichenstein, Bilstein and Saint-Ulrich. Pass by the magnificent Notre-Dame de Dusenbach monastery.

Route allowing you to visit the three castles of Ribeauvillé (Giersberg Castle, Saint-Ulrich Castle and Ribeaupierre Castle) with superb views over the Alsace plain. Then climb and cross the Taennchel Massif with its rocks, its pagan wall and its views of Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle.

Snowshoeing towards Climont – 965m – (Vosges Mountains).

Starting from Steige, this hike will take you to the summit of Climont to discover the Julius Tower and several magnificent viewpoints over the Villé Valley, as well as the Bruche Valley and the Vosges. This hike is difficult and includes sections with very steep climbs and technical passages. You will need to be in good physical condition and carry a small backpack.

A circular hike starting from Ribeauvillé, winding through vineyards and then forest (two-thirds of the route).Discover the listed Schlusselstein rock, then descend towards Langrain to follow the Bergenbach stream to the Witzigfelsen rock and Reichenberg Castle. The return journey takes you through the vineyards on the Way of St James. Hike accessible via Ribeauville-Gare-Routiè station.

A hike at mid-altitude amongst the vineyards and peaceful villages of this corner of the Alsatian wine region, away from the major tourist sites. Along the way, several vineyard shrines and numerous picnic tables.

This circuit starts in Reichsfeld and takes you up to the Col de l'Ungersberg via the Gruckert chalet, then to the summit of the Ungersberg. Please note that the initial slope is quite steep and long (nearly 14% for the first 2 kilometres).

A pleasant short hike with varied landscapes that will introduce you to the Champ du Feu.

An easy hike to discover Baumgarten Abbey and the vineyards of Reichsfeld and Bernardvillé, with beautiful views of the Alsace plain and the Black Forest.

A mix of magnificent cow pastures and beautiful coniferous forests with stunning views. A preserved valley with a few farms and the occasional holiday home, at the foot of one of the valley’s legendary peaks, the Climont (966 m). A haven of peace, picture-perfect! The route is suitable for beginner hikers, though the climb to the Refuge du Hang and then to the Belvédère de la Roche des Fées may seem challenging for those less accustomed to hiking and requires a reasonable level of fitness.

The Climont is a curious conical massif which you will approach from the south face. The climb is steep, but the view from the top of the Julius Tower, at an altitude of over 960m, is well worth the effort. 21/04/2025: Five years after its first publication, I revisited this route to check that the description still matches the terrain. I took the opportunity to clarify certain sections and add a few waypoints. The descent is quite technical and difficult, and it is best to avoid it in wet weather, or else do the hike in the opposite direction. Enjoy the outing, everyone.

A short, shaded hike through a beautiful pine forest, surrounded by ferns and blueberry bushes and above Aubure, to Roche du Tétras.

A pleasant hike above the village of Aubure to discover the Refuge de la Pierre des Trois Bans and enjoy beautiful landscapes over Fréland, Lapoutroie, the Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines valley and Aubure.

This hike starts in the hills above Aubure, offering beautiful views of northern Alsace. When you reach the "Pierre des Trois Bans" chalet, there are a few tables where you can stop for a break. Continuing along the ridge path, you can admire the Sainte Marie-Aux-Mines valley. On the way back, there are beautiful views of the Orbey valley and the mountains to the south of Alsace. On a clear day, if you look carefully, you can see the Grand Ballon, the Petit Ballon and even the Hohneck in the distance.

A beautiful walk through the forest and meadows, taking you from a small village to the old castle of La Roche with a splendid view of the valley. The first hill you see is the Col de la Perheux. Behind this pass, you will see the Donon. Along the way, you will have several views of the Climont.

A circular walk starting from Ranrupt, taking us towards Stampoumont as far as Colroy-la-Roche, returning via Fonrupt. A route alternating between open countryside and woodland, with two viewpoints overlooking the villages. The first half is fairly gentle, the second half a little more challenging, with the Climont massif in view.

Explore the trails above the village of Ranrupt and discover the hamlet of Fonrupt, a haven of tranquillity. Along the way, treat your taste buds to authentic local produce while enjoying splendid views of the Climontaine and Chiregoutte valleys.