Lapoutroie walks

A short walk starting from the village of Lapoutroie, heading up to see the Tour du Faudé via the Roche du Chat Noir.Standing 16.50 metres tall, the tower rises above the summit of the Faudé. It was inaugurated on 15 August 2002, offering visitors the chance to take in the superb landscapes of the Welche region and the surrounding area.And to round off your day, you can pop into the Haxaire cheese dairy, where Munster cheese is made.

A steep start, a few sections through the forest, but above all beautiful views of Lapoutroie and the Val d’Orbey, the Brézouard and the Tête des Faux, as well as Fréland and the Kaelblin massif.

This route will take you from an ancient Roman road to the heights of Fréland. Done in good weather at the end of winter, it offers a varied and peaceful hike. Along the way, you will see the first primroses, streams and a view of the Lapoutroie valley. On the way back, it is always a pleasure to cross Fréland. A short visit to the Welche country museum and its adjoining inn will be a pleasant way to round off the walk.

The start of this walk, suggested by Passion Vosges magazine as part of its ‘gourmet walks’ series, begins at the car park of the Maison du Pays Welche, which is next to the museum restaurant, the gourmet stop on this outing.

In spring, there is nothing more pleasant than this circular starting from Fréland and passing through the Col de Chamont. Lovely panoramic views of the Pays Welche, the Fréland and Lapoutroie valleys, the magnificent Mont Kalblin and beautiful forest passages.

I suggest a fairly long hike with a significant elevation gain, classified as very difficult, which will allow you to discover the Orbey Valley with various remarkable viewpoints and several interesting sites: the Tour du Faudé, destroyed in 1915 and 1944 and rebuilt in the 1990s, the Duchesne Cemetery, a national necropolis for French soldiers who fell at Tête des Faux during theFirst World War, and the Gazon du Faing with its panoramic trail, a veritable balcony overlooking Lac Blanc and the Orbey Valley. Caution! This route includes a very technical and difficult section on the descent from the ridges to Lac Blanc, between points (14) and (15). Do not attempt in wet weather. Choose the alternative route described in the practical information.

Breathtaking view of the Vosges peaks and the Tour du Faudé.

A beautiful circular starting from Orbey and taking in two magnificent lakes. First, you will discover Lac Blanc, nestled in a granite basin. On the left, you will see the Rochers du Château Hans topped with a statue. The Chemin Cornélius will take you to Lac Noir, which is lined with fir trees and therefore much darker.

Starting from Orbey, this is an interesting hike thanks to its diversity and magnificent views. During the day, you’ll come across two sites named after rocks, and admire forests with their undergrowth—sometimes open, sometimes dense and serving as shelter for game, or even covered in moss—all along a very pleasant path. A moment to reflect on history as you pass through the battlefields near the Linge; the 1914–1918 war. Then superb views of the surrounding valleys and mountains.

Nestled in the forest at an altitude of 940 m south of the village of Le Bonhomme, the Auberge de l’Étang du Devin is an ideal starting point for the climb up to Tête des Faux (1,208 m). Numerous remnants of the First World War dot the former battlefield, where a magnificent coniferous forest now thrives.

This easy circular route, on small mountain roads and very passable paths, will take you to the heights of Le Bonhomme towards the Col des Bagenelles, offering you beautiful postcard views of the Vosges mountain pastures. Taken in May, this walk can also be done in summer to escape the heatwave in the Alsace plain. The Club Vosgien markings are provided for information purposes only, as they may change over time.

A hike that circles the Grand Brézouard, one of the peaks over 1,200 m located furthest north in the Vosges massif. A fairly demanding route with the main ascent taking place right from the start. Varied terrain and landscapes (woodland, rocky ridge, high-altitude meadows).Please note: at (6) => The quiet zone, in force from 1 December to 1 July, is primarily aimed at preserving habitats favourable to the wildlife of old-growth forests. Furthermore, conditions of silence and tranquillity must be strictly maintained, particularly during the winter and breeding seasons. (INPN - ZNIEFF). 20/08/2024: Route modified to avoid the Grand Brézouard, which has been cleared of signposts to reinforce the quiet zone.

This hike will take you from Le Bonhomme to the 1914-1918 battlefields of Tête des Faux, then to the three passes of Calvaire, Louschbach and Bonhomme. Along the way, depending on the season, you can enjoy the abundance of blueberry bushes along the path.

A circular hike starting from Le Bonhomme. It takes us through the forest to Lac Blanc. The return journey crosses a small section of the battlefields of theFirst World War. There are numerous military structures, as well as a national necropolis and a German military cemetery. An important place of remembrance in the history of the Alsace region.

A lovely snowshoe walk in a place steeped in legends and the history of the 1914-1918 war.

This circular hike starts in the village of Le Bonhomme and follows the "Circuit de la Grande Guerre sur le massif de la Tête des Faux" (Great War Trail on the Tête des Faux massif), which was a fierce battlefield between 1914 and 1915. Here you will find remnants of the 1914-18 war, two imposing cemeteries, as well as fortifications and technical installations erected by the Germans. The Étang du Devin and its bucolic setting offer a place to rest.

A very beautiful circular hike from Le Bonhomme, which is not too busy. We were lucky enough to pass through areas filled with flowering foxgloves... magnificent.A varied route through forests and pastures.

An uphill section towards Lake Noir on the slope of Orbey.

A beautiful hike alternating between forest, meadows and the neighbourhoods of Labaroche, with beautiful views.

Labaroche is a very large commune. This hike takes you around the upper part of the village, so the elevation gain is modest. The route is divided into two parts and goes around Le Cras and Petit Hohnack. The detour around Le Cras follows forest paths to the Herrenwasen pass. This hike includes a few sections on small mountain roads and is particularly recommended in autumn when nature is ablaze with colour.

This short route, starting from the centre of the village of Labaroche, invites you to discover this magnificent village from a slightly higher vantage point. The route skilfully alternates between tarmac and trails, forests and open landscapes, offering a beautiful glimpse of what the region has to offer. The main destination of the hike is the Château du Petit Hohnack, which offers a well-deserved mid-route break with a 360° panoramic view and a bit of history to accompany the landscape. This is the only real difficulty of the route, not technical, but physical. However, it is short and easily avoidable if you don't feel like it, or if you are cycling.

This route is structured around four main routes, four atmospheres, four ways of experiencing the landscape. Panoramic at times, through woodland at others, or deep in the forest, with a rhythm of ascents and descents. They cross or skirt the village, opening up views to the east or west, sometimes wide-open, sometimes more secluded. The route begins with a gentle climb, ideal for warming up, as it crosses through the village. We tackle the hill via a very pleasant forest path. Upon reaching the end of the route, after visiting the ‘Le Gestion’ site, we head south again along a wider path, offering breathtaking views to the west. The grand finale: a mix of trails and wide paths, with a breathtaking view of the Alsace plain.

Starting from the village of Labaroche, nestled and scattered across its plateau between the Munster Valley and the Welche region, this circular walk will take you past old farmhouses and the villas of this beautiful mountain suburb of Colmar. The highlight: the medieval ruins of the Château du Petit Hohnack.

A lovely, relatively easy hike that takes you to Lacs Blancs and Lacs Noirs via the lower route. The route is suitable for winter, when the ridges are too snow-covered to hike easily without snowshoes.

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 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.

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

Beautiful hike in the Val d'Argent, via the Tree of Liberty, to discover the old mines of the village of Échery and its clock tower. Climb to the summit of Grand Brézouard and enjoy a 360° panorama of the Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines valley and the Vosges mountain ranges.

If you want to go on a beautiful hike starting from the Col des Bagenelles, between the valleys of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines and Kaysersberg, the Petit and Grand Brezouard tour is for you. Here is the Tour des Petit and Grand Brezouard, which offers views of these two valleys, the Alsace plain and, in the distance, the Black Forest. Very well marked by the Club Vosgien, it is suitable for all types of hikers, including children. 20/08/2024: Hike modified to avoid the Grand Brézouard, which has been unmarked to reinforce the quiet zone.