Guirbaden Castle from Grendelbruch

Rediscover the largest fortified castle in Alsace, currently undergoing restoration.

Details

837403
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.41 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 30 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 146 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 145 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 603 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 505 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in the car park located after the cemetery in the Guirbaden district (marked on Google Maps).

(S/E) From the car park, retrace your steps and take the slightly uphill road immediately to the right.

(1) Admire the view of the village and Hohbuhl, then continue along the forest path.

(2) At the house with a car park at the rear, take the path on the right to climb gently towards Breitsteige. Keep right at the next fork.

(3) Gaps in the trees offer unobstructed views.

(4) At the junction, continue to the right. On the descent to the Col de Wolfsgrube, there are beautiful panoramic views of the hills and the plain. On a clear day, you can see Strasbourg Cathedral.

(5) At the Col de Wolfsgrube, turn left and follow the red-white-red marked trail that leads to Guirbaden Castle.

(6) Take the time to visit the castle. Since 2015, volunteers from the "Save Guirbaden" association have been working to restore this 260-metre-long, 70-metre-wide colossus, which had been buried under vegetation. The result is spectacular.

Return via the red-white-red trail to the Wolfsgrube Pass.

(5) Turn left and then immediately right onto the red-white-red trail.

(7) Along the way, turn right for a short detour to the chapel and Rocher Catherine.

(8) Retrace your steps.

(7) Continue to the right to return to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 515 m - Car park for Guirbaden Castle. Close to the - Magel (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 0.25 - alt. 519 m - Panoramic view of Grendelbruch and Hohbuhl
  3. 2 : km 0.91 - alt. 544 m - Forest house, path on the right
  4. 3 : km 1.76 - alt. 602 m - Walk along the - Breitsteige (604 m)
  5. 4 : km 2.65 - alt. 583 m - Junction, on the right
  6. 5 : km 3.07 - alt. 531 m - Col de Wolfsgrube (531 m)
  7. 6 : km 3.91 - alt. 571 m - Château de Guirbaden (Mollkirch)
  8. 7 : km 6.75 - alt. 525 m - Turn-off towards Rocher Catherine
  9. 8 : km 6.83 - alt. 529 m - Chapelle et Rocher Catherine (530 m)
  10. S/E : km 7.41 - alt. 515 m - Car park for Guirbaden Castle. Near - Rocher de Grendelbruch (612 m)

Worth a visit

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 61 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.6 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
rando-baroudeur
rando-baroudeur

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 18, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk that we always do at the start of the walking season.
No particular difficulties. Lovely weather, 13°C

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User 9171901

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

5 out of 5

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User 27626010

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Everything was very good, except that the starting point (from the cemetery car park) is not very clear.

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bernard_dorli
bernard_dorli

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A classic in the region.
It's a shame that the vegetation now obscures most of the view of the valleys...

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Nati67
Nati67

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We had a little trouble finding the start of the hike, but otherwise it was very pleasant, easy, shaded, and the castle is well worth a visit.

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User 20349255

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

This is a lovely trail with an easy route and no difficulties.
There was very little traffic on the day of the walk, and the route was completely calm.
The highlight was arriving at the ruins of Guirbaden castle, where the restoration volunteers had done a remarkable job.

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Math67.hmt
Math67.hmt

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : May 29, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Tested today:
The route is easy and the description is accurate!
Fun to do.
Behind the chapel, there's a staircase that goes up to the top, but be careful, it's very steep!

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User 20349255

A fine walk, with no major difficulties. It's a pleasant, peaceful walk through the forest, with the highlight being Guirbaden Castle, where you can see the titanic work carried out by the volunteers helping to restore it.

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Alice Rettel
Alice Rettel

Hi, the hike from the Guirbaden car park to the castle is very pleasant, done with a 3 year old in 1 hour, from time to time carried.
Slightly shaded, m in April, not much difference in altitude, good parking.
A good breath of fresh air!

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Jean Claude 67
Jean Claude 67
• Edited:

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely family hike. Not difficult. A pleasant walk. The castle, restored by volunteers, is well worth a visit. This is an ideal walk for a picnic, as there are plenty of tables and benches for this purpose on the castle site. On the way back, just before the car park, don't miss a visit to the little chapel of Sainte Catherine.

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ottrott
ottrott

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

We were lucky enough to be able to talk to the volunteers who maintain the site. They were very interesting and available.

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tinou52
tinou52

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

nice, pleasant walk, often in the undergrowth, medium difficulty, especially in bad weather.

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Wazouto
Wazouto

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 06, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A very pretty walk, 3/4 of the way along a forest track that is very accessible and not very steep. The access to Guirbaden castle is a little more technical and slippery (for those with a dolly), but it remains a must on the walk with a magnificent view over Grendelbruch and the Bruche valley. There is also the option of visiting a rock at the car park for those who want to extend what was a fairly short walk.

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fabienneriehl
fabienneriehl
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Lovely hike with little change in altitude.
The sun at altitude allowed us to get through the fog and enjoy the beautiful views!
The Château du Guirbaden was a wonderful discovery.

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Nicolas et Peggy
Nicolas et Peggy

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 16, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful walk accessible to all...

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