Heidwiller Castle

The starting point is at Place de la Mairie, near the junction with Rue d’Illfurth. There are a few parking spaces there.

(S/E) Start the route by heading south. Pass the church, the main gate of the castle, a small cemetery and then the town hall. Just after the town hall, turn left up Rue du Vignoble. After a left-hand bend, turn right to stay on Rue du Vignoble.

(1) Then take Rue des Sources on the right. Leave the village and enter the forest. The path then turns sharply to the left. Walk up to a crossroads with a wayside shrine and a bench.

(2) At the wayside shrine, turn right onto a path marked with a Red Disc. The path turns sharply to the right. Ignore a path that turns left and continue to Buckenberg. Then leave the marked path by turning right. Immediately afterwards, the path turns sharply to the left. At the corner there is an information board, a bench and a viewpoint. Continue down this path, which is marked with further information boards.

(3) At the T-junction, head down to the right towards the village. Once you reach the village and the road becomes tarmac again, turn left at the T-junction. Walk alongside the castle grounds, veer slightly to the right and pass a cross to reach a crossroads.

(4) Turn right into Rue de Dannemarie. About 50 m further on, cross the road carefully and then turn left onto Chemin Auweg. The path turns sharply left, then, a little further on, runs alongside a stream. Continue until you reach a canal and its lock number 29.

(5) Do not cross the canal but turn right just before it to follow it on the right-hand side. Continue along this path until you reach the next lock (number 30). Then turn right to reach the village via Rue de Spechbach until you come to a Stop sign.

(6) Continue straight on along Rue d’Illfurth and pass a bus stop. Continue along this street until you reach Place de la Mairie. Then turn left towards the bell tower to return to your car park (S/E).

Between points (2) and (3) lies the summit of the Buckenberg (340 m above sea level). A few metres further on, a bench allows you to take a break whilst enjoying a magnificent panoramic view of the region. From this point, there is also a nature trail marked with information boards focusing on the local flora and fauna.

Just before the point (4), as you head back down to the village, you pass Heidwiller Castle. An information panel summarising its history is located by the roadside.