The Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle

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).

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.75 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 00 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 1,650 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 1,631 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,408 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 830 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from Saint Hippolyte, car park at the village hall. Leave the wine route and take the RD1B1 towards Haut-Koenigsbourg. The car park is on the right.

(S/E) With your back to the car park entrance, take Rue du Parc opposite, between the village hall and the Le Parc hotel-restaurant. When you reach a small square with containers, continue along Rue du Parc, which turns right. At the end of the tarmac road, at the fork, take the right-hand road towards Schaentzel (Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle will come into view opposite). A little further on, rejoin the road and continue straight ahead facing the castle (signposted towards the lake). Leave the first path on your right and continue along the road. Further on, leave another path on your right (towards Rocher du Sanglier).

(1) Immediately take the next path on the right, marked Anneau Rouge towards Vallon des Moulins. (marked Muehlreben on the IGN map). A little further on, at the Y-junction, stay on the left-hand path (follow the signs). See the information boards about the ruins of two old mills.

(2) When you reach a crossroads with several paths, continue to the right, still following the red ring markings towards Ermitage, then after 150 m take the path on the left uphill.

(3) Further up, leave this path and turn right onto a path leading to the ruins of a small chapel, Tombe de l'Ermite. The path continues slightly downhill and then climbs back up to Roche des Fées.

(4) After 5 minutes, the path turns left and climbs up to Schaentzel. When you reach the road (RD42), turn right.

(5) At Schaentzel, cross the crossroads and take the path on the right, passing in front of the buildings. Continue straight ahead, following the red rectangle signs for Haut-Koenigsbourg. At the first Y-junction, take the left-hand path. At the next two junctions, stay on the right-hand path. Cross the road twice and continue straight ahead. Continue to the Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg.

(6) At the foot of the castle, take the hairpin bend to the left onto the path marked with a red ring, the circular walk around Oedenbourg, the ruins of another castle.

(7) After completing the loop around the castles, return to the road, where you will find a platform with public telescopes offering views of the Alsace plain. Descend to the right of the small building called "Pavillon du Haut-Koenigsbourg" via a fairly steep stone staircase. The trail forms a loop. At the next intersection, continue straight ahead, following the red-white-red signpost towards Orschwiller. Further down, the trail turns sharply to the right.

(8) Pass a fountain. Cross the road and continue along the path, following the yellow diamond signs.

(9) Return to the road and follow it to the right and then right again to arrive at a place called Schaflager (hotel-restaurant). Take the path that passes in front of the building.

(10) Further on, leave the forest path and take a trail on the right, still following the yellow diamond markings towards "Saint Hippolyte par le Langenberg". After a long while, take a right turn towards an orientation table.

(11) Continue east. Further down, follow a fence separating the forest and vineyard.

(12) When you reach an opening in the fence, turn right towards Saint-Hippolyte, following the yellow diamond signs (downhill path, parallel to the rows of vines).

Before a fence with a metal gate, turn completely left onto a grassy path, facing the large antennas of Sélestat. (Alternatively, you can return directly to Saint Hippolyte by going through this gate and continuing straight ahead).

Go through a gate, turning right and then left, find the blue triangle sign and follow the path along the hillside.
Pass through a small wood with steps to reach Orschwiller.

(13) Just before the road, turn right onto a gravel path (glass recycling bins) and climb a small hill with an orientation table, above the church and cemetery.

Continue south-west through the vineyards towards Saint-Hippolyte, following the yellow-white-yellow rectangular signs.
Then, at the entrance to the village, continue right until you reach the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 840 ft - Car park at the village hall
  2. 1 : mi 0.7 - alt. 925 ft - Towards the Vallon des Moulins
  3. 2 : mi 1.47 - alt. 1,309 ft - Crossroads
  4. 3 : mi 1.76 - alt. 1,516 ft - Towards the Hermit's Tomb
  5. 4 : mi 2.09 - alt. 1,503 ft - Fairy Rock
  6. 5 : mi 2.61 - alt. 1,909 ft - Place name Schaentzel - Col du Schaentzel (584m)
  7. 6 : mi 3.44 - alt. 2,333 ft - Towards the Oedenbourg loop - Château de l'Oedenbourg
  8. 7 : mi 4.04 - alt. 2,306 ft - Platform in front of the - Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg
  9. 8 : mi 4.63 - alt. 1,867 ft - Fountain
  10. 9 : mi 5.07 - alt. 1,614 ft - Place called Schaflager
  11. 10 : mi 5.36 - alt. 1,516 ft - Towards Langenberg
  12. 11 : mi 6.12 - alt. 1,283 ft - Orientation table
  13. 12 : mi 6.33 - alt. 1,138 ft - Passing through the fence
  14. 13 : mi 6.86 - alt. 892 ft - Orschwiller - Eglise Saint-Maurice d'Orschwiller
  15. S/E : mi 7.75 - alt. 840 ft - Car park at the village hall

Notes

Summary of signposts:
- From Saint-Hippolyte to Schaentzel = Red Ring
- From Schaentzel to Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle = Red Rectangle + Castle Route
- From Haut-Koenigsbourg to Orschwiller = Yellow Diamond

Worth a visit

- Visit Haut-Koenigsbourg Castle.
- See the typical villages along the wine route.
- In Kintzheim: the Monkey Mountain and the Eagle Park.

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 71 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.8 / 5
User 2472482

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 09, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk. Lots of people around the castle. The circular route around the castle is still not accessible.
A problem at the end of the walk as the winegrowers have put up a fence preventing us from going down to Saint-Hippolyte.

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User 20446305

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

The loop around the castle is temporarily closed. To avoid having to turn back during the loop (there is no indication of this before you come across the gates preventing you from continuing), you can follow the "Trail HK" signs, which offer an alternative route and take you back to the correct path.
Once in the vineyards, after the steps, I couldn't find the small path through the grove. A little off-trail walking allowed me to find my way back, but not everyone may appreciate this. Rather than turning left and taking the steps, it may be preferable to continue straight ahead. You will then enjoy a beautiful view of Saint-Hippolyte from the vineyards.
Despite these two points, the hike is very pleasant and offers variety: forest, streams, beautiful views, medieval ruins, a rather pleasant descent and vineyards.

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corinnedgd
corinnedgd

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike, mostly through the forest except for the beginning and end, which are through vineyards and a bit through the village. Beautiful views of Haut Koenigsbourg Castle. Please note that point 7 cannot be reached as there is construction work in front of the castle and the closure of the path is not signposted. You have to go to the right of the castle to reach point 7. I recommend it and will do it again.

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oiseaulyre
oiseaulyre

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A magnificent hike in the heart of the forest which, after the effort of the climb, allowed us to relax while visiting the castle. The route was very well signposted and enjoyable

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Klein Alison
Klein Alison

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A lovely walk with my dog.
No trouble following the paths thanks to the GPS and directions.
However, due to the school holidays, there were a lot of people at Haut-Koenigsbourg, so I didn't go there and just drove through.
The walk was mainly through forest, which was very pleasant.
No particular difficulties

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User 20918809

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 02, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk.

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lipi
lipi

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 21, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely walk, mostly in the forest.

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tchiokz
tchiokz

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 03, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Very nice walk, varied scenery. Nice gradient to finish around the château.
Quiet return downhill through the vineyards.
Don't forget to visit the little village on the way back.
Why not continue the walk in the little village next to Bergheim?

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pompom76
pompom76

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The tours with viso are always top-notch 👍🏻!

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Djikinmberce
Djikinmberce

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Visiorando was very useful because the details of the route corresponded exactly with the map. On my own I had no problems from departure to arrival.
Thanks for the work 🙂

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MCHEVIRON
MCHEVIRON

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A great walk with the option of visiting the castle, well worth the effort.

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jldequin
jldequin

Overall rating : 5 / 5

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

A gentle climb through the forest from Saint Hippolyte, with a wild boar on the way.
There were lots of people at the chateau and a pleasant return journey that ended in the vineyards.
A beautiful walk

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Mww
Mww

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

very nice tour

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jc30150
jc30150

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 24, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk from a winegrowers' village (easier parking). Climb through a thick forest, ideal in the summer heat. Arrive at the château (visited 12th) and enjoy a cold drink with a view over the Alsace plain. Return down another path (small staircase next to the refreshment room) to round off a fine day. Beautiful hike, beautiful region!

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serge vacher
serge vacher

We did this walk as described and we had the GPS track so we had no trouble following it. It seemed to us to be as described and it was a lovely walk that took us to the château, to visit it and then to walk back down to the car park.

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