Le Hohwald walks

This route is the first part of thefourth stage of a seven-day tour of the Alsatian side of the Vosges mountains. Most of the route is on forest roads in good condition. The signage is excellent, consisting of signs with an orange or red mountain bike logo and the letters TMV (Traversée du Massif Vosgien).

A pleasant loop starting from Hohwald, passing by the Andlau waterfall and the Kreuzweg. Can be done as an afternoon walk or a half-day outing including lunch at the Kreuzweg farmhouse inn.

Le Hohwald is a bit like our "Little Switzerland of Alsace". It has a Swiss-like calm and a feeling of tranquillity. The hike is mainly on forest roads, paths and trails (about 4 hours, not including breaks), accessible to families, with beautiful views of the village and some of the surrounding peaks such as Neuntelstein (970m) and Ungersberg (901m). On a clear day, you can see Haut-Koenigsbourg (757m) and the Rocher du Coucou antenna (856m).

This hike will take you from Hohwald to Champ du Feu and Col de la Charbonnière. There are beautiful views of the Vosges from Crête des Myrtilles.

In a beautiful forest setting, you will cross numerous streams and arrive at the waterfall formed by the Andlau river in the middle of the rocks. A short hike with moderate slopes and a pretty destination, ideal for young children or occasional walkers.

A pleasant short hike through the hills and forests of Hohwald.

A very beautiful hike featuring two magnificent waterfalls (Andlau and Serva) and passing through Champ du Feu and Chaume des Veaux.The hike is accessible in all seasons. Most of it is in the forest, except for the section at the top of Champ du Feu. Magnificent in autumn and winter.I have rated the difficulty as "difficult" due to the elevation gain, but the hike does not present any technical difficulties.

Walk at 1,000 metres in the forests around Rothlach. Curiosities, places of remembrance and breathtaking views make this hike a successful outing.

A beautiful hike passing through the pass and the Charbonnière inn, where you can recharge your batteries with some good food, before reaching the highest point of the Champ du Feu. On the way back, you will pass by the paragliding launch site with a magnificent view of the Villé valley.

Beautiful snowshoe trek beneath the Champ du Feu from the Col du Kreuzweg. Pass through the Pelage site, a paragliding centre offering a superb view, then through the Chaume des Beaux, a beautiful open space in which to enjoy the sun. Some "off-track" sections for the sake of fun in the snow but with the option to stay on the marked trails for those who want it.

A walk from Champ du Feu to the Andlau Waterfall (also known as the Hohwald Waterfall) via Chaume des Veaux, with views of the Ungersberg, Val de Villé and Haut-Koenigsbourg

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.

An easy hike to Champ du Feu, the highest peak in the Bas-Rhin at 1,099 metres above sea level, offering breathtaking views of the surrounding peaks. Pass by the tower, yurts and stunning viewpoints over Climont and then the Val de Villé.

Loop hike starting from Barr. Follow the Kirneck river, then the former Barr railway line to Birkenfels Castle. Beautiful view from the Jadelot kiosk. On the way back, you will discover Landsberg Castle.

A lovely walk to discover Birkenfels Castle with beautiful views, easy to do with children.

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).

This very short route takes you along a small section of the Mur Païen, then past the Grotte des Druides and the site of the Air Inter Airbus 320 crash on 20 January 1992. This easy walk is an excellent way for anyone wishing to learn how to use mobile GPS tracking.

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

The 10.5 km long "Mur Païen" (Pagan Wall) is the remains of an ancient wall located on Mont Sainte-Odile, a mountain in the Vosges, in the Bas-Rhin department, rising to an altitude of 764 metres and topped by a convent founded by Saint Odile, the Abbey of Hohenbourg, which overlooks the Alsace plain.

This classic stop in Alsace is more of a stroll than a real hike. The magnificent convent, flanked by beautiful little chapels, built entirely of pink Vosges sandstone, offers stunning views of the Alsace plain in all directions.

Hike to the Champ du Feu by climbing up the Serva

A beautiful circular walk from Andlau, accessible to all. The circuit passes through vineyards at the start, then takes you to the Haut-Andlau and Spesbourg castles. There are beautiful views along the route (Kastelberg - Rocher Sainte Richarde - Spesbourg). There is a fun section via the "Chemin des Espiègles" (Path of the Mischievous Ones), with little wooden gnomes placed on the trees.

The Ungersberg offers a panoramic view of the Alsace plain. Ideal in autumn when the vineyards are ablaze with colour.

Discover the medieval ruins of the fortified castles to the west of Mont Sainte-Odile and the northern pagan wall via magnificent trails such as the Merveilles and Chemin de Croix, with its ceramics by Léon Eldinger adorning the rock face. A fascinating heritage that volunteers are keen to restore.

The Mur Païen, 10.5 km long, is the remains of an ancient wall located around the perimeter of Mont Sainte-Odile. At an altitude of 764 m, the summit overlooks the Alsace plain. The Abbey of Hohenbourg, founded by Saint Odile, stands there.

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.

A short, easy hike that alternates between pleasant little vineyard roads and good forest paths. The Château du Haut-Andlau, built in the 13th century and still in good condition, is the highlight of this figure-of-eight route. There are also some beautiful views to enjoy.

This balcony trail offers a pleasant walk to discover the trees and plants of the local flora overlooking the village of Natzwiller and offers beautiful views of the picturesque landscape of the Rothaine valley. A variant along the way gives you the option of a round trip to a important memorial site.

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.

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 hike through stubble fields and forests, with superb scenery. Departure from Belmont, with the option of refreshments at Col de la Charbonnière

A pleasant and easy hike to discover the ruins of Niedermunster Abbey, the Lucie Fountain, Mont Sainte-Odile and the southern passage of the Mur Païen.

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 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.

A beautiful hike in the Obernai forest, on little-used paths, allowing you to discover the castles of Hagelschloss, Dreistein, Birkenfels and Kagenfels. The route also runs along the pagan wall (a magical place) on its western side, passing through the Koeberlé gate. You will discover the Kienberg, little known but offering a beautiful view, ideal for a picnic. Finally, you will walk along a large part of the magnificent Chemin des Bornes. Please note that this hike is long and includes some very steep climbs, which explains its difficulty. Shortcuts are available for those who do not wish to complete the entire route.

The camel trail is part of a lovely circular walk that starts at the Auberge du Moenkalb. Discover boundary stones dating from 1778 that were used to mark the boundaries of forest plots. The initials ABGW stand for Amts Barr Gemeine Waldungen. Take a look at the trees in this diverse forest (fir, hornbeam, elm, chestnut, maple, etc.). Allow 20 to 30 minutes to visit Landsberg Castle.

An easy hike that will take you to the two castles of Andlau: Andlau and Spesbourg.

A walk passing by many historical points, following the astonishing pagan wall around Mont Sainte-Odile.

This is a circular hike, with Mont Sainte Odile as its highlight, an iconic place of pilgrimage dedicated to the patron saint of Alsace. There are beautiful views of the Alsace plain from the site, with orientation tables. In good weather, you may be lucky enough to see Strasbourg Cathedral. The route also takes you along the mysterious Mur Païen (Pagan Wall). On the way back, you will see the ruins of Hagelschlos and Ottrott castles (which are not open to visitors). Please note: dogs are not allowed inside the monastery grounds.

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.

Enjoy a 360° view of one of the prettiest vineyards in the Bas-Rhin with views of the Vosges foothills. In good weather, you can see Strasbourg Cathedral, the Black Forest and even the Bernese Alps. An easy hike in the Schernetz Valley, through vineyards, including two famous sites: the "Sohlenberg" (pink sandstone from the Vosges) and the "Shiefferberg" (schist soil). You will pass through three authentic villages and the Chapel of the 14 Saints next to Baumgarten Abbey.

A beautiful 14 km round trip hike via Landsberg Castle to Mont Sainte-Odile. Superb views of the Barr region, the Alsace plain and, in good weather, the Black Forest in Germany.

A short, easy walk through the vineyards of Ottrott.

This hike from Ottrott takes you to Mont Sainte-Odile, an iconic site in Alsace, rich in history and offering exceptional panoramic views. The route passes through dense forests, remarkable rock formations and places steeped in legend, as well as points of interest such as the Rocher Oberkirch and the Grotte d'Étichon. This circular loop, combining well-marked trails and forest paths, promises a complete immersion in the Alsatian countryside.

This loop starts in Ottrott-le-Haut and passes by the castles of Ottrott, the Elsberg shelter and the Hohenburgerberg, returning to Ottrott via the Compostela pilgrims' trail.

This hike is not particularly difficult and offers magnificent views of the valleys and the Donon. It combines a forest path with a balcony view and a forest crossing.

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.

Loop hike starting from Klingenthal. The circuit takes us to the summit of the Heidenkopf, where you can climb the tower to enjoy a 360° view from the orientation table. We then reach the place known as Verloreneck (meaning "lost corner") with its surprising arrangement of megaliths, known as Merlin's Garden. The circuit is mainly through forest.

Here is a short hike to quickly and easily discover Purpurkopf. Recent archaeological excavations suggest that it is the oldest castle in Alsace and not a Celtic camp. There is a lot of information and videos on the internet. It is located in the commune of Rosheim, not far from Grendelbruch.

A short, easy hike passing through places with evocative names: Goldbrunnen (golden fountain), Carrières d'Or (golden quarries) and Purpurkopf, an ancient Celtic and Roman site.

From the mountain village of Grendelbruch, this loop, mainly located south of this village of 1,250 inhabitants, sets off to explore the Piton du Falkenstein, a magnificent rocky outcrop offering a beautiful view of the Bruche Valley. This hike continues via the Col du Bruchberg, the climb through the stubble fields to the Signal de Grendelbruch and its 360° view, then follows the climb to Hohbuhl through the forest. Next, pleasant trails take you to the Col du Beyerlager and then to the Col de la Franzur. You will make some magnificent discoveries, alternating between village streets, forest, undergrowth, thatched roofs, forest roads and pretty little trails. And there are plenty of viewpoints!

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

This hike takes you past the Grendelbruch Rock and the Breitsteige Rocks. Unfortunately, the latter are increasingly hidden by vegetation. There are other rocks that are more easily accessible: see § Practical information. In the description, however, I will indicate a way to avoid the most difficult parts.

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.

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.

Hike that goes around Grendelbruch on its southern side. Passes through several mountain passes and offers magnificent views at Schelmeck and Falkenstein peak. A little bit of tarmac at the start (crossing Grendelbruch) then a mix of forest paths, trails through woods and meadows.

A lovely, easy walk with many breathtaking views of the Bruche Valley, the Donon, the Wisches quarry, the Alsace plain and the Château du Guirabden. This is a simple circuit in terms of length and elevation, with a mix of forest paths and trails through either forest or pastureland.

A beautiful hike allowing you to discover the Heidenkopf with the Mündel Tower and the Verloreneck shelter.

Near Boersch, Mollkirch, Grendelbruch, Ottrott, in the Bischoffsheim forest. Through magnificent pine, fir, oak and beech forests, the paths and trails climb towards the Heidenkopf, where the 20-metre-high Mündel Tower, built in 1909 by the Club Vosgien, offers a 360° panoramic view of the Alsace plain, the Black Forest, the Vosges foothills, the Champ du Feu massif and the Bruche valley. Numerous signs put up by the Club Vosgien de Rosheim, particularly in the car park, present the various hiking options in the area, including this one.

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

On a steep hillside above the village of Mollkirch, this trail invites you to discover the mysteries of the forest. Druids, elves, dolmens and stones dot the trail, along with a dozen information panels. The walk also includes a visit to one of the largest fortresses in Alsace: Guirbaden Castle.

This is a classic route that will take you past magnificent castles set on granite bases, offering beautiful views of the plain and even the Alps if the weather is favourable. Halfway along the route, the little Huhnelmuhle inn is a great place to stop for a bite to eat in a very friendly atmosphere. The return journey takes you through the vineyards.

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.

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)

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.