The Natzviller panoramic trail

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.

Details

30152369
Creation:
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 6.49 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 149 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 144 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 656 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 518 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park at the village hall.

Blue Ring markings

(S/E) Opposite the village hall, walk up the main street (signposted town hall-church-school) for 30 m, then take the first left (Rue des Jardins). Follow this road and continue along a path, from which you can admire the Rothaine valley and, on the other side, the village of Neuviller-la-Roche. Continue along this path until you approach the D130, ignoring the side paths (view of the Rothaine valley).

(1) Turn right onto the Natzwiller panoramic path and continue for about 700 metres until you cross the Route de Struthof.

(2) Continue straight ahead on the forest path. A few tables and benches have been set up along this 2 km route, which offers beautiful views of the Rothaine valley. You will come to a fork (see alternative route * in practical information).

(3) Continue straight ahead on the discovery trail to reach the heights of Natzwiller (shelter on the left) and continue for 350 m.

(4) Take the hairpin bend to the right. At the first crossroads, continue straight ahead. Finally, 150 m further on, at the new crossroads, turn right and pass over a pond on the left to reach the first houses.

(5) Continue along Rue de Mintzefeld, which joins Rue Principale.
Follow it to the left, cross Rue de la Haute Goutte and continue along Rue Principale to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 518 m - Car park at the village hall
  2. 1 : km 1.57 - alt. 563 m - Start of the D130
  3. 2 : km 2.37 - alt. 607 m - Crossing the Route de Struthof
  4. 3 : km 2.83 - alt. 634 m - Fork (alternative route)
  5. 4 : km 4.75 - alt. 642 m - Fork in the path
  6. 5 : km 5.32 - alt. 581 m - Mintzefeld Street
  7. S/E : km 6.49 - alt. 518 m - Car park at the village hall

Notes

Route for hiking C09:
Walking shoes, drinks, clothing and protective gear appropriate for the weather.

  • (3) Alternative route to the large quarry and back (approx. 2 km, + 1 hour).

500 m further on, you will come across the quarry trail marked with a red triangle. Take this path on the left to reach the site of the former Struthof quarry. The climb is very steep.

Worth a visit

Find other hiking trails on the Bruche Valley Tourist Office hiking website.

  • Natzwiller, formerly known as Saint-Ludel (named after the village's patron saint), is built on the right bank of the Rothaine. Historically, the village is Catholic and belongs to the Bishopric of Strasbourg. It is therefore not part of the same domain as Neuviller-la-Roche, the Protestant village of Ban de la Roche, which lies just opposite. Another difference in Natzwiller is that it is more common to hear Alsatian spoken, whereas in Neuviller-la-Roche, a local patois of Romanic origin prevails.
  • The Rothaine Valley opens from west to east in the Champ du Feu massif. Unlike the Donon massif, which consists of layers of volcanic rock topped with sandstone, the Champ du Feu massif is formed of granite that slowly crystallised in the depths of the ancient Hercynian chain before being exposed by erosion.
  • The granite stone from the Natzwiller quarry is unusual in colour, being pink (generally grey in Champ du Feu), which the German authorities wanted to exploit between 1939 and 1945.
  • Throughout history, Natzwiller has been the village where miners working in the Ban de la Roche mines (mainly the Rothau mines) gathered. These workers came from across the Rhine, which may explain the Germanic influence on this side of the Rothaine.
  • After mining, the textile industry became the main activity of the region's inhabitants in the 19th century, alongside agriculture and livestock farming. The Jacquel family's spinning mills were established in Natzwiller and operated until the mid-20th century.
  • Today, the small village of Natzwiller is a haven of freshness, nestled at the bottom of the Rothaine valley, where it is pleasant to stroll and admire the beautiful landscapes.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 14 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.4 / 5
Ricoborgo
Ricoborgo

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A lovely walk in the hills above Natzwiller with beautiful views of the neighbouring village of Neuviller la Roche. The botanical trail is very interesting and provides lots of information about the many different species found here.
No particular difficulties, but take care at the start and end of the route, which runs along the road through the village.

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caroline.heurgon@gmail.com
caroline.heurgon@gmail.com

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant short hike on a Sunday morning in June with children: beautiful views, a section through the forest that is not very overgrown in places, then through the village streets. There is a botanical section with many species of trees and, best of all, a few well-placed tables and benches for taking a break and enjoying the view.

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Marc Fridisch
Marc Fridisch

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

A lovely walk in the valley on the sunny side, enhanced by the Natzwiller botanical trail (wide variety of coniferous and deciduous trees).

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Ssylvain 88
Ssylvain 88

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

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

There are some lovely spots with tables where you can eat. It's just a shame that they aren't signposted. (To avoid eating on the ground when there's a table 100 metres away.)

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Edouard henri
Edouard henri

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

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

Very beautiful hike

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KIENTZ
KIENTZ

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

It's a shame that part of the route hadn't been cleared; we had to make our own path with our walking sticks.

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ottrott
ottrott

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Easy hike, very pleasant, I recommend it.

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Djee
Djee

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 29, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk for the whole family.
Suitable for children aged 5 to 9 who are used to walking.
Some beautiful panoramic views as a bonus.
We'll happily do it again.

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KOEGLER dominique
KOEGLER dominique

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 11, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Easy panoramic walk with a marked discovery trail featuring the names of local plant species

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fschmittstutz
fschmittstutz

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 29, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A short, easy and rather pretty walk, but the view is often obscured by vegetation. Shady route. Water point for dogs at the end of the walk. We parked above the church.

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Barabaste
Barabaste

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 01, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk with beautiful views, shaded without being dark. Several benches and tables for picnics: with panoramic views

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ehu
ehu

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk. Beautiful views and the little forest paths were lovely. I sometimes had trouble finding my way along the route, especially during the second part in the forest, but you quickly find your way again.

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randokarine
randokarine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We loved this nature walk, away from the main tourist routes, which we did with our two dogs. There are lots of little streams and brooks along the route. Alternating between open and shaded areas. Benches scattered here and there, two picnic tables with magnificent views after points 2 and 3. Discovery trail introducing all kinds of fir trees and other trees after bridge 3, before returning through the small village of Natzwiller. Definitely worth doing.

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Laure19
Laure19

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 22, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful, easy and very pleasant walk. Lovely views all along the way, lots of benches and little streams.
A fun trail to do with children! A real favourite!

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