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:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.04 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 2h 15 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 489 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 472 ft

  • ▲
    Highest point: 2,152 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,699 ft

Photos

Description of the walk

Car park at the village hall.

Blue Ring signposting

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

(1) Take the hairpin bend to the right onto the Natzwiller panoramic path and continue for about 700 m until you cross the Route de Struthof.

(2) Carry on straight ahead along the forest track. A few tables and benches have been set up along this 2 km route, which offers stunning views of the Rothaine Valley. You’ll come to a Fork in the road (see alternative route * in the practical information section).

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

(4) Take the sharp right-hand bend. At the first crossroads, carry straight on. Finally, 150 m further on, at the next crossroads, turn right and walk past 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 : mi 0 - alt. 1,699 ft - Village hall car park
  2. 1 : mi 0.97 - alt. 1,847 ft - Approach to the D130
  3. 2 : mi 1.47 - alt. 1,991 ft - Crossing the Route de Struthof
  4. 3 : mi 1.76 - alt. 2,080 ft - Fork in the road (alternative route)
  5. 4 : mi 2.95 - alt. 2,106 ft - Junction
  6. 5 : mi 3.31 - alt. 1,906 ft - Rue de Mintzefeld
  7. S/E : mi 4.03 - alt. 1,699 ft - Village hall car park

Notes

Route de randonnée C09:
Walking boots, drinks, and appropriate clothing and protective gear for the weather.

  • (3) Alternative route: a return trip to the large quarry (approx. 2 km, + 1 hour).

500 m further on, you’ll come to the quarry path marked with a Red Triangle. Take this path to the left to reach the site of the former Struthof quarry. The climb is very steep.

Worth a visit

Find more walking routes on the Bruche Valley Tourist Office’s walking 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 Diocese of Strasbourg. It is therefore not part of the same district as Neuviller-la-Roche – a Protestant village in the Ban de la Roche region – even though it lies directly opposite. Another difference in Natzwiller is that it is more common to hear the Alsatian dialect spoken, whereas in Neuviller-la-Roche a local dialect of Romance origin prevails.
  • The Rothaine Valley runs from west to east through the Champ du Feu massif. Unlike the Donon massif, which consists of layers of volcanic rock topped by sandstone, the Champ du Feu massif is formed of granite that slowly crystallised deep within the ancient Hercynian mountain range before being exposed by erosion.
  • The granite from the Natzwiller quarry is distinctive for its colour – a pink granite (generally grey in the Champ du Feu range) – which the German authorities between 1939 and 1945 wished to exploit.
  • Throughout history, Natzwiller was the village where miners working at the Ban de la Roche sites (primarily the Rothau mines) lived. This workforce came from across the Rhine, which may explain the Germanic influence on this bank of the Rothaine.
  • Following the decline of the mining industry, the textile industry became the main livelihood of the region’s inhabitants from the 19th century onwards, alongside agriculture and livestock farming. The Jacquel family’s spinning mills were established in Natzwiller and remained in operation until the mid-20th century.
  • Today, the small village of Natzwiller is a haven of tranquillity, nestled at the bottom of the Rothaine valley, where it is a pleasure to stroll and admire the beautiful scenery.

Reviews and comments

4.6 / 5
Based on 15 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
User 29834486

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 10, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely walk, no difficulty at all

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

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).

Machine-translated

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.)

Machine-translated

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

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

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

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

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

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

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.

Machine-translated

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!

Machine-translated

Other walks in the area

For more walks, use our search engine .

The GPS track and description are the property of this route's author. Please do not copy them without permission.