The Lutzelbourg tour

Parking in the small car park before leaving the village, on the road to Dannelbourg.

S/E: Head towards the “Lourdes Oratory Grotto” by taking Rue de la Grotte from the small bridge over the Waldbach stream, climbing gently up to the oratory.

(1) Return to the Route de Dannelbourg, follow it to the right to reach Rue de Phalsbourg.

(2) Turn right, cross the bridge over the Marne-Rhine Canal and the Zorn, then turn right onto Rue Charles Ackermann. Continue until you reach a fork.

(3) Turn left before the sign for the Lutzelbourg exit and head up towards Lutzelbourg Castle, taking the forest path on the left, which is paved with sandstone in places and features sandstone steps marked with a Red Ring as you approach the ruins.

(4) Don’t miss a visit to this 12th-century ruined castle set in gently undulating terrain with some fine views. Continue towards the Source Mélusine and the Rocher du Petit Moulin along the forest path, still marked with a Red Ring, to join the forest track, which you follow for about twenty metres.

(5) Turn left and follow the narrow forest path which descends to the Source Mélusine and then reaches the Rocher du Petit Moulin and its lovely gazebo:a spot for a picnic and a lovely view of the village, the canal and the Rocher du Krappenfels.

(6) Option 1: Continue towards Lutzelbourg, either by taking the metal grating staircase between the rocks, or by going round it to the right via the path marked with a Blue Triangle, towards “lock 24, rock bypass”.
From the foot of the rock, follow the pretty, shaded path, which is all downhill, marked with a Blue Triangle and a Red Ring, until you reach the junction with Rue Adolphe Joseph Konzett. Route running from (6) (7) (8) to (9) as shown on the map.

Option 2: To shorten the long tarmac section between (7) and (9), go round the back of the Petit Moulin rock gazebo (6), following the Blue Ring (modified route), and join the Gewinnwald forest road. Turn left and continue for about 300m before turning onto the forest path on the left, just before the bend. Follow it down to the underpass beneath the railway line, cross the D38 (beware of traffic), cross the small bridge over the Zorn, then turn right to follow the canal and reach lock 24. Route starting from (6) directly to (9).

(7) Cross the road, turn right and, after 50 m, turn left onto the path leading to a car park. Turn right onto the “fitness trail”, cross a small bridge over the Zorn and reach the quay of the Marne-Rhine Canal.

(8) Follow this flat route to the right past locks 22 and 23 to cross lock 24.

(9) Turn left onto the Route du Canal to reach a junction of forest tracks forming a square.

(10) Head towards Lutzelbourg on the left, following Route du Canal for about 100 m, then turn right onto the narrow, uphill path named “Promenade circulaire Gustave Hentz”, marked with a Yellow Ring, until you reach the junction with a stony forest track.

(11) Turn left onto this forest road for about 50 m, then turn right onto a narrow, somewhat steep path marked with a Yellow Ring and Yellow Triangle towards Krappenfels Brunnenthal, which joins another forest path further up.

(12) Turn right onto this path towards Brunnenthal (marked with a Yellow Ring and Yellow Triangle), leaving the path towards Krappenfels (marked with a Yellow Triangle) on your left. Follow this lovely, narrow, gently undulating path, which is shaded and lined with imposing rocks, until you reach the junction with a path on the left towards Bellevue Pulsfels Krappenfels, marked with a Yellow Ring.

(13) Climb the winding “Schade Path” between the rocks to reach the forest road marked with a Yellow Ring towards “Bellevue Pulsfels Krappenfels” on flat ground. Continue to the left. At the end of the bend in the forest road, a sign indicates “Pulsfels Bellevue 50 m”. Turn left after this distance onto the narrow path hidden by tall grass to reach the Pulsfels Bellevue viewpoint and its bench.

(14) Continue along the grassy path marked with a Yellow Ring until you reach the junction with the stony forest road leading down towards Lutzelbourg. Follow this for about 250 m until you reach the junction with the small path on the right towards “Krappenfels”, marked with a Yellow Ring and Yellow Triangle.

(15) Follow the narrow, shaded path marked "Krappenfels", following the same markings, until you reach a rock with a small waterfall on the right.

(16) Continue along the path with the same markings to the Rocher du Krappenfels (Rocher du Corbeau), which offers a lovely view of the village and the castle (picnic area).

(17) To return to the village, take the winding downhill path marked with a Yellow Rectangle^GR®®532and a Yellow Ring signposting Lutzelbourg until you reach the junction with the Route de Trois Maisons.

(18) Turn left onto this road, then continue along Rue de Phalsbourg until you reach the junction you passed on the way there.

(2) Keep right onto Rue de Dannelbourg to return to the car park (S/E).

Shelter at the gazebo on the Rocher du Petit Moulin.

The Lourdes prayer grotto.
The ruined castle.
The Petit Moulin Rock.
The Pulsfels Bellevue and Corbeau rocks.