Metzeral circular route via the southern slope and the church at l’Emm

You can park in the station car park or simply come by train!

(S/E) From the station car park, head towards the village centre via Rue de la Gare until you reach the Grand’Rue.

(1) Turn left, then right onto Rue de Mittlach, passing Metzeral Town Hall, heading towards Mittlach. Pass the Protestant church and carry on straight ahead. On leaving the village, you’ll reach the corner by the cemetery.

(2) Take the path on the left which goes round the cemetery, towards Schnepfenried or Wolfgasse. At the first junction in the forest, turn left, following the sign for “Schnepfenried via Blue Disc”. The path winds uphill to a forest track. Take a detour to the viewpoint on the left, then retrace your steps and continue along the forest track (unmarked) which climbs past a small castle known as “Château Immer” and some small granite pumping stations. After a wide bend to the right, you’ll reach a small crossroads.

(3) Turn left, towards “Emm”. At the bottom of the fairly steep path, turn left, then, at the junction, turn right towards the majestic church of Emm, which overlooks the Great Munster Valley.

(4) Before heading down towards the village, step inside the church, built from Carrara and Siena marble, a monument dedicated to the soldiers who fell during the First World War. Walk down the Emm hill, keeping straight on, until you reach a bus stop, near the Wormsa Community Centre and a former factory that has been converted into a business incubator.

(5) Turn right onto the gently sloping path, then cross the stream known as La Fecht. Further up, at the site of a former skittle alley, take the narrow, very steep path (unmarked) opposite, which climbs through the forest and joins a marked forest track. Turn right and stay on this path, marked with a Blue Diamond, until you reach the hamlet of Meyersbuhl.

(6) On this circular path, follow the unmarked path branching off to the left towards Kuhfeil. Pass one junction and reach a second one.

(7) Turn left onto the path marked with a Red Saltire and Red Ring towards the magnificent viewpoint overlooking Metzeral and the Upper Fecht Valley, with the Rothenbachkopf on the horizon.
Head down the path, which becomes a forest track – still marked with a Red Saltire and Red Ring – until you reach an idyllic path on the right. This path leads into the village at the nursery school. Walk down Rue de la Gare to the car park (S/E).

Metzeral railway station car park; you can travel by train.
A few picnic tables along the route.
Food and refreshments available at the Soleil d’Or, in the centre of Metzeral.

Names and meanings of the Club Vosgien signposts.

Places to visit:

• The Emm Memorial Church, a monument dedicated to the soldiers of 1914–1918.
• The viewing points and scenic spots overlooking Metzeral.
• The centre of Metzeral, a typical mountain village in the Munster Valley.