The two castles

Climb up the path of the three castles, superb view of the region, visit the ruins of two castles, the third is closed to the public, then walk through the forest to reach the monastery "N.D. de Dusenbach", descent via the original Way of the Cross.

Details

8130
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 13.47 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 5h 25 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 555 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 553 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 709 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 255 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S/E) From the car park in the town centre, walk up through the village (Rue du Château) and turn right after the Hôtel du Cheval Blanc. After the school, you can take the direct access to the castles. The climb is quite steep, but you can go around it, continue further to the car park and take the dirt road.

(1) After 1.5 km, you will see a path on the left marked "Les Trois Châteaux"(The Three Castles).

(2) When you arrive at the first castle (Girsberg), you will have a beautiful view of the valley and the other, more imposing castle (Saint Ulrich).

(3) Continue to the other castle (Haut Rbeaupierre).

(4) Climb the tower. Return between the castles and take the path on the left marked with a red rectangle, then red-white-red, to the Carrefour du Cerisier Noir.

(5) At the Black Cherry Tree crossroads, follow the red ring markings to the shelter.

(6) At the Taennchel (Hasenclever) shelter, take the path marked with a yellow triangle downhill, then at the bottom left, take the path marked with a yellow cross to the monastery.

(7) From the Monastery of Notre-Dame de Dusenbach, descend via the Way of the Cross and reach Ribeauvillé (S/E).
Please note: to avoid a dangerous section of road, a user has suggested the following route.
From the monastery, there is a lovely path that descends to the left towards Ribeauvillé and avoids the road: the Maria Raydt Path, which is marked with a blue triangle.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 255 m - Car park in Ribeauvillé town centre. Close to - Strengbach (rivière)
  2. 1 : km 2.13 - alt. 418 m - Turn left towards the 3 Châteaux. - Fontaine du Lutzelbach (Ribeauvillé)
  3. 2 : km 3.24 - alt. 533 m - First castle - Château de Girsberg (Ribeauvillé)
  4. 3 : km 3.41 - alt. 520 m - Second castle - Château de Saint-Ulrich
  5. 4 : km 3.94 - alt. 604 m - Third castle - Château du Haut-Ribeaupierre (Ribeauvillé)
  6. 5 : km 5.1 - alt. 649 m - Black Cherry Crossroads
  7. 6 : km 5.63 - alt. 709 m - Abri du Taennchel (Hasenclever)
  8. 7 : km 10.85 - alt. 400 m - Le Monastère de Dusenbach
  9. S/E : km 13.47 - alt. 255 m - Car park in the town centre.

Notes

- A shelter halfway at the crossroads in the forest (6).
- Safer alternative from the Monastery (7): on the left, the Maria Raydt Trail, marked with a blue triangle.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 13 reviews

Reliability of the description
3.9 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
Evelyne88
Evelyne88

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike with some elevation gain and a well-marked trail. The weather was nice and the castles were magnificent
Thank you for this beautiful hike

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RandoLuc
RandoLuc

Yes, well spotted, highly recommended!
Thank you.

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virgule
virgule

Hello,

as some hikers have pointed out, the section of road between Ste Marie aux Mines is dangerous. I sometimes drive along it and come across hikers who are only visible at the last moment, as there is no hard shoulder.
From the monastery, there is a lovely path that descends to Ribeauvillé and avoids the road: the Maria Raydt path, which is signposted.

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msch
msch

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 26, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Pleasant, long but worth the detour and easy going, nice!
Please note that the path is blocked after Ribeaupierre High School, so turn right onto Rue de l'Eglise and then left onto Rue de Lutzelbach to join the hike.

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RandoLuc
RandoLuc

well spotted

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User 782354

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 20, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Just before the monastery, I chose the blue triangle trail to avoid the road.

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wernette
wernette

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 21, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Walkers should not be taken back up to the third castle, as it is difficult to find the way back to the black cherry tree crossroads.

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17decembre
17decembre

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 14, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful hike marked by three castles with viewpoints and a monastery. Be careful between points 6 and 7 not to miss the path on the left. The description of the hike is perhaps a little too brief.
Thank you.

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annper
annper

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 11, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful hike alternating between narrow and wider paths, under deciduous trees and firs, with some flat sections and others that are steeper (nothing too difficult, just a small climb between the second and third castles), with castles and a monastery punctuating the route.
We were a group of 10 people, some of whom were not experienced hikers, and it was enjoyable for everyone (in 5½ hours with good breaks at the castles and for picnics...).
The directions, including those left in the comments, were sufficient.
At the monastery, we chose not to take the Way of the Cross to avoid walking along the busy road in the valley, and we followed the Maria Raydt path (blue triangle), which is very pretty.
We set off at 10 a.m. on a Saturday morning. There were a few people at the start of the route, but after the third castle we didn't see anyone else...

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ady68
ady68

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : May 17, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike with three castles, where you'll encounter the most people, but after that it's quieter! The Notre Dame monastery in Dusenbach is superb. Be careful on the descent to the monastery to leave the forest path and take a trail on the left. A pleasant walk.

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SophieetMurielle
SophieetMurielle

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 24, 2020
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

A very beautiful hike! The view of the valley, Saint Ulrich Castle and the arrival at the monastery are all wonderful highlights. Be careful on the descent after the Taennchel shelter, there is a small path on the left that is difficult to see, as the sign was on the other side of the tree trunk. We saw it after turning back. The hike description lacks information towards the end.

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phidet
phidet

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 16, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good

A fairly long but easy route, mainly through forest. Highlights: the Dusenbach monastery, which appears majestically around a bend in the path; the superb Way of the Cross; and the two castles of Saint Ulrich and Gisberg.

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henri57
henri57 ★

Hello,

We finally arrived on the RD 416 at the "Pépinière".

You went too far down; you should have taken the path marked with yellow crosses (heading east uphill) at the 450 m contour line.

For your information, "route on map" refers to assessing the accuracy of the route as it appears on the map in relation to the actual terrain.

Did the route cause any problems?
Did you follow the route with a GPS or a GPS app?
Did you deviate from the hiking route?

Kind regards

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Michel Macron
Michel Macron

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 01, 2019
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Ease of following the route : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

After an interesting start with the castles, we climbed up to the Abri du Taennchel and then descended towards ND de Dusenbach. We thought we had taken the right path from the ABRI, but, seized by doubt, we checked the map, which seemed to be correct. Finally, we arrived on the RD 416 at the "Pépinière" and there was no monastery! From there, we followed the yellow cross trail to the monastery.

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catherine57
catherine57

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 25, 2018
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good

Very pleasant hike. I recommend it when the sun is shining. Very well signposted. Saint Ulrich Castle is majestic, its ruins impressive. Lots of nice little places to eat.

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