Meyenheim walks

Both villages offer a typical view of the South Alsace plain: nestled between the Vosges and the Black Forest, you won’t find a flatter walking route than this! Wander between the Ill and the Thur rivers and visit two peaceful villages with charming neighbourhoods.

Water is ever-present throughout this route; starting from the lovely Eiblen Nature and Leisure Park, it follows the edges of the large pond, the tree-lined banks of the Ill and then the water body of the former gravel pit. It then enters the tranquillity of the Thur Forest and its banks to reach the Little Prince Park. Return along the banks of the Vieille Thur, then back along the Thur to its confluence with the Ill, ending with a final glimpse of the park’s waterbird ponds. Please note : Japanese knotweed, an invasive plant, regrows every year along the banks of the Thur from its rhizome, starting in March–April. Its growth accelerates (2 to 8 cm per day) and the plant can reach 2 or 3 m by July, obstructing the view of the river. It flowers in September–October (beautiful colours) and dies off by November.To enjoy the view of the waterways, it is best to undertake this walk between November and early May.

For a long time, the Thur was used as a dumping ground for the dye works in the Thann-Cernay valley and beyond, as far as Ensisheim, for chlorides from the potash mines.Today, these industries have disappeared, which is regrettable, but the polluted ditch has regained its wild beauty and the trout have returned. Starting from the Ensisheim Pond, this route offers a tour of the river, its tributary the Old Thur and its forest, the Thurwald. Please note: Japaneseknotweed invades the banks of the Thur every year, obstructing the view of the river between May and November.It is best to do this hike between November and early May.

Wine-growing is an integral part of the Alsatian landscape. There is also a route named after it. This route is the third stage of the ‘Traversée des Vignes’ and links Rouffach to Turckheim. There are numerous vantage points, indeed they are almost everywhere outside the villages. The villages themselves are very traditional, with pretty half-timbered houses, and possess an undeniable charm. The region’s heritage is equally well represented.

Let yourself be carried along the Lauch to discover the rich natural and historical heritage of this remarkable site. Amidst fields, wooded areas and wetlands, a mosaic of natural environments and landscapes will accompany you throughout your walk, where man and nature share a history stretching back several centuries.

Rouffach is a small town situated near the Alsatian vineyards. This walk takes you round the town, passing by its notable monuments such as the Witches’ Tower, Notre-Dame Church and Isenbourg Castle. It is a historical and cultural walk that will delight lovers of local history.

Located in Alsace, Rouffach is a small town with a population of 4,000. The western part is dominated by vineyards. Much of this route follows a discovery trail through the vineyard, offering numerous views of the surrounding area and information boards providing cultural insights into the vines and the region. This walk is easy and can easily be extended to the Strangenberg discovery trail and the Oelberg Chapel.

Circular hike from Rouffach to the Notre-Dame de Schauenberg sanctuary, with a beautiful view of the Alsace plain.The route follows part of "La grande promenade mystique" (The Great Mystical Walk ), linking places marked by the region's spiritual and religious heritage.The first part takes place in the Rouffach vineyards, then enters the forest. After the sanctuary, the return journey is along a corniche.

Issenheim is a small town with a population of 3,000. It was formerly known for the Gast spinning mill. This mill was one of the largest in the region and processed wool into yarn. It is also the starting point for this walk. The first part runs along the banks of the Lauch, passing Villa Spetz and Saint-André Church. The return journey is via Rue de Guebwiller, passing in front of the chapel of the former Antonine convent of Saint-Joseph.

Bergholtz is a small village with just over 1,000 inhabitants. Situated on the Wine Route, this route allows you to explore its narrow streets and discover its almost hidden heritage. The walk is suitable for everyone, and you can also have a picnic there and take your children to play in the playground on the outskirts of the village. Among the places of interest are the old Vauban Canal and Saint-Gall Church

Westhalten is a small wine-growing village. It is the first village you come to when entering the Vallée Noble. This route offers the chance to explore the village and its crosses. You can combine this walk with a visit to the neighbouring village of Soultzmatt or go on other hikes in the area. You can also see the Petit Ballon on several occasions, as well as other Vosges peaks in the surrounding area.

Discover the vineyards of the Vallée Noble, its grands crus such as Zinnkoepfle and Pfingstberg, and its wine-growing villages such as Westhalten, Soultzmatt and Orschwihr.

The foothills of the Hautes Vosges are also a great place for lovely hikes. This route starts at the Col du Neuland and is circular, looping back to Eguisheim. The first section is entirely through woodland. It takes you past Notre-Dame du Schauenberg, the Rocher du Coucou and the Gueberschwihr quarries. The route then passes through Husseren-les-Châteaux before climbing towards the Trois Châteaux d’Eguisheim. The rest of the route follows a botanical trail before winding down towards the ruins of Hagueneck. After the castle, the rest of the route is entirely open country and passes through the outskirts of the village of Eguisheim, then the villages of Obermorschwihr, Gueberschwihr and Pfaffenheim, before climbing back up to the Col du Neuland.

This circular walk, which is challenging in places, takes you past several interesting spots. The first of these is the Désiré Renaud viewpoint. Next come Notre-Dame de Schauenberg, the Schauenberg Chestnut Tree, the Devil’s Rock, the Cuckoo Rock, the church at Osenbach, Langenstein, the Val du Pâtre with its church and military cemetery, the Grossfels Rock and St. Lucy’s Chapel, Soultzmatt and the Zinkoepfle. Of course, to fully appreciate these points of interest, you should definitely stop off at them. It is a route with many ups and downs, the final climb being the most challenging. Almost the entire route is through woodland. Only the last quarter is out in the open, amongst the vineyards.

This lovely route showcases Westhalten’s religious heritage and its many crosses, its renowned vineyard and the dry hills of Strangenberg. The latter is a remarkable natural area home to several types of orchids, blood-red geraniums, wild tulips and grape hyacinths, as well as, in terms of wildlife, hoopoes, green lizards and vipers. Walkers are treated to numerous views and panoramas of the village, the Grand and Petit Ballon mountains, the Alsace plain and the Black Forest. Important: the route is mainly in open country, so don’t forget a hat, a cap and something to drink!

A short walk allowing you to explore Strangenberg Hill, starting from the car park at Westhalten Cemetery. The route suggested here is a return walk, but you’ll easily find alternative routes for the return leg, particularly at the top of the hill.

This route, starting from the Westhalten cemetery, leads first to the Zinnkoepfle, then to the Notre-Dame du Hubel crossroads, and finally to Schauenberg via a pleasant forest path. You can return via the same route, or choose to head towards the other hill, the Strangenberg.

This walk takes you across the Hohberg plateau and its beautiful forests, passing by the Lutzelberg and Plaies Crosses. You can also enjoy the view of the plain before Notre-Dame du Hubel and the beauty of the forest on the Hohberg plateau.

Pfaffenheim is a small wine-growing village situated on the Wine Route. With a population of 1,400, the village features houses with typical Alsatian charm. It is a pleasure to stroll through the quiet streets on the edge of the vineyards. The most remarkable building is, of course, Saint-Martin’s Church. The walk is easily done in the morning and can be combined with a visit to Gueberschwihr, a neighbouring village.

This route is open through the vineyards and takes you around the Bollenberg massif, a limestone site renowned for its fine wines. The markings are easier to find if you do the circular loop clockwise. It is possible to do the tour in the other direction, although the markings are less easy to find.

The route takes us to the Bollenberg hill, then winds its way through the vineyards on the Rouffach side. Beautiful views of the Alsace plain, the Black Forest and the Jura mountains. We then cross over to the other side, into the Vallée Noble vineyards, interspersed with the limestone hill of Zinnkoepfle. On the way back, we pass through the village of Westhalten.

Orschwihr is a small village situated in the heart of the Alsatian vineyards. As it is right next to Bergholtz-Zell, you can combine this walk with a visit to that village. This route takes you past Saint-Nicolas Church, the Japanese pagoda tree, Saint-Wolfgang Chapel and other points of interest. It is a family-friendly walk that can easily be completed in 1½ hours, taking your time.

The wine-growing village of Orschwihr is situated in a small valley between the Florival and the Vallée Noble. It is separated from the plain by the Bollenberg, a hill with a Mediterranean climate, where numerous animal and plant species thrive (praying mantises, hoopoes, orchids...).

An easy route that will take you through the dry meadows of Bollenberg overlooking the Alsace plain, between vineyards and mountains.

This route starting from Bollwiller will allow you to discover the village and its surroundings. Starting from the castle, visit the village centre and then set off to explore the rural hillside with its breathtaking view of the Vosges mountains. On the way back, pass through Cité Sainte-Thérèse, a former mining town typical of the region.

Starting from Pfaffenheim, climb up to the heights of its communal forest through the vineyards and discover places steeped in history and spirituality. You will discover the many religious statues and other curiosities of Notre-Dame de Schauenberg, magnificent views of the plain and, if you are lucky, the Alps, as well as the Table des Druides, a beautiful natural dolmen.

This hike will first take you through the beautiful forest between Westhalten and Osenbuhr and then onto a balcony overlooking the vineyards of Pfaffenheim and Rouffach.

The first part of this hike takes place on forest paths and the return journey is through the meadows of the Haute Vallée Noble. The route takes you to the pilgrimage site of Schaefertal (Val du Pâtre), the mysterious site of Schwarzenthann, the meadows of Wintzfelden and the panorama of the Zinnkoepfle and the Noble Valley at Grossfels. This hike can be shortened by almost 4 kilometres if you choose the Shepherd's Valley Chapel as your starting point.

Soultzmatt is a small town with just over 2,000 inhabitants. It is situated at the entrance to the Vallée Noble on the banks of the Ohmbach. Stretching out in a long, narrow shape, the town retains its pretty winegrowers’ houses. The town is also famous for being home to the Lizbeth spring (a local mineral water). This route takes you past Château Wagenbourg, Saint-Sébastien Church and St-Nicolas Chapel.

An easy hike, accessible to younger children, which offers superb views of the Alsace plain and, in particular, the village of Gueberschwihr from the Rocher du Coucou. Also worth discovering are the remarkable Heiliger Baum shelter of the Club Vosgien de Rouffach and, at the end of the route, Notre-Dame de Schauenberg.

Gueberschwihr is a small wine-growing village in the Bas-Rhin. It is best known for its church, which dates back to the Romanesque period. This walking route allows you to explore the village on foot. You can combine this route with a visit to the neighbouring village of Pfaffenheim. The village centre is picturesque, with colourful half-timbered houses and cobbled alleyways. A short detour to the cemetery offers a view over the Alsace plain and the surrounding countryside.

Hattstatt is a small wine-growing village situated on the Wine Route. This walk takes you through the village streets, allowing you to discover some Alsatian houses and the local heritage. Highlights include several crosses and wayside shrines, as well as the Church of Sainte-Colombe, which dates back to the Romanesque period, and a well from the16th century. This is a short walk and can be combined with a visit to the neighbouring village of Obermorschwihr.

Loop hike around Gueberschwihr via Saint-Marc Convent.

Notre-Dame du Schauenberg clings to the mountainside and is a striking feature of the landscape. The highlight of this route is the splendid view over the Alsace plain, the Kaiserstuhl and the Black Forest from the orientation point. Walkers will also discover the Chapel of Saint Leonard, the Teufelstein (Devil’s Stone), the Stations of the Cross in Pfaffenheim and Gueberschwihr, and can also reach the Druids’ Table, which overlooks Notre-Dame du Schauenberg. Please note that the first part of the walk, up to Schauenberg, is quite steep and is not suitable for those unaccustomed to walking.