Mont Sainte-Odile walks

This is a circular hike, with Mont Sainte Odile as its highlight, an iconic place of pilgrimage dedicated to the patron saint of Alsace. There are beautiful views of the Alsace plain from the site, with orientation tables. In good weather, you may be lucky enough to see Strasbourg Cathedral. The route also takes you along the mysterious Mur Païen (Pagan Wall). On the way back, you will see the ruins of Hagelschlos and Ottrott castles (which are not open to visitors). Please note: dogs are not allowed inside the monastery grounds.

The Mur Païen, 10.5 km long, is the remains of an ancient wall located around the perimeter of Mont Sainte-Odile. At an altitude of 764 m, the summit overlooks the Alsace plain. The Abbey of Hohenbourg, founded by Saint Odile, stands there.

The 10.5 km long "Mur Païen" (Pagan Wall) is the remains of an ancient wall located on Mont Sainte-Odile, a mountain in the Vosges, in the Bas-Rhin department, rising to an altitude of 764 metres and topped by a convent founded by Saint Odile, the Abbey of Hohenbourg, which overlooks the Alsace plain.

This loop starts in Ottrott-le-Haut and passes by the castles of Ottrott, the Elsberg shelter and the Hohenburgerberg, returning to Ottrott via the Compostela pilgrims' trail.

A walk passing by many historical points, following the astonishing pagan wall around Mont Sainte-Odile.

A pleasant and easy hike to discover the ruins of Niedermunster Abbey, the Lucie Fountain, Mont Sainte-Odile and the southern passage of the Mur Païen.

This classic stop in Alsace is more of a stroll than a real hike. The magnificent convent, flanked by beautiful little chapels, built entirely of pink Vosges sandstone, offers stunning views of the Alsace plain in all directions.

A beautiful 14 km round trip hike via Landsberg Castle to Mont Sainte-Odile. Superb views of the Barr region, the Alsace plain and, in good weather, the Black Forest in Germany.

This hike from Ottrott takes you to Mont Sainte-Odile, an iconic site in Alsace, rich in history and offering exceptional panoramic views. The route passes through dense forests, remarkable rock formations and places steeped in legend, as well as points of interest such as the Rocher Oberkirch and the Grotte d'Étichon. This circular loop, combining well-marked trails and forest paths, promises a complete immersion in the Alsatian countryside.

Discover the medieval ruins of the fortified castles to the west of Mont Sainte-Odile and the northern pagan wall via magnificent trails such as the Merveilles and Chemin de Croix, with its ceramics by Léon Eldinger adorning the rock face. A fascinating heritage that volunteers are keen to restore.

Mont Sainte-Odile, a mecca of Alsatian culture, is surrounded by numerous historical sites and beautiful hiking trails. This circular route, starting from Hohenbourg Abbey at the top of Mont Sainte-Odile, follows the trails in the south-eastern part of the site and the trail that runs along the southern pagan wall, passing most of the points of interest in the area, all through the undergrowth.

A descent followed by an ascent linking two iconic sites: the Mont Sainte-Odile sanctuary and Niedermunster Abbey, a beautiful site with stunning views and a lovely chapel. A journey into the history of Saint Odile. Saint Odile founded the convent at the very top of the mountain; less well known is the fact that she also founded a second convent, further down the slope, which included a hospice to accommodate pilgrims unable to climb the steep path.

This hike will take you along the ridge leading from Mont Sainte-Odile to the Elsberg kiosk, which offers a stunning view and shelter for a break. You’ll also discover impressive cliffs (often visited by climbers) and a bestiary carved into tree stumps on the Sentier des Merveilles, which runs beneath the ridge and, in places, alongside impressive cliffs.

I suggest an online hike. The starting point is Barr station, which is easily accessible by train from Strasbourg. The finish is at Obernai station, from where you can easily catch a train back to Strasbourg; there are services every hour on weekdays. The route will take you through the villages of Barr, Saint-Nabor, Bernardswiller and the town of Obernai, first through the vineyards and then into the forest on the slopes of Mont Sainte-Odile. You’ll be able to admire the ruins of the imposing Château du Landsberg (12th century). You can visit Hohenbourg Abbey, founded in 680 by Saint Odile, patron saint of Alsace, and admire the ruins of Niedermünster Abbey below. Enjoy exploring!