Northern pagan wall

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.

Details

373061
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 5.13 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 55 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 168 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 173 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 744 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 599 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Park in car park no. 2 at Mont Sainte-Odile.

(S/E) Go back down to car park no. 3 and take the path to the right of the information sign, then follow the yellow signposting along the wall inside. You will reach the Rocher Saint-Nicolas.

(1) Cross the north wall and reach the Koeberlé gate and, shortly after, the ruins of Hagelschloss Castle, the northernmost point of the Païen Wall.

(2) Turn right towards the south-east, go through the north gate, crossing the Elsberg path (direct) to reach the Merveilles trail. Take a sharp right turn to follow the outer side of the wall, passing through the Etichon cave.

(3) Continue until you reach the Stollhafen crossroads and then the Oberkirch rock (Saufelsen). Then go around the rock on the left and downhill through the Ottrott gate, where the old Roman road used to pass. From there, the trail climbs back up to the Grossmatt (large meadow) crossroads.

(4) Continue climbing up to the monastery, turning left.

(5) Take the same path back to the Grossmatt crossroads.

(4) Turn left onto the path to reach the lower car parks (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 722 m - Parking 3
  2. 1 : km 0.64 - alt. 685 m - Saint Nicholas Rock
  3. 2 : km 2.28 - alt. 599 m - Ruins of Hagelschloss Castle
  4. 3 : km 3.65 - alt. 650 m - Grotte de l'Étichon
  5. 4 : km 4.42 - alt. 711 m - Grossmatt crossroads
  6. 5 : km 4.54 - alt. 744 m - Monastery - Mont Sainte-Odile
  7. S/E : km 5.13 - alt. 722 m - Mont Sainte Odile Convent

Notes

  • Several free car parks are available at the top of Mont Sainte-Odile.
  • Self-service restaurant and restaurant at Mont Sainte-Odile.
  • Drinks dispenser.
  • Cash machine.

Despite the simplicity of the route, it cannot be done with a pushchair.

Worth a visit

  • Rocher Saint Nicolas (1)
  • Sentiers des Merveilles (Trails of Wonders).
  • Oberkirch Rock.
  • (5) Monastery

Reviews and comments

4.8 / 5
Based on 43 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.8 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.7 / 5
Route interest
4.9 / 5
vero.geyer
vero.geyer

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 02, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful hike in a somewhat magical place with this wall that retains its mystery.

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User 26430143

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The walk is well marked, but as most of the paths are "natural", you sometimes need to check that you are on the right track. We took a wrong turn once, but were able to get back on track without any problems. A very pleasant route, the forest is beautiful at this time of year 😚

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User 3573661

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very beautiful route that takes a little over two hours. But we probably took a few unexpected detours... We met other hikers doing the same route, but most were doing different routes, so we didn't feel like we were on a "highway" at all... In any case, this is a hike that I highly recommend. Thank you, Visorando!

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Cohebi
Cohebi

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 30, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very pretty walk in a forest, not very crowded, not difficult.

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sandyprune
sandyprune

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 07, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very pleasant walk, in the shade of beautiful forests and historic points of interest.
There are lots of roots and rocks on the surface, so be careful with your shoes! Some of the climbs are a little strenuous, especially the last one up to the convent (point 4).
I did this route in 2 hours 13 minutes, walking at a leisurely pace and stopping regularly to contemplate nature.
It wasn't very busy when I set off (Sunday at 1pm), but it was crazy crowded at the end!

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Vogepat
Vogepat

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 20, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Good on all counts.

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acraudesoleil
acraudesoleil

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 13, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Discover this hike, the highlight of which is the pagan wall. Impressive in terms of both height and width, it's hard to ignore the period in which it was built and the ingenuity of the builders in placing these huge blocks of stone. The route is easy to follow and presents no difficulties given its gentle gradient. Of course, you must also visit Mont Saint Odile.

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Planeu
Planeu

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 17, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A very interesting historical tour with the added bonus of Mont Saint Odile

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randokarine
randokarine

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very pleasant walk along shady, yet wide-open paths bordering this impressive pagan wall. Between 2 and 3, we went back up to the left and back along the "path of wonders" to see all the wooden sculptures on this path.

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claudonp
claudonp

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 08, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A superb discovery of this rampart, the origin of which remains unknown... but the walk is not so easy (the ground is often uneven), so good shoes and sticks are recommended.

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User 17094593

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

An interesting and well-marked walk. It's a shame that the sculptures on the Merveilles trail are so damaged. An artist should get back to sculpting new sculptures for us.

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JP RU
JP RU

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 27, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very nice walk, easy to get to and not very steep.
The pagan wall is particularly impressive from this side.
I did it with my 10/12 year olds: they were delighted.

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ChrisWild
ChrisWild

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 10, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A good little hike in beautiful surroundings.
A bit of a climb, but not excessive at all.
I did the North Pagan Wall, then the South Pagan Wall.
The northern Pagan Wall is a little better for my taste.
What's more, it also passes along the path of wonders.
But you might as well do the north wall and the south wall.
What's more, on the route of the southern wall, there's the magnificent Grotte des druides.
Enjoy the hike

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Marc1961
Marc1961
• Edited:

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Oct 06, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Nice walk, mainly in the forest.
There are some beautiful sections of the wall.
Some of the climbs are a little "hard".

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Elido67
Elido67

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

Perfect for trying out your first hike with the help of the app, this trail is suitable for young and old alike, with little change in altitude and very accessible paths. In short, a family trail, with 2-3 interesting points of interest. In autumn, with the golden light, it was magnificent.

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