Southern pagan wall

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.

Details

372918
Creation:
Last update:
Last review:
  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 4.93 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 1h 40 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Easy

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 103 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 103 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 820 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 735 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Departure from Mont Saint-Odile, park in car park no. 2.

(S/E) Walk to the monastery entrance a few metres further up. Go down the steps on the right, then follow the rocky cliff decorated with a polychrome ceramic Way of the Cross. Follow the red and white flag markers to reach an intersection.

(1) Follow the yellow signposted path on the left, which runs along the outside of the pagan wall. A bronze plaque embedded at the foot of a rock commemorates Curt Mündel. Then climb a few steps to reach the Panorama Rock. There is a shelter where you can take a break or shelter in case of bad weather.
Continue along the path, still marked with yellow signs, now running along the inside of the wall. After walking for a while, you will reach the Maennelstein rock, a cliff about 15 metres high (take care here, especially with children), topped by an orientation table. Below, you can see Landsberg Castle.

(2) Continue along the path marked with yellow signposts. After about fifteen minutes, you will arrive near the site of the 1992 plane crash.

(3) Shortly afterwards, you will reach the Druids' cave below. Cross the D426 to reach the Zumstein gate on the old Roman road. A little further on, you will see some Merovingian burial mounds.

(4) Take the path marked with a yellow signpost and continue along the edge of the D426 to return to the original crossroads.

(1) Retrace your steps to the car park (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 763 m - Departure - Mont Sainte-Odile
  2. 1 : km 0.31 - alt. 754 m - Crossroads
  3. 2 : km 2.01 - alt. 814 m - Orientation table - Maennelstein
  4. 3 : km 2.55 - alt. 802 m - Site of the 1992 plane crash
  5. 4 : km 3.83 - alt. 741 m - Merovingian tombs
  6. S/E : km 4.93 - alt. 763 m - Arrival - Mont Sainte-Odile

Notes

- Several free car parks are available at the top of the hill [Sainte-Odile|http://www.mont-sainte-odile.com/.
- 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

- Between (1) and (2), bust of Curt Mündel (1852-1906), first president of the Club Vosgien.
- View from Mont Sainte Odile.
- Panorama Rock.
- Maennelstein.
- Orientation table.
- Druids' cave.
- Tumulus, Merovingian tombs.

Reviews and comments

4.7 / 5
Based on 54 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.7 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.6 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
christine SIFFER
christine SIFFER

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 16, 2026
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk despite the unpleasant weather, with fog and ground that was frozen in places.

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a.emmrich
a.emmrich

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Dec 15, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

This is a walk we often do: it's easy, with magnificent views over the Alsace plain. Yesterday it was shrouded in fog, but we hiked in glorious sunshine. A great way to escape the fog on the plain.

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MARTMICH
MARTMICH

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Aug 25, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A hike for all levels.
Magnificent views of the Alsace plain and the Black Forest, and a rather surprising and ingenious wall.
A visit to Mont Saint Odile is a must and very relaxing, best enjoyed with a good cup of coffee.
I recommend it for the history of the place and of Alsace in general.

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Marc Fridisch
Marc Fridisch

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jan 27, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A classic walk for Sunday hikers, with a beautiful view of the Vosges mountains and the Black Forest on a day when a sea of cloud had invaded the Alsace plain.

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palaurando
palaurando

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 05, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A beautiful walk that follows the pagan wall, with gate, belvedere and rocks.... A return trip to the spot where the plane crashed in 1992 is also possible.

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Arnault.b
Arnault.b

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 22, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Every 30 m a sign with the name of a local bank disfigures the path. Let's hope it's temporary.

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celinsek
celinsek

Not yet done

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phototrope
phototrope

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 02, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

a carefree and very pleasant walk, thanks to the author

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JM et sa famille
JM et sa famille

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 03, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A pleasant walk for all the family, with 2 great views over the Alsace plain. Very easy to get to (Mont Sainte Odile is very well signposted).
I'd recommend this walk if you want to get some fresh air for a short afternoon.

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MALFOY
MALFOY

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Jul 31, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

The route was very pleasant.
There's the Chemin des Merveilles at Mont Saint Odile but unfortunately it's not on Visorando. That's a shame.
Thank you

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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 pleasant walk in the undergrowth, with pretty views of the pagan wall but less spectacular than on the northern route.
Numerous viewpoints, benches and shelters.
The ground is sometimes uneven, with a few inclines and steps, so good shoes and poles are recommended.

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Chamagnon
Chamagnon

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 18, 2023
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

I've rediscovered this circuit and the instructions are clear. It's a shame that so many circuits aren't in this condition when it comes to maintenance instructions.

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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 pleasant route, especially for the Grotte des Druides.
Little change in altitude.
I did the South Pagan Wall and the North Pagan Wall.
I might as well do both, and therefore the tour of the Pagan Wall.
What's more, the Mur païen nord circuit passes along the sentier des merveilles.
Enjoy the walk

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Blanc
Blanc

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 07, 2022
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A lovely easy walk with little difference in altitude, allowing you to continue with the southern circuit of the pagan wall or, if you're tired, to visit the monastery, eat at the self-service restaurant, enjoy the magnificent panorama over the Alsace plain and wait for the other walkers to return.
A tour to be recommended.

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virgule
virgule

Hello Fanfan

In the region where this tour is located, what is forbidden is not tolerated. It's part of the local law, and visitors from other regions aren't necessarily aware of it.

The same applies if you're going to Switzerland or Germany. It's best to be aware of this if you don't want any nasty surprises.

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