Obersteinbach – Niederbronn-les-Bains

The start is in Obersteinbach (242 m) by the town hall.

(S) With the town hall on your left, head towards the church and the museum. Then turn into the first street on the right, then right again at the wash house. Follow the path to the end. At each junction, always head uphill straight ahead towards the Col de Wittschloessel. Turn left towards the junction at the Château du Wittschloessel.

(1) Keep to the right on a path which, continuing straight on, leads to the Wineckerthal Pass (334 m).

(2) At the pass, carry on straight ahead along the path which cuts across the circular loop of the track and joins the path leading towards the Col du Petit Grueneberg (423 m) 50 m further on. Follow it to the right, making sure to head uphill straight ahead until you reach the pass.

(3) Climb up the path opposite towards the Col du Gruenthal (516 m).

(4) Continue to the right on the path towards Gruenthal until you reach a Fork in the road.

(5) Leave the track and turn right towards Gruenthal.

(6) Take the hairpin bend on the path to the left and head down the footpath on the right. Continue straight ahead until you reach the junction at Château du Vieux Windstein.

(7) Head straight down. Pass a house on your right and go up a path on the other side. Leave this path to climb up to the right via a series of hairpin bends. Follow the ridge to the Château du Nouveau-Windstein (364 m).

(8) Please note: at the foot of Nouveau-Windstein, take the path on the left after a flat area fitted out for a mobile home or caravan, and do not stay on the forest track. At the road, turn right and continue downhill to the left twice until you reach the road. Cross the road to reach a Fork in the road. Turn left.

(9) The GR®53 then skirts the Grand Grueneberg before passing through the hamlet of Wineckerthal (modified route). You’ll reach the road.

(10) Turn left onto the road, then take the first path on the right. At the bridge over the Schwarzbach, cross it and head right, then straight ahead until you reach the D85.

(11) Cross carefully and continue straight ahead, passing the former Buchwald Forest House (231 m). Turn right at the T-junction, then cut across a track by taking the path opposite. Keep left and then continue straight on until you reach the Borneberg Pass.

(12) Head straight on towards the Col du Pottaschkopf (482 m). Continue to the left along the road. The path leads to the Col de la Liese (514 m) in ten minutes. Climb straight ahead along a winding path to the summit of the Grand Wintersberg (581 m)

(13) On the other side, take a path down a steep descent towards Niederbronn-les-Bains. Cut across a track and arrive at a Fork in the road. 

(14) Do not continue straight on; turn left towards Niederbronn-les-Bains. Then make sure you keep heading down the slope opposite to reach the outskirts of the town.

(15) Carry on along the road, then take a path leading uphill to the left. Keep to the right onto Rue des Acacias, then head downhill at the second side street. Join the departmental road via Passage Grunelius.

(16) Turn left and carry on to the town hall via Rue de la République (E).

Niederbronn-les-Bains Tourist Office, www.alsace-verte.com, 03 88 80 89 70.

Access to Obersteinbach: tourist bus route 317 from Easter to All Saints’ Day (www.fluo.grandest.fr) 

To purchase the magazine featuring this walk, visit the L’ALSACE-DNA Shop. 

Passion Vosges invites you to explore the Vosges mountains, whether on your own, with family or with friends, as you discover its majestic peaks, lush foothills and picturesque valleys. With hiking routes, practical advice, local anecdotes and captivating articles from the editorial team, let us guide you into the heart of a region rich in nature and history.

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From the Grand Wintersberg (581 m), a 24-metre-high observation tower offers views across the landscape of the Northern Vosges.