Orschwihr walks

A route alternating between paths and trails through the forest with some stunning views. Starting from Orschwihr, this route takes you to the summit of the Petit Ballon via the Col de Bannstein and then the Col de Boenlesgrab.

Bergholtz-Zell is a small Alsatian village situated in the heart of a vineyard. It is bordered by a wooded hill to the west. This short route offers a pleasant stroll through the heart of this wine-growing village. The main point of interest is a visit to the Mont Calvaire de l’Œlberg. This walk can easily be combined with a visit to the neighbouring village of Orschwihr or Bergholtz.

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

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...).

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 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.

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.

This route will take you past some lovely viewpoints over the surrounding vineyards and the old Bergholtz quarries. It is possible to go rock climbing in the quarries, but you’ll need to bring your own equipment.

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

This short walk in the hills above Soultzmatt will take you to the Langenstein Menhir and a beautiful viewpoint over the Vallée Noble. You will then enjoy the peace and quiet of the forest, which you will walk through for most of this hike, as well as a beautiful meadow that you will cross.

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.

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.

A short walk from Guebwiller will take you through the Alsatian vineyards to the Croix de la Mission, where you will have a beautiful view of Guebwiller, the Grand Ballon and, above all, the Alsace plain.

Two circular routes around Buhl: varied route offering beautiful views and sights. Several variations or shortcuts are possible.

A themed walk exploring the castles around Guebwiller.

An easy walk (except for a slightly steep initial climb) that passes through the beautiful and wild pink sandstone quarries of Buhl. The pretty quarry trail continues to the famous Menhirs de l'Appenthal and its cyclopean wall. The walk ends along the vineyards, offering a beautiful view of Hugstein Castle and passing by the strange birthing chair, which is said to have been used in ancient times for childbirth.

A long hike taking you through four communal forests: those of Lautenbach, Guebwiller, Bergholtzzel and Orschwihr. It features four climbs with an elevation gain of around 150 to 250 metres, the gradient of which varies depending on the section. There are numerous points of interest, including the town of Guebwiller, the viewpoint in the Bergholtzzell Communal Forest, and the Oelberg Calvary. The walk offers the chance to discover the remains of several castles as well as the Hochfelsen rock formation. Furthermore, it takes you around a small peak rising to an altitude of 688 metres: the Engelstein.

This hike could also be called 'Les Balcons de Buhl' (the Buhl balconies). It crosses the Buhlois vineyard, offering magnificent views of the Florival and the Grand Ballon. An additional point of interest is that the circuit crosses old abandoned red sandstone quarries in the Vosges.

A long circular walk connecting two towns in the Haut-Rhin: Guebwiller and Rouffach. What makes this circular walk unique is that it mainly passes through vineyards. Other crops can be seen in the first part of the walk, but the bulk of the route is through vineyards. The return leg is particularly interesting, featuring chapels, a nature reserve and some remarkable views. The route passes through several charming villages

This walk offers beautiful views of Guebwiller and the Florival, and allows you to explore the old quarries of Buhl as well as the ruins of Hugstein. It can be combined with a visit to Guebwiller: industrial wastelands and villas, Saint-Léger Church, the Dominican Convent, the former Notre-Dame Collegiate Church, the Deck Museum, etc.

This route offers a comprehensive tour of the three beautiful sandstone quarries above Guebwiller, which were in operation until the early 20th century. Starting north of Buhl, the route crosses and explores the major sandstone quarries of this massif, those of Buhl, as well as Guebwiller and Bergholtz. This route will take you beneath and above the quarries, passing through the Col du Dreibannstein, which features a Club Vosgien shelter and tables. After skirting the quarry walls, the route offers views of Guebwiller, its Grand Ballon and the Florival valley. The quarries and the very pleasant trails are a delight for the region’s rock climbers. But they also appeal to hikers, with views of the valley, the Vosges, the plain, the sandstone cliffs, and more...

Guebwiller is a small wine-growing town. As the "capital" of Florival, it is nonetheless well worth a visit. In addition to major tourist attractions such as the Saint-Léger and Notre-Dame churches and the Théodore Deck Museum, there are several other points of interest, such as the Parc de la Marseillaise, the military cemetery and Neuenbourg Castle and its grounds. Of course, there are other lesser-known curiosities along this route.

Starting from the Guebwiller cemetery, this hike will allow you to discover the Bergholtz quarries, the Col du Dreibannstein and the Croix de Mission with beautiful views of Guebwiller, the Grand Ballon and the entire Alsace plain.

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.

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.

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 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!

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.

A lovely hike in the Alsatian foothills of the Vosges mountains, passing through Wintzfelden and Osenbach. Very well marked by the Club Vosgien.

A walk exploring the fortified castles around Guebwiller

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.

An easy walk full of discoveries that passes through the beautiful Grossberg clearing (look for its totem tree!). Nearby is the Heidenbuckel menhir, which was once used as a ceremonial site. Further on, we arrive at Dietrichstein, which was probably a place of sacrifice in the 8th century BC.

This hike will take you up to the Grand Ballon, the highest peak in the Vosges mountains, rising to 1,424 metres. From the summit, weather permitting, you can enjoy an exceptional panoramic view across the whole of the Alsace plain, the Black Forest and even as far as the Alps. Along the way, you’ll pass through a variety of landscapes, from coniferous and deciduous forests to clearings and pastures. As you gain altitude, you’ll notice how the flora of the Vosges changes.

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.

This walk visits Guebwiller woodlands. While walking, enjoy different very nice spots ideals to take pictures and learn about various vegetal species (indicated by numbers). This walk is very nice to keep fresh in summer times. However, be careful when raining, it can be quite slippery!

This walk takes you to Hugstein Castle. It is mainly through woodland and offers the chance to spot wildlife or, at the very least, the many tracks they leave behind.

A lovely walk with no particular difficulties, allowing you to discover the ruins of the former Schwartzenthann convent, pass through the village of Wintzfelden, and walk through the meadows between Wintzfelden and Osenbach... Throughout the walk, you’ll pass meadows where sheep and horses graze. An ideal walk in spring and autumn to enjoy the mid-season sunshine.

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.

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 short walk presents no particular difficulties. It starts in the town of Soultz, notable for its rich Renaissance heritage, and takes you through the surrounding forest and vineyards. At Nez de Soultz, you can enjoy a beautiful view over the towns of Soultz and Guebwiller.

Starting from the centre of Wintzfelden, this circular walk will take you to the Soultzmatt Community Forest along quiet, open paths, amidst meadows full of flowers on fine days.

The hike starts in Jungholtz and crosses the communal forest of Guebwiller to take you to the Col de Peternit. Hike between the Guebwiller and Rimbach valleys, among conifers and deciduous trees. The hike can also be done by mountain bike.

A moderately challenging hike which, as the paths wind their way, offers beautiful views of the Rimbach Valley, the Alsace plain and, of course, the summit of the Grand Ballon. Crossing the little Kaltenbach valley with its trees and moss-covered rocks, its small waterfall and the remarkable 1914–1918 baths is a real treat.

A hike mostly through woodland on the lower slopes of the Grand Ballon, passing the charming Kohlschlag Farm Inn at the foot of the Col Amic. The return route to Sainte-Anne goes via the Holzwasen shelter.

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.

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.