Ottersthal walks

A walk through the ages to discover some beautiful sites on the heights of Saverne – ancient road – Sainte Barbe Chapel – Saint Michel Chapel – Celtic oppidum – Daubenschlag with the ruins of Warthenberg Castle.

A forest walk starting from Eckartswiller, passing over a wildlife bridge above the A4 at Col de Saverne, then descending to the Moulin de Champagne before returning to the starting point. A fairly steep start before taking a forest track linking the Chapelle Saint-Michel to the Rocher des Dames.

Discover the Château de Greifenstein, where two beautiful towers can still be seen. Visit the Grotte Saint-Vit, a vast natural excavation in sandstone, overlooking a plateau where a magnificent alpine garden has been laid out. An astonishing view of the Château de Hohbarr awaits you!

A beautiful, easy circular walk with a few points of interest and beautiful views of the Haut Barr, Grand and Petit Geroldseck castles and the Zorn valley.

Climb up to the Kaestenberg rock face and the10th BCP cave, then to the Fossé des Pandours via the Sentier des Menhirs. Climb up to the Breitkopf overhang via the Mélanie fountain, then to the ruiniform Rappenfels peak via the Bavarians' fountain. And finally, the Saint-Vit cave and the ruins of Greifenstein Castle.

Climb up to the rocky outcrop where the castles of Haut-Barr and the two Geroldseck castles stand, overlooking the Zorn valley. Then climb up to Brotschberg with its tower, rock and cave. Next, descend towards the Zorn via the Krappenfels rocks and climb up to the Rappenfels to reach the Saint-Vit Cave, the Marienfels and Greifenstein Castle.

A hundred-kilometre circular starting from Saverne, passing along the old Saverne–Romanwiller–Molsheim railway line, then following the Bruche Canal to Strasbourg, before returning via the Marne-Rhine Canal.

Discover the Roches Plates climbing site, the Heidenstadt oppidum, the Spitzfelsen and Kanzelfels rocks, the medieval quarry and menhirs at Frohnberg, Warthenberg Castle and the Daubenschlag rock, the Roman road, the Wasserfallfelsen, the Fairy Cave, the Witches' Circle and Saint-Michel Chapel. Beautiful views of the Northern Vosges and the Alsace plain.

A lovely circular walk starting from the Col de Saverne, passing by the Rocher du Faucon, the wildlife footbridge, the Rocher des Dames, the Chapelle Saint-Michel, the Chapelle Sainte-Barbe, the Rocher Gustave Orth and the Rocher du Sanglier.

Haut Barr, Hexentisch, Brotsch Tower, Schaeferplatz: a whole menu for discovering this tiny part of the Vosges. This easy hike, suitable for the whole family, will delight you with its many viewpoints, such as the Devil's Bridge, the Brotsch Tower, the Huck Rock and many others waiting to be discovered. What's more, the many picnic spots make this hike even more enjoyable.

This pleasant 9 km walk takes you to rocks and caves off the beaten track of the Club Vosgien's marked trails. It is not particularly difficult. However, it largely follows unmarked paths, so walkers should follow the description below carefully, take a map with them or, better still, use the Visorando app.

There is also a Mont Saint-Michel in Alsace, located in Saint-Jean-Saverne. It offers beautiful views of the surrounding villages and is dotted with archaeological remains. The Saint-Michel Chapel stands on a promontory near the Rond des Sorcières, above the Grotte des Sorcières. This easy route takes you past the Schnackeplatz (Snail Square), a lay-by situated just above the LGV Est high-speed rail tunnel, where you might be lucky enough to see a TGV hurtling through it (around 15 minutes after it leaves Strasbourg). At Warthenberg Castle, perched on the Rocher Daubenschlag, you can marvel at a heart-shaped grove in the middle of the fields. From the Rocher des Dames, there is a bird’s-eye view of the A4 motorway at the Col de Saverne.

A short loop starting from Saint-Jean-Saverne will take you to the ruins of Warthenberg Castle with a superb view of Alsace.

A lovely, easy walk through the woodland. The first section is purely natural, peaceful and very quiet, whilst the second is rich in archaeological heritage in a land of legends.

Starting from Saverne, the route passes through Stambach, the Hirschberg, the Cuve de Pierre, the Brotsch cave and tower, the Petit and Grand Geroldseck, and the Haut-Barr.

A pleasant walk with no real difficulty around Haut Barr Castle, almost entirely through forest. Pass by the Table des Sorcières, the Petit Krappenfels, the Source des Pionniers, the Rocher du Brotsch, the Tour de Brotsch, the Petit and Grand Geroldseck, the Chappe telegraph and the Haut Barr.

This hike starts next to the Schweizerhof forest house, located 5 km from the Saverne exit, in the direction of Lutzelbourg. There are two superb viewpoints to discover, at the Rappenfels rock and the Saint-Vit cave.

This hike, lasting a good hour, allows you to discover three very different castles: Haut-Barr, restored with viewing platforms offering breathtaking views; Grand Geroldseck, where you can see the major restoration work carried out over decades by enthusiasts; and Petit Geroldseck, which is more rugged.

Visit the magnificent Château du Haut-Barr, built on crags of pink sandstone, whose current layout dates back to 1583. Then enjoy a lovely descent through the forest towards Saverne, followed by a return to the château via the eastern flank of the Haut-Barr.

A forest walk with some stunning views of the Vosges foothills. Visit the ruins of three castles: Haut-Barr, Grand Geroldseck and Petit Geroldseck, as well as the Brotsch Tower (built in 1897 to mark the 25th anniversary of the Club Vosgien’s founding in Saverne), and the cave.

The Saverne region, and more specifically the Haut Barr area, towards Brotschberg and Hirschberg, forms a vast network of hiking routes. This suggested route features numerous points of interest (ruined castles, striking rock formations and viewpoints), all set amidst woodland. Take the time to observe the natural surroundings, the surrounding mountains and other geological features, and soak up the atmosphere of these places steeped in history.

A short hike that can be enjoyed with the whole family. It will allow you to immerse yourself in the rich history and discover the many beliefs of the Saverne region, from prehistory to the present day. You will enjoy magnificent views of the woods and forests of the Northern Vosges, as well as the Alsace plain and the Kochersberg.

Discover caves and two pilgrimage sites in the Northern Vosges. A long hike with elevation gain.

A walk where you’ll have the chance to see the Rappenfels, the Saint-Vit Cave and its beautiful garden, and the Greifenstein.

This route is a treat for those who love narrow paths and the peaceful atmosphere of the forests of the Northern Vosges. There are several beautiful viewpoints and rocks along the route. You will also discover the archaeological site of Wasserwald, where our Celtic ancestors, known as the Mediomatrici by the Romans, lived more than 1,500 years ago.

A beautiful hike with numerous castle ruins, including Haut Barr, known as the "eye of Alsace", and a trail through a forest with stunning autumn colours. The trails are very well marked and maintained by the Club Vosgien.The elevation gain is significant, so take this into account to fully appreciate all the charms of this hike.

This hike starts in the valley and climbs into the forest, passing several viewpoints over the Alsace plain. The Brotsch Tower and three castles are worth visiting if you have time, as is the tower of the old Chappe telegraph. The entire walk takes place in the forest. Beautiful sandstone and puddingstone rocks line the route.

A trail rich in discoveries. Throughout the route, this trail offers numerous remarkable viewpoints as well as points of interest dotted along the way. These elements help to make this day a memorable experience, combining discovery and enjoyment. Each of the sites visited allows you to broaden your knowledge whilst enjoying a leisurely walk, ideal for immersing yourself in the region’s natural and historical heritage. Highlights of this hike: the Wuestenberg Plateau – the castles of Ochsenstein, Petit Geroldseck, Grand Geroldseck, Haut Barr and finally the Brostch Cave and Tower.

A very beautiful hike, suitable for families, which leads to notable sights while offering beautiful panoramic views.

Hike starting from Haegen, where you can see beautiful wooden statues (witches, Hansel and Gretel's house, etc.), the Chappe telegraph, Haut-Barr, and some beautiful climbs!

This walk through the woods, on paths or forest roads, apart from a steep climb to the Grotte des Hussards, is easily manageable for families.

This circular starting from Oberhof is not particularly difficult and allows you to discover some unusual places, including the cave dwellings of Grauthal and the Schiertorfelsen.

A beautiful, undulating walk towards the chapel and spring at Bonne Fontaine, following the route of seven sandstone steles sculpted by Claude Metzmeyer from Saverne. On the way there, you will pass by the Rocher de la Bande Noire and, on the way back, by the Grotte des Amoureux.

From the valley floor up to the summits, passing the forest lodges at Schaeferplatz and Haberacker, the medieval Ochsenstein Castle and the sandstone rock formations of the Schlossberg and Krappenfels. A lovely walk with a bit of elevation gain and a few kilometres to ensure you have a pleasant day out.

This lovely, shaded walk offers beautiful views of the forest and the Rocher de Dabo with its Saint-Léon Chapel. It passes by the Château du Ochsentein, as well as several points of interest such as the Ottenad-Keller Fountain, a pagan wall, the Druids’ Stone and the Jean-Louis Haemmerlin Fountain.