Pfaffenheim walks

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.

An easy hike, accessible to younger children, which offers superb views of the Alsace plain and, in particular, the village of Gueberschwihr from the Rocher du Coucou. Also worth discovering are the remarkable Heiliger Baum shelter of the Club Vosgien de Rouffach and, at the end of the route, Notre-Dame de Schauenberg.

Loop hike around Gueberschwihr via Saint-Marc Convent.

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 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.

Notre-Dame du Schauenberg clings to the mountainside and is a striking feature of the landscape. The highlight of this route is the splendid view over the Alsace plain, the Kaiserstuhl and the Black Forest from the orientation point. Walkers will also discover the Chapel of Saint Leonard, the Teufelstein (Devil’s Stone), the Stations of the Cross in Pfaffenheim and Gueberschwihr, and can also reach the Druids’ Table, which overlooks Notre-Dame du Schauenberg. Please note that the first part of the walk, up to Schauenberg, is quite steep and is not suitable for those unaccustomed to walking.

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.

Let yourself be carried along the Lauch to discover the rich natural and historical heritage of this remarkable site. Amidst fields, wooded areas and wetlands, a mosaic of natural environments and landscapes will accompany you throughout your walk, where man and nature share a history stretching back several centuries.

Circular hike from Rouffach to the Notre-Dame de Schauenberg sanctuary, with a beautiful view of the Alsace plain.The route follows part of "La grande promenade mystique" (The Great Mystical Walk ), linking places marked by the region's spiritual and religious heritage.The first part takes place in the Rouffach vineyards, then enters the forest. After the sanctuary, the return journey is along a corniche.

Located in Alsace, Rouffach is a small town with a population of 4,000. The western part is dominated by vineyards. Much of this route follows a discovery trail through the vineyard, offering numerous views of the surrounding area and information boards providing cultural insights into the vines and the region. This walk is easy and can easily be extended to the Strangenberg discovery trail and the Oelberg Chapel.

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.

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!

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 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.

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.

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.

The MJC des Trois Châteaux is organising a ‘Pink Walk’ open to all, starting from the community hall in Voegtlinshoffen. This route will take you up to the hills above the villages of Voegtlinshoffen and Husseren-les-Châteaux. Follow the markings on the ground and take care when crossing busy roads.

A pleasant hike with beautiful views of the valley and the Black Forest. Visit the Three Castles of Eguisheim.

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.

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