Polenberg Daubenschlag Mont Saint Michel

Park at the Croix de Langenthal crossroads near the picnic area, accessible via the Route Forestière de Saint-Jean.

No signposting. On this^first section of the hike, the traditional Club Vosgien markings are absent. However, the Club Vosgien has identified the forest paths and trails, as well as notable sites, with information boards.

(S/E) From the car park, ignore the signposted paths (Blue Rectangle, Blue Ring or Red Saltire) and head north towards the Polenberg massif via the Rosskopf forest path. Follow this path (signposted) for about 800 m and, after two consecutive bends, you will reach the Schimmelfelsen rock on the left (signposted ‘Schimmelfelsen 20 m’). Continue to the multi-way junction at Palenberg.

(1) Turn left onto the Polenberg forest track (signposted) and after about 300 m you will reach the Kompaniefelsen (signposted ‘Kompaniefelsen 130 m’). It is possible to follow the path down to reach several rocks and, at the end of the last one, a large cavity (suitable for shelter). Continue along the forest path for about 800 m until you reach the spot marked ‘Grotte de Hanss Michel’ on the left. Take the small path leading down to a rock with a hole in it. After 150 m, at the end of a bend, you will come to a multi-way junction.

(2) Turn left onto the forest path marked “Vallée de la Zinzel Fallbaechel”; after about a hundred metres downhill, pass at the foot of the rocky cliff and then go round a large rock on the right to continue.

(3) After a few metres, the path joins a grassy forest track that is very little used. Continue straight on along this track and reach the Rosskopf forest track after about 1 km. When we passed through, a fallen tree was blocking the way; by bending down, we managed to get underneath it.

(4) A short detour to the left is possible to the nearby “Fontaine des Cœurs”. Otherwise, head up the Rosskopf forest track to the right to reach the Palenberg junction, which you passed on the way out.

(1) Head left onto the Taubentrinck forest track (signposted). Continue past the “pigeon trough” to reach the Heidenstadt forest track GR®531.

Blue Rectangle Markings GR®531

(5) Take the GR® 531 to the left, passing the Celtic oppidum of Heidenstadt, to reach the “Kanzel Mont St Michel” junction.

(6) Go past this junction, leaving the return path on your right. After about 100 metres, turn right towards Daubenschlag GR®531. Continue for about 250 metres to reach the start of a path on the left.

Red Disc markings

(7) Take this path signposted “Frohnberg quarry”. Reach the place known as “Opferteller”, then the medieval quarry and the cup-marked rock. Retrace your steps to rejoin the GR®531.

Blue Rectangle Markings GR® 531

(7) Continue left and pass the Huhnerfelsen rock on your right to reach the junction with the "Erwin Stein" path.

(8) Pass this and continue following the signposting for the “archaeological route – castle entrance”. Reach the entrance.

Red Disc signposting

(9) Begin a short climb to reach the Daubenschlag rock, a long sandstone promontory, and reach the ruins of Warthenberg Castle, then the CV shelter and the tip of the rock, a beautiful viewpoint.

(10) Head back towards the castle ruins, keeping to the right, and after about 80 m take the small sandstone steps leading down to the foot of the promontory.

Marked with green discs.

(11) Continue straight ahead northwards along the narrow path that runs along the foot of the promontory, signposted “Erwin Stein trail”(only one signpost located at the foot of the northern end of the rock), which allows you to walk around it before joining the GR®531.

Blue Rectangle GR®531 markings

(8) Begin the return journey towards the Celtic oppidum, passing close to the Huhnerfelsen rock and then the junction for “Opferteller”.

(7) Continue straight on to reach the junction leading to Kanzel Rock and Mont Saint-Michel.

(6) Turn left, following the signpost for “Kanzel, Mont St-Michel, Roman milestone”. After about a hundred metres, the beautiful Kanzel rock appears on the left. Retrace your steps for about twenty metres and then continue to the left, passing the Roman milestone and, further on, the Frohnberg rock, a lovely viewpoint just before it, with two benches. Continue straight on until you reach the “Plattenweg” signpost to reach the Roman road.

Red Disc Signpost

(12) Follow the sign for “Plattenweg” to the left and reach the Roman road, which stretches for about 150 metres. Continue down the slope and reach the junction with “the Philosophers’ Path”.

Red Saltire Sign

(13) Turn right onto this path and head straight towards Mont Saint-Michel, passing the wooden bridge before climbing the few hairpin bends leading to the Wasserfalfelsen rock. The path joins the forest road from St Jean de Saverne to La Croix de Langenthal.

Red Disc Markings

(14) Cross the forest road with care and take the path opposite leading to Mont St Michel (signposted Mont St Michel 300m). Visit, in order, the Fontaine aux Enfants, the Chapelle St Michel, the Rond des Sorcières and, via the sandstone steps, the Grotte des Fées. Retrace your steps and head towards the picnic area at the CV chalet.

(15) Walk past the CV chalet and follow the path marked with the Langenthal cross to reach the car park (S/E).

Club Vosgien trail markings

Club Vosgien shelters on the Daubenschlag promontory and at Mont St Michel.

Refreshments and light meals available at the Club Vosgien chalet on Mont St Michel during opening hours.

Archaeological sites: near the oppidum (Opferteller, Plattenweg or Roman road) and further north, the Daubenschlag site and its ruined^12th-century castle, the Warthenberg.

Some notable rock formations: Kanzenfels, Huhnerfelsen and the Daubenschlag promontory.

At Mont St Michel: St Michel’s Chapel, the Witches’ Circle and the Fairy Cave.

Further south, the archaeological route in the Bois de St-Jean (Stempfloecher).