Portique des Géants and Château du Nideck circular from Luttenbach

Park in the car park on the side of the D218 road near the Luttenbach campsite and the Club Vosgien refuge.

(S/E) Start to the right (with the campsite behind you) towards Oberhaslach, walking along the side of the road (with caution) for about 250 m. Cross the road (again with caution) and take the unmarked path on the right up to the next junction.

(1) Follow the forest path marked with red and yellow rings to the right until you reach the next path that climbs to the left.

(2) Go up to the left, following the Anneau Jaune et Bleu and Triangle Bleu markings. At the junction just above the forest path, you will find a beautiful sculpture, the Portique des Géants en Grès de Rothbach, created in 2003 by Alfi Vivern from Brazil. Follow the markings to the left until you reach a wider path. Take it to the left. At the fork, go up to the left for a 200-metre round trip to the Château du Hohenstein, a ruin perched on a rocky outcrop, its remains overgrown with moss and roots. A little higher up on the right is a viewpoint with a panoramic view that is not to be missed. From this natural viewpoint, you can look out over the canopy for a spectacular panorama, especially at sunrise or sunset.

(3) Turn back and continue to the left (blue disc markings). Take the Sandweg forest path for about 100 metres before turning right onto the next path that climbs to the left.

(4) Continue left on a steep climb (marked with a blue ring). You will reach Petit Ringelstein with its ruins (dry stone walls) surrounding the summit.

(5)Descend on the other side to the Carrefour des Anlagen.

(6) Take the path marked with blue and yellow triangles and a yellow cross on the right to reach the Carrefour du Brigadier Jérôme.

(7) Turn right to reach, after a hundred metres, a second sculpture by Lyudmyla Mysko from Ukraine called "Liberation" in Rothbach sandstone. Then find the Pfaffenlapp Rock, an impressive sandstone needle dominating the valley, a veritable natural balcony suspended between the sky and the forest.

(8) Retrace your steps to return to the Carrefour des Anlagen.

(6) Now turn right onto the GR®531, marked with multiple blue rings and rectangles and a yellow triangle. Continue on to reach the Kasperlehepp Pond: nestled in a small clearing, this peaceful body of water is surrounded by reeds, ferns and old trees with twisted trunks. According to the elders of the neighbouring village, the name of the pond comes from a local character nicknamed Kasperle, a mischievous figure linked to the oral traditions of the region.

(9) Continue right on the GR®531, and in the bend following the pond, take the path that climbs to the right until you reach the next crossroads with a forest path.

(10) Cross the forest path and, slightly below, you will find a wooden table with benches. This is an ideal place to take a break or stop for a picnic. Take the GR®531 north towards the road and a car park on the D218, marked with a blue ring and blue rectangle.

(11) Turn left and walk about 500 m along the road, taking care, until you reach a new car park.

(12) Go down to the left of the car park, quickly turn right, then a few dozen metres further on, turn left onto the path down the wooden steps, marked with a blue ring, red rectangle and red triangle, to the Château du Nideck, whose tower is closed to visitors .

(13) Tower with a wooden bench opposite and an information panel. To reachChâteau du Nideck: leave the tower behind you and walk a few hundred metres uphill to reach the ruins, which dominate the valley from an impressive rocky outcrop, via stone steps secured by railings. Pass the tower again and descend to the right via a winding path that leads to the wooden bridge.

(14) Cross the Nideckbaechel stream on this bridge, turn right and keep to the right, following the GR®53, marked with a red rectangle. You will soon reach the viewpoint above the Nideck waterfall , which is 534 metres above sea level. From there, walk back a few metres to the junction with the path leading to the waterfall and turn right to reach the waterfall.

(15) Take this path on the right to reach the bottom of the waterfall. The water cascades down a volcanic rock wall approximately 25 metres high. After rain, the flow is particularly impressive.

(16) Go back up to the previous junction.

(15) Take the sloping path on the right to the rock and viewpoint of Hirchfels (proceed with caution). Although there is a handrail, this access is reserved for accompanied children and hikers with sure footing.

(17) Continue downhill on the path marked with a blue ring and red triangle until you reach the D218 road.

(18) Turn left onto the road and continue carefully for about 400 metres until you reach the car park (S/E).

• Slippery steps leading to the waterfall (caution advised in wet weather)
• No drinking water points along the route.
• Not accessible to pushchairs/bicycles.
• Dogs allowed (on a lead).
• Pfaffenlapp and Hirchfels viewpoints: proceed with caution and supervise children.

• Some steep or rocky sections: good footwear essential and walking sticks recommended.

Created and unanimously appreciated by the Branquignol.e.s (the famous group of epicurean hikers from Alsace) in October 2025.
Note: it is possible to skip the return section between (6 and 8) on a wide forest path, reducing the route by 2.5 km.

The sculptures

Nideck Castle: see detailed information on the Visit Alsace website.