Some unusual places around Saverne

(S/E) Start and finish at the car park opposite the botanical garden after the Col de Saverne.
Head due north on the path marked with a red diamond and a blue ring.
Follow this path towards the Sainte-Barbe Chapel.

(1) At the chapel, set off again along the path opposite (marked with a Yellow Cross).

(2) Turn right onto the unmarked path. Head down to the RD715. Follow it to the left, passing under the motorway bridge. You will come to a Blue Rectangle^GR®531sign.

(3) Leave the main road by turning left (Blue Rectangle). This magnificent path takes you to the Chapel of Saint-Michel.

(4) Set off again along the forest road (RF) (Blue Ring).

(5) Turn slightly right as you leave the path marked with a Blue Ring. Pass close to the Wasserfalfelsen – a beautiful waterfall during periods of heavy rain.

(6) Join the path coming in from your right (marked with a Red Saltire) and head left. Stay on this path. From time to time, glance back to your right: you will see the hillock of the Saint-Michel Chapel.

(7) Continue to the Club Vosgien refuge at Ernolsheim lès Saverne.

(8) Retrace your steps.

(7) Turn left (marked with a Yellow Ring). Caution: fairly steep slope (140m elevation gain over 800m).

(9) Turn left at the hairpin bend (Blue Rectangle) and head for the Daubenschlag site. After your visit, set off again along the path (Blue Rectangle) heading due south.

(10) Cross the Celtic oppidum and head towards the Heidenstadt Forest Road.

(11) At the Langenthal Cross, continue southwards, staying on the forest road, which you then leave on the left to join another forest road.

(12) Take the time to pop over to the Rocher des Dames for a 600m round trip (about 15 minutes), then continue along the forest road to the left.

(13) Turn left onto the path (marked with a Red Disc), cross the motorway and continue.

(14) Cross the RN4. Take care here as it can be a tricky crossing due to heavy traffic.
After crossing, take the path on the left (marked with a Red Rectangle^GR®5). Stay on this path until you reach the old Col de Saverne road.

(15). Turn left towards the Saut du Prince Charles, then the botanical garden, cross the RN4 and head for the car park (S/E).

Most of the trails used are maintained and signposted by the Club Vosgien, comprising 118 sections spread across departments 54, 57, 67, 68 and 88. To support them, please consider joining one of the sections near you.
(4) Mont Saint-Michel Club Vosgien shelter (open daily – refreshment bar at weekends).
(8) Ernolsheim CV shelter.
Daubenschlag shelter

(1) Sainte-Barbe Chapel: the year of construction is not actually known. Although the triumphal arch is dated 1630, it may not date from that period. Its construction is thought to date from the 16th or even the 15th century.
(4) Mont Saint Michel-d'Alsace. Visit the site with the Fairy Cave
(9) The Daubenschlag site with the ruins of Warthenberg Castle. The site is approximately 200 metres long and as wide as the rock ridge, with a maximum width of 50 metres. This forgotten castle lay buried underground and was unearthed during recent excavations (between 1984 and 1994).
(12) Rocher des Dames: beautiful view over the Alsace plain.
(15) Ancient route over the Col de Saverne
Prince Charles’s Leap and Roman road
The legend:
Whilst on the heights of Saverne, Prince Charles was pursued by his enemies. To escape them, he had his horse leap from a rock some twelve metres high. Both horse and rider landed safely at the bottom. But because of the height, the horse left the imprint of its four hooves on the rock below. And it was with just a slight limp in one leg that the horse carried the prince back to Saverne.