Rhin (fleuve) walks

From Gambsheim to Kilstett, this beautiful walk alternates between fields, forest and riverside paths. An easy route, ideal for families.

Before the construction of the Canal of Alsace (1928), the Rhine extended its arms east of the Huningue Canal (1806) over a wide area of 1km to 2km. From the Rhone Canal on the North Rhine to the Barre d'Istein on the Old Rhine, along paths and trails often in the protected areas of the "Little Alsatian Camargue.", you'll discover numerous natural and industrial sites related to the history of the Rhine. Begin with a stroll between the drawbridge of Kembs (1831) and l'Ecluse Le Corbusier (1961).

The Rossmoerder biological reserve in Offendorf offers a beautiful diversity of vegetation, including wild clematis climbing in the trees, black poplars, reed beds, and the backwaters of the Rhine populated by swans, herons, egrets, nutria, etc.

Short hike through one of the remaining areas of alluvial forest in the Rhine plain. Numerous ponds and abundant wildlife.

Two centuries ago, the Rhine flowed in braids. From 1842, with the construction of dykes by Tulla, then around 1930 with the construction of the Grand Canal, the river was brought back into a single channel and the Rhine ecosystem was profoundly altered. Today, there is a stark contrast between nature, which is becoming re-vegetated and adapting to the drying up of the river with diverse and unique flora and fauna, and the intense industrial activity surrounding navigation and hydroelectric power.

A beautiful, easy walk in the Grand Ried in Rhinau, between fields and forest near the Rhine, surrounded by springs and streams with exceptionally clear water and blockhouses. Suitable for children.

A beautiful bike ride of nearly 30 km starting from the Stade de la Meinau in Strasbourg. It will take you through the Neuhof forest, up along the Canal d'Alsace on the French side, then back along the German bank, following the Old Rhine to the Jardin des Deux Rives, which straddles the Rhine and the border between Strasbourg and Kehl. The route favours cycle paths and trails that are closed to vehicles.

The vast renaturation project on the Rhine Island, which began in 2013, is nearing completion. A new river, the Little Rhine, has appeared between the Grand Canal and the Old Rhine. The land and water around it has been completely transformed, allowing many plant and animal species to return or remain. This walk takes place in a rapidly changing natural environment, where everything is set to change for the greater benefit of biodiversity.

A short trip to the Nature Reserve on Rohrschollen Island at the gates of Strasbourg. A little-known getaway full of discoveries. Please note that dogs are strictly prohibited in the reserve, even on a leash. (5) June 2021: the city of Strasbourg has installed five rustic Highland Cattle cows on the island to clear the undergrowth beneath the power lines.

The Rhine Falls are waterfalls located between Neuhausen (right bank) and Flurlingen (left bank) in Switzerland, downstream from Schaffhausen. With a height of 23 metres and a width of 150 metres, they are among the largest in Europe. When the Rhine has its average flow, 750m3/s of water rushes over the rocks.

In 1805, Napoleon and Francis I of Austria imposed the border on the Rhine. Rheinfelden then became Rheinfelden Baden, a German industrial town, and Rheinfelden Argovie, a Swiss spa town.The route runs along the German bank, which is equipped with viewing platforms and benches, to the hydroelectric dam and then along the more wooded Swiss bank. Return via the historic town and its old bridge, the Altebrücke.

This short walk takes you through three countries on foot and enriches the mind as you read the texts by French, Swiss and German poets displayed on the boundary stones.You will pass from France to Switzerland and then back through Germany.No need to take your passport to travel, an identity card will suffice.

A route through the Taubergiessen National Nature Reserve, in the German part of Rhinau, along the Old Rhine with views of Rhinau Island and a short detour to Europa-Park (Rust). This is a thousand-hectare nature reserve owned by the French commune of Rhinau on German territory (650 ha of forest and 350 ha of meadows or fields). I was lucky enough to spot roe deer, swans and herons.

Walk around Burkheim, a pretty village typical of the Kayserstuhl region. The route takes you past the Baggersee gravel pit, Sponeck Castle, through the vineyards and around the village.

A cycle ride around Strasbourg on flat paths, starting from Place d'Haguenau, which will take you along the Rhône-Rhine Canal, through the Neuhof Forest, up along the Alsace Canal on the French side, then return via the German bank, following the Old Rhine to the Jardin des Deux Rives, straddling the Rhine and the border between Strasbourg and Kehl.

A short walk between the wild Old Rhine and the tamed canal with its array of industrial installations: the locks, the German motorway that you cannot see but can hear, the high-voltage power lines you pass under at the start of the route, but also its natural beauty: the winding, silted-up Rhine, exposed at the Istain sandbars. To fully enjoy the views of the Rhine, the route is best done in winter when the trees are still bare.

A lovely ride through the beautiful villages along the Rhine between Kehl and Offenburg. The route follows cycle paths separated from traffic for almost the entire journey and is very well signposted throughout.

This route follows cycle paths, tracks and trails, alternating between sections through woodland, along rivers and canals, and through countryside. Several places to stop and have a picnic along the route.

The landscapes are very varied as you walk along the Rhine and then the Kander, passing through Eimeldingen. They are urban but also bucolic: the village of Märkt, the bridge over the A5 motorway, the gravel pit, the path along the Rhine, the mouth of the Kander, the path along the Kander with two small bridges, the fish pass and the forest.

A circular route with virtually no elevation gain, through the shaded forest on the German side of the Rhine. Part of the route follows a signposted path known as the “Schnakenpfad” (the snail trail), which is approximately 7.5 km long. It is located near Lac de Gravier to the west, between the villages of Ottenheim-Schwanau and Meißenheim. This path is aptly named, as the locals also call it “Schnoogepfad” (the Mosquito Trail), because in summer it is teeming with them. The route alternates between small lakes, streams, charming little wooden bridges, footpaths, tracks of varying widths, tarmac roads and a few pavements at the start and finish in the streets of the village of Ottenheim-Schwanau. The whole route is easily accessible. There are several shelters with tables and benches along the way. Suitable walking shoes are nevertheless recommended. Dogs must be kept on a lead! The area is rich in wildlife and you’ll also come across beautiful wild geese.

A short, peaceful stroll in Basel along the Rhine. Start and finish on the forecourt of Basel SBB station. It is a superb walk with the Rhine as its central feature. There are plenty of benches along the route where you can rest and enjoy the magnificent Basel landscape.

Nineteenth stage: From Les Rousses to Lake Constance via the Jura mountain range. For this final stage, you will take the ViaJacobi, the ancient pilgrimage route that leads German pilgrims to Santiago de Compostela via Geneva. Following in their footsteps, you will reach the city of Constance (Konstanz), nestled in southern Germany. Constance charms visitors with its medieval charm, particularly in the picturesque Niederburg district, where narrow streets and half-timbered houses tell centuries of history. Its majestic Romanesque cathedral, the Münster Unserer Lieben Frau, has watched over the city since the Middle Ages. Finally, Lake Constance (Bodensee), a true natural gem, stretches out at the foot of the Alps and unites three nations — Germany, Switzerland and Austria — in a landscape of serene beauty.

This exceptional hike links Les Rousses, in the heart of the French Haut-Jura, to the city of Constance (Konstanz), on the shores of the lake of the same name, following the ridges of the Swiss Jura. A demanding but magnificent 405 km route that crosses the most iconic landscapes of the Jura mountains: high-altitude pastures, deep forests, alpine viewpoints, villages steeped in history and forgotten military ruins.