Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines walks

One of the most beautiful slopes in the Vosges to climb one of the highest peaks in the Vosges, with, as a reward on a clear day, a view of the Bernese Jura and its trilogy of legendary peaks: the Eiger, the Mönch and the Jungfrau, i.e. the Ogre, the Monk and the Virgin. In autumn, when the mist sets in and the days grow shorter, early morning hikers will be impressed by the bellowing of the stags. This route is far from any noise pollution.

A beautiful historical hike near the Wisembach National Forest.A reminder of the facts:1871 - Alsace/Moselle are annexed by Germany, which modernises many areas.1914 - The heir to the Austrian throne is assassinated / Germany declares war on Russia, France and Belgium. Soldiers occupy villages and mountains.November 1918: the trenches are filled in, the blockhouses and other structures destroyed, but around a hundred remain visible in the heights of the Val d'Argent.

This circular hike links the Col de Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines to Chaume de Lusse, through typical Vosges forests of beech, fir, blueberry and high-altitude meadows. The forest paths and roads offer beautiful panoramic views of the Val d'Argent and Meurthe valleys. This is a fairly dynamic route that leads to Chaume de Lusse via a varied course, including sustained climbs (which is why we rate it as difficult), forest passages and open ridges. Part of the route runs between Alsace and Lorraine on paths and trails marked by the GR®531, the former border from 1871 to 1918, with boundary stones marked D (Deutschland), often hammered, and F, marking the historic border and named "Chemins de la Grande Guerre" (Paths of the Great War).

A short, shaded hike through a beautiful pine forest, surrounded by ferns and blueberry bushes and above Aubure, to Roche du Tétras.

This is a 12-kilometre hike that takes you to most of the interesting rocks in the magical Taennchel area. Start from the Club Vosgien chalet at Schelmenkopf, above Ribeauvillé. To get there from Ribeauvillé, take the road to Aubure, then at the hamlet of La Pépinière, turn towards Grande Verrerie. Please note that this is inaccessible in winter as the road is unpaved. Addendum dated 17 June 2025: storms have badly damaged the unpaved road from the bottom of the Grande Verrerie to Schelmenkopf. It is only suitable for 4x4 vehicles or those that can handle rough terrain.

This 12-kilometre hike will take you to the main rocks of Taennchel and the amazing Source des Corbeaux, starting from the small car park at the bottom of the Grande Verrerie.

This outing will take us to an enclave of the Dukes of Lorraine in Alsace, a little-visited valley in the heart of the Vosges forest. This route through mountainous countryside, on well-marked trails, presents no difficulty other than its length and elevation, even in the depths of winter, provided that the snow cover does not hinder progress.

If you want to go on a beautiful hike starting from the Col des Bagenelles, between the valleys of Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines and Kaysersberg, the Petit and Grand Brezouard tour is for you. Here is the Tour des Petit and Grand Brezouard, which offers views of these two valleys, the Alsace plain and, in the distance, the Black Forest. Very well marked by the Club Vosgien, it is suitable for all types of hikers, including children. 20/08/2024: Hike modified to avoid the Grand Brézouard, which has been unmarked to reinforce the quiet zone.

Beautiful hike in the Val d'Argent, via the Tree of Liberty, to discover the old mines of the village of Échery and its clock tower. Climb to the summit of Grand Brézouard and enjoy a 360° panorama of the Sainte-Marie-aux-Mines valley and the Vosges mountain ranges.

In spring, there is nothing more pleasant than this circular starting from Fréland and passing through the Col de Chamont. Lovely panoramic views of the Pays Welche, the Fréland and Lapoutroie valleys, the magnificent Mont Kalblin and beautiful forest passages.

This moderately difficult route passes through beautiful, diverse forests with several points of interest. You can rest or eat at the Clausmatt inn, run by the Espoir association.

This short walk around Col de Fouchy will take you through the northern part of the Val d'Argent, passing Col du Petit Haut, Rocher de la Salière, Roche du Cheval Tombé and Col du Rougerain. A full programme of forest paths and trails accessible to all. Not suitable for pushchairs as some paths are too narrow.

A short two-hour walk, starting from the crossroads above the Saint-Alexis inn. You will walk around the Koenigsstuhl and reach the highest point via the easiest route.

This route will take you from an ancient Roman road to the heights of Fréland. Done in good weather at the end of winter, it offers a varied and peaceful hike. Along the way, you will see the first primroses, streams and a view of the Lapoutroie valley. On the way back, it is always a pleasure to cross Fréland. A short visit to the Welche country museum and its adjoining inn will be a pleasant way to round off the walk.

A very beautiful circular walk from Le Bonhomme, which is not too busy. We were lucky enough to pass through areas full of flowering foxgloves... magnificent. A varied route through forests and pastures.

This circular hike starts in the village of Le Bonhomme and follows the "Circuit de la Grande Guerre sur le massif de la Tête des Faux" (Great War Trail on the Tête des Faux massif), which was a fierce battlefield between 1914 and 1915. Here you will find remnants of the 1914-18 war, two imposing cemeteries, as well as fortifications and technical installations erected by the Germans. The Étang du Devin and its bucolic setting offer a place to rest.

This hike will take you from Le Bonhomme to the 1914-1918 battlefields of Tête des Faux, then to the three passes of Calvaire, Louschbach and Bonhomme. Along the way, depending on the season, you can enjoy the abundance of blueberry bushes along the path.

Circular starting from Urbeis in the Villé valley, following the heritage trail on the theme of the mining past, then passing by the ruins of Bilstein Castle, the village of Climont and the Col d'Urbeis.

A short walk from the village of Lapoutroie, climbing up to see the Tour du Faudé via the Roche du Chat Noir. From a height of 16.50 metres, the tower reappears at the top of the Faudé. It was inaugurated on 15 August 2002, offering visitors the opportunity to take in the superb landscapes of the Welche region and the surrounding area. To round off your day, you can visit the Haxaire cheese dairy, where Munster cheese is made.

This is an unmissable hike in the Villé Valley, which takes you past some unusually shaped rocks (the Cheval Tombé, the Salière and the Roche des Fées) and leads to the Rocher du Coucou with its stunning views of the valley and the Central Alsace plain, as well as the iconic Château du Frankenbourg, which once protected the area.

Loop hike starting from Fouchy, through beautiful pine and deciduous forests. Gradual climb to Col du Petit Haut, alternating between paths and trails. Return via pleasant trails on the slopes of Rougerain and Guichat, with the Rocher de la Salière and the Roche du Cheval Tombé. The walk ends with part of the heritage trail "Une forêt en pays welsche" (A forest in Welsh country) and the viewpoint at the Fouchy reservoir.

Hike through the pretty town of Kaysersberg, then into the Alsatian vineyards. The climb continues through a forest with different species of trees. The return route follows a stream that winds its way between the rocks.

This largely shaded hike will take you to hidden corners of Kaysersberg, including its medieval castle and old town.

By following Géovino in Riquewihr, you will learn about the fundamental importance of rocks for vines. You will understand why the soils of the southern slopes of the Vosges mountains are so special, but also the relationship between rocks, soils and vines, and even their influence on the aroma of wines!

This short hike in the hills above Villé takes us from the River Giessen to theGR®532trail along the ridges, with beautiful views of the Champ du Feu massif on one side and the Col de Fouchy on the other the other.

The Val de Villé tourist office publishes very well-designed hiking maps. Today, we are following trail No. 12, known as the Route de la Honel, which will take you through villages and forests with scenic views and rock formations. This hike is particularly beautiful in spring when the orchards are in bloom and the views are still unobstructed, as the forest canopy has not yet fully formed. The trail is fairly easy.