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Park in the car park at Haut-Barr Castle.
(S/E) A self-guided tour of the ruins of the 12th-century fortified castle and its castle chapel is a must.
(1) Standing at 470 m, it has been nicknamed "the eye of Alsace" for the spectacular view it offers over the Alsace plain and the Vosges.
Leaving the castle, turn right and, at the far end of the car park, take the small path on the left leading to the Claude Chappe visual telegraph tower (1794).
(2) Continue along the path for 400 m, passing close to the Rd171, then take the path that climbs to the right (Red Cross) towards Grand Geroldseck (13th century), named after the Germanic noble family that ruled the area.
(3) The ruins of this castle are currently undergoing restoration work.
Take the path that descends (ignore the first path on the right, which leads back the way you came) and crosses another path on the left (4), which will be your return route. 100 m further on, at a junction of three paths, take the middle one (you will return via the one on the right).
(5) Take the path on the left to reach the remains of the small Geroldseck (13th century), of which very little remains.
Continue downhill to the forest road and the Witches’ Table (Hexentisch, indicated on the signs).
(6) After the Witches’ Table, continue along the path opposite which climbs slightly (Red Rectangle) and, 350 m further on, head left (we’ll return via the path opposite).
Climb the path keeping to the right until you reach the Brotsch Tower (summit of the Brotschberg), which you can climb via its small internal spiral staircase.
(7) At the top of the tower, there is a beautiful view of Saverne. You can also see the castles of Haut-Barr and Grand Geroldseck.
Take the path on the right (with the tower behind you), which leads to the Brotsch rock, where there is a lovely viewpoint, and to the cave of the same name just below. To get there, take the path that zigzags down to the cave.
For the return journey from the cave:
(8) Retrace your steps from the cave back to the Brotsch tower. Once at the tower, instead of turning right (the way you came), continue straight on towards the Huck rock, which offers a view of the mountain range.
Set off again with your back to the rock, turning right towards “Petit Krappenfels” to go round it and reach the forest road at the green railing, which leads you to the right onto the path up the hill and to the Witches’ Table. From there, cross the road and take the path on the left to go round the Petit Geroldseck.
(5) You’ll rejoin the path you took on the way there.
(4) Turn right to go round the Grand Geroldseck. Then follow the path from the outward journey back to the car park (S/E).
Visorando member
Moderate 
Tourism professional
Difficult 
