Stroll to the three castles of Ribeauvillé

It's a nice walk that visits the three castles of Ribeauvillé at a slightly different angle from the traditional walk.

Technical sheet

115735
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 7.14 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 3h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Return to departure point: Yes
  • ↗
    Vertical gain: + 357 m
  • ↘
    Vertical drop: - 357 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 640 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 283 m

Photos

Description of the walk

(S) The start is the sports field at the top of Ribeauvillé (take Rue Klee and Rue de Lutzelbach up to the small car park where you can easily park).

Leave the car park by the vehicle accessible road that runs along the sports field and runs north into the Valley of Lutzelbach. Follow the path along the stream without changing direction. Pass the Lutzelbach Fountain (drinking water) (1).

Soon after the fountain, the road makes a hairpin bend to the right and leaves the bank of the stream.

At the crossroads following (2), do not head towards Schluesselstein, instead turn left and stay on the trail with Red-White-Red markings to Taennchel - Three castles (variant of the GR).

Reach a place with a nice view of the valley and the back of the Haut-Ribeaupierre. Cross the RM5 leading to Thannenkirch on the right and heading out after 50 m on your left towards the three castles at the Quatre Chênes crossroads (3). Continue straight to a picnic table where there is a nice view of Taennchel (4). Take a break here or continue a few tens of metres to the Dusenbach cross (a stone calvary).

At the picnic table, turn left and follow the Red-White-Red marking that lead to castles. Take care to leave the dirt road onto a path to the left after about 300 m. Follow the path through the woods. Cross a path and continue opposite.

Arrive at a crossroads (5) where you can either choose to climb to the Haut-Ribeaupierre (Red and White arrows of the RM5, head opposite) or avoid it (follow the Red-White-Red arrows) to the right. My preferred itinerary avoids the castle because it can’t be visited.
A steep path leads to the largest of the three castles: Saint Ulrich (6).

It joins the GR5 which descends from Haut-Ribeaupierre. You can visit the well restored castle, and enjoy a magnificent view of the valley.

From this point, it’s only a few minutes walk to see the 3rd castle, Girsberg. Then head down to Ribeauvillé by a very steep path (RM5). Pass a gazebo where you can take a break (7).

Arrive at the rear of the school, turn left onto the concrete slab path that brings us back to the car park.

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 283 m - Sports complex at the top of Ribeauvillé
  2. 1 : km 1.59 - alt. 418 m - Fontaine du Lutzelbach (Ribeauvillé)
  3. 2 : km 2.44 - alt. 492 m - Crossroads to Schlusselstein
  4. 3 : km 3.89 - alt. 574 m - Carrefour des Quatre Chênes
  5. 4 : km 4.39 - alt. 626 m - Picnic table
  6. 5 : km 5.23 - alt. 604 m - Carrefour
  7. 6 : km 5.76 - alt. 521 m - Château de Saint-Ulrich
  8. 7 : km 6.86 - alt. 325 m - Gloriette. Close to the - Strengbach (rivière)
  9. S/E : km 7.14 - alt. 283 m - Sports complex at the top of Ribeauvillé

Practical information

Take the precaution of bringing proper shoes, some sections are difficult.

Drinking water at the fountain of Lutzelbach.

Picnic area at the Dusenbach Cross and the castle of Saint Ulrich.

In the nearby area

Visit nearby villages: Ribeauvillé, Riquewihr, Kaysersberg. To be avoided in the tourist season, there are too many people.

More adventurous walkers can continue walking beyond the Dusenbach cross to Thannenkirch or Taennchel.

 Always stay careful and alert while following a route. Visorando and the author of this walk cannot be held responsible in the event of an accident during this route.

The GR® and PR® markings are the intellectual property of the Fédération Française de Randonnée Pédestre.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 132 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.4 / 5
Clarity of route map
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.7 / 5
virgule
virgule

Thanks for the info. Actually, if you don't change the date when you write the notice, it puts today's date.

Fortunately, it's not very busy during the week. But I think the car park is used by the nearby secondary school. So it's not necessarily any easier to park there than at the weekend.

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nm66
nm66

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Jun 22, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Busy trail : Yes

The route was very hot but mostly shaded, and the climb was gradual. The descent is much steeper, with lots of people and no shade, so the two parts of the hike were very different.
We only saw two of the three castles.

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User 25754753

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : May 28, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

Contrary to what I'd read in the reviews, we did manage to get to the 3 castles. It was a bit hard on the feet and ankles at times (very stony), but it was a great walk!

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virgule
virgule

Thank you for your opinion. You chose the right period. Late January and February are a good time to visit the region, as it's out of the tourist season. So no crowds in town, and no one in the woods either.

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Cerdon
Cerdon

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Jan 19, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : No

...

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virgule
virgule

Warning: Ribeauvillé is extremely touristy. At weekends in December, it's a must for hikers. You won't be able to park anywhere.

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virgule
virgule

Hello,

It's mentioned in the topo:

The GPS track is as short as possible. To see the three châteaux, follow the description.

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Yeel
Yeel

Overall rating : 3 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★☆☆ Average
Busy trail : Yes

Nice tour of the 3 castles, perfect duration, but the tour only takes in one castle rather than all 3, which is a shame.

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randonnée alsacienne
randonnée alsacienne

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of walk : Nov 17, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

The descent from the châteaux to Ribeauvillé is quite difficult, very stony with differences in level of 10 to 20 cm in some places, so you have to be very careful and above all not be in a hurry. I got off around 3 - 4 pm and passed some visitors who were starting to climb. I don't know whether they were surprised by the twilight and it seems dangerous to me on the way down.

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virgule
virgule
• Last modified:

Ribeauvillé used to be a quiet little sub-prefecture, but in recent years it has become an extremely popular tourist destination. At weekends and on public holidays, there are a lot of people. But you can still park at the bottom of the town.

It's very busy, but only between the lycée and the St Ulrich (tourist rush).

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Oudot
Oudot
• Last modified:

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of walk : Oct 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

Lovely afternoon of discovery. Shame there's no parking nearby.

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bernard_dorli
bernard_dorli

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 13, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

The gentle ascent through the forest is a good idea, and there are few people on this part of the route.
Then comes the beautiful discovery of the 3 châteaux with Ribeauvillé in the background.
At point 5, I took the path to Haut-Ribeaupierre.

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Jean luc courrier
Jean luc courrier

Overall rating : 3.3 / 5

Date of walk : Sep 01, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★☆☆☆ Disappointing
Clarity of route map : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

A nice walk if you don't follow the classic route, starting with the highest castle, a bit of a challenge to find the start.
It's hard to find the starting point, but fortunately there are some locals to help you, but the walk is great, the castles are beautiful and the views are magnificent.

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virgule
virgule
• Last modified:

The proposed access is longer but easier than the direct ascent, so thank you!

And much quieter. It's only "very busy" at the two lower castles, and on the descent.

You can also continue from St Ulrich towards the Dusenbach monastery, then along the Maria Reidt path.

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Maritimus
Maritimus

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of walk : Aug 18, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Clarity of route map : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Busy trail : Yes

The proposed access is longer but easier than the direct ascent, so thank you.

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