Vineyards, almond trees and typical villages in Mittelwihr

This easy walk through the vineyards also allows you to discover pretty villages on the Alsace Wine Route and the fortified church of Hunawihr. Suitable in all seasons. In early spring, you can enjoy the almond trees in bloom. In autumn, you can enjoy the beautiful colours of the season.

Details

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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 11.57 km
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 05 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate

  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 260 m
  • ↘
    Descent: - 260 m

  • ▲
    Highest point: 380 m
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 222 m

Photos

Description of the walk

Depart from the car park located at the junction of Route du Vin and Mandelberg, near the Le Mandelberg hotel.

(S/E) Take Chemin du Mandelberg (next to the hotel of the same name) and, at thefirst crossroads, turn left towards Colline des Amandiers. At the next crossroads, continue straight on towards Beblenheim.

(1) When you reach the first houses, turn right onto Rue des Vosges, then takethe first left onto Rue Weinbrenner. When you reach the main street (Rue de Hoehn), turn left and then immediately right onto Rue des Tulipes.

(2) Continue straight ahead, leaving the village. Turn left twice and then right twice to reach a large crossroads (elevation 263). Continue straight ahead on the D3.2 towards the first houses in Zellenberg.

(3) Take the stairs on the left just before the Auberge du Froehn, then take the path on the left that goes around Zellenberg. At the Y-junction, turn right to climb up to the old village.

When you reach a square with a fountain, you can either go straight on along Rue du Schlossberg or turn left onto Rue de la Fontaine, which runs parallel (choice of route).
Continue to the left, pass in front of the church and go to the crossroads.

(4) Pass to the left of the small traffic island, then a little further on, turn right into Rue du Vignoble.

(5) At the Au Riesling hotel and restaurant, turn left, then when you reach the crossroads, cross Route du Vin and take the street opposite (CC Huttweg). Then turn right onto the path and follow it to the end to reach Hunawihr.

(6) Turn right and then left after thefirst house in the village. Admire the pretty Fontaine Sainte-Hune fountain, then turn left onto Rue de la Fontaine, which then becomes Rue Sainte-Hune. At the end of the street, turn left onto Rue de l'Église and you will reach the Church of Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur, one of the few fortified churches in Alsace and a listed historical monument.

(7) "This mixed church (Catholic and Protestant services have been held here since 1687) dates from the 15th century and is surrounded by a hexagonal fortified enclosure with six bastions pierced with loopholes.
Inside the church, you can see the Saint Nicholas fresco and an organ dating from 1765." Leaving the church via the street of the same name, turn left and exit the village. Go straight ahead at the first three crossroads you come to and continue to the fourth.

(8) Take the path on the right, turn left before the forest and then right again. Follow the path through the vineyards, start walking along the forest a little further on, then take thefirst path on the left and follow it for about 150 metres.

(9) Don't miss the small path on the right that descends towards the small tourist town of Riquewihr. Then take the road on the right and follow it to the fortified gate that marks the entrance to the pedestrianised town.

(10) Pass under the two gates to admire the square, the tower and the pretty half-timbered houses before crossing the town. Walk down the pretty main street (Rue du Général de Gaulle),which is very touristy, with colourful houses, numerous shops, wine cellars and restaurants, to the bottom of the town. Pass under the Town Hall.

(11) Turn right. Walk along Avenue Méquillet for about 250 metres and turn left into Rue Mandle. Follow this street to Route de Mittelwihr and follow it to the left until you reach the three-way junction.

(12) Take the path that branches off to the left, then thefirst path on the left. Then take thethird path on the right, then thefirst on the left, and continue straight on to Mittelwihr, which you will reach via Rue de Riquewihr.

(13) Continue straight ahead, then turn left onto Rue des Fleurs. At the end of the street, turn right one last time onto Rue du 25 Décembre, then left to return to the car park where you started (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : km 0 - alt. 223 m - Mittelwihr, hotel car park - Sembach (ruisseau) - Affluent de la Fecht
  2. 1 : km 0.83 - alt. 226 m - Entrance to Beblenheim
  3. 2 : km 1.33 - alt. 233 m - Exit from Beblenheim
  4. 3 : km 2.44 - alt. 276 m - Stairs at the entrance to Zellenberg
  5. 4 : km 3.3 - alt. 279 m - Crossroads at the exit of old Zellenberg
  6. 5 : km 3.58 - alt. 266 m - Hotel-restaurant
  7. 6 : km 4.87 - alt. 254 m - Entrance to Hunawihr
  8. 7 : km 5.45 - alt. 286 m - Église Saint-Jacques le Majeur (Hunawihr)
  9. 8 : km 6.43 - alt. 345 m - Crossroads
  10. 9 : km 7.44 - alt. 360 m - Small path on the right
  11. 10 : km 7.75 - alt. 311 m - Fortified entrance gate to Riquewihr
  12. 11 : km 8.12 - alt. 287 m - Exit Riquewihr. After the - Château des Princes (Riquewihr)
  13. 12 : km 8.88 - alt. 318 m - Path on the left
  14. 13 : km 11.04 - alt. 240 m - Entrance to Mittelwihr
  15. S/E : km 11.57 - alt. 223 m - Mittelwihr, hotel car park

Notes

The route alternates between tarmac roads and dirt tracks.

Suitable for all seasons. However, be careful in summer as it can get very hot and there is very little shade along the route.

Tarmac roads (mostly quiet) and easy paths.
Passing through villages means you can stop for a bite to eat or a drink at regular intervals.
You can take shelter under the Sainte-Hune fountain in Hunawihr.

(10) Alternative: if you are looking for a quieter route, turn back, go through the second gate and immediately turn left into Rue Sébastopol, following it until you reach Rue du Cheval, where you turn left.
Then turn right onto Rue Latérale, then left onto Rue de la 1ère Armée, before returning to the main street (Rue du Général de Gaulle), which you will follow down to the bottom of the town.

Worth a visit

Almond trees in bloom at the very beginning of spring.
Typical villages where it's nice to stroll around.
Sainte-Hune fountain and fortified church in Hunawihr.
The beautiful tourist town of Riquewihr.

Reviews and comments

4.5 / 5
Based on 25 reviews

Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.4 / 5
Route interest
4.6 / 5
Orchidees
Orchidees

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : May 12, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A magnificent and beautiful hike through vineyards and several villages.
Breathtaking views all along the route.

Be careful not to do this hike in hot weather, as it is completely exposed
Medium difficulty

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Stéphanie Specht
Stéphanie Specht

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 01, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

We did this walk during the Almond Blossom Festival weekend, so there were lots of people in Mittelwihr. But as soon as you get away from the village, it's much quieter. There are tables and benches.
It's a shame there are so many paved paths. I'll do it again in autumn; it must be beautiful to walk through these vineyards. The church in Hunawihr is magnificent; it's a shame it was closed.

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ebass
ebass

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 24, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Superb hike

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randonanard
randonanard

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

Under the spring sunshine, it's magnificent, with almond trees in bloom, castles in the distance and a trip through Riquewihr – a very pleasant walk.

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VISORANDOGENEVIEVE
VISORANDOGENEVIEVE

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

A beautiful hike among almond trees in bloom and a tour of the villages along the wine route: Beblenheim, Zellenberg, Hunawihr and Riquewihr

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mariejose sester
mariejose sester

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 07, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : Yes

A delightful outing under almost summer-like sunshine.

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virgule
virgule

Hello, I'm being told that there are cars parked on both sides of the Route du Vin between Mittelwihr and Beblenheim. As a result, Mittelwihr is very busy. In just a few years, the Kanzala (Almond Tree Hill) has become a must-see for tourists and Instagrammers. Fortunately, the almond trees bloom fairly quickly.

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yoyo 68320
yoyo 68320

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A very beautiful walk to do in spring.

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Mouche
Mouche

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Beautiful hike, discovering villages.
Zellenberg was particularly nice. The Fontaine à Hunawihr was a lovely place to stop for lunch. It was a shame the church was closed.
The return trip through the vineyards was interesting, with views of the plain. There was also an interesting view of the castles of Ribeauville.
We'll do this walk again in early March, hoping to see the almond trees in bloom

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Schoepfer
Schoepfer

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 04, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

A well-exposed almond tree was already in bloom.
We made some wonderful discoveries in the villages, with their unique attractions and panoramic views stretching 360° across the Alsace plain and the Vosges mountains. We stopped for lunch under the shelter of the fountain in Hunawhir, which is equipped with tables and benches. We enjoyed our walk under a beautiful blue sky, despite the cool temperatures in the morning. Our only regret was not being able to enter the fortified church of Saint Jacques (the door was closed). A very beautiful walk.
Claude S.

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Tan
Tan

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 21, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★☆☆ Average
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Great walk, but a more detailed description would be appreciated
- between Mittelwihr and Beblenheim
- between Riquewihr and Mittelwihr

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CHRISTIANRANDO2017
CHRISTIANRANDO2017

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Apr 26, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

A lovely, easy walk. The paths through the vineyards are clean and suitable for walking even in rainy weather.
Beautiful views and a trip through typical Alsatian villages, including RIQUEWIHR (sometimes a little crowded with tourists and cars)
The only slight difficulty was finding the path down to RIQUEWIHR.

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IsaR6863
IsaR6863

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 08, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very beautiful hike, but it's a shame we leave the almond tree hill so quickly.
I think it would be nice to add the little loop at Mandelberg to admire the almond trees in bloom!
Another point: after climbing up to the church in Hunawihr, we had trouble finding the path to continue on, as it's a dead end.

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sylvie68
sylvie68

Overall rating : 4 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 25, 2024
Reliability of the description : ★★★★☆ Good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : Yes

very beautiful route. It's a shame it rained

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grosmollets
grosmollets

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Mar 10, 2024
Reliability of the description : Not used / Not applicable
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

For two weeks, all we heard about was this famous hill with almond trees, so we had to go and see it for ourselves!
It was a beautiful spring hike, with all the trees in bloom (and not just almond trees ). We passed through vineyards and pretty traditional villages, with beautiful views all along the way and lots of great photo opportunities. Zellenberg on its hill, the stork park, Hunawihr with its fortified church, and the arrival in Riquewihr from the heights is really nice
And it must be nice in autumn too.

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