Roman Road and the Ill Valley starting from Willer

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A lovely walk in the Sundgau starting from Willer.

Details

n°4205222
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  • Walking
    Activity: Walking
  • ↔
    Distance: 8.06 mi
  • ◔
    Average duration: 4h 10 
  • ▲
    Difficulty: Moderate
  • ⚐
    Back to start: Yes
  • ↗
    Ascent: + 531 ft
  • ↘
    Descent: - 558 ft
  • ▲
    Highest point: 1,362 ft
  • ▼
    Lowest point: 1,063 ft
  • ⚐ Country: France
  • ⚐ City: Haut-Rhin (68)
  • ⚑
    Start/End: N 47.588886° / E 7.324857°
  • ❏
    IGN map(s): Ref. 3621ET, 3721ET
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Description of the walk

Start before the entrance to Willer on the D12.2 coming from Hundsbach, at the crossroads near a wayside cross and a small chapel.

(S/E) Take the Ancient Roman Road westwards towards the old Roman camp, following the Red Disc and Red Triangle markings.

(1) At the site of the old Roman camp, note a ditch and a mound. Continue along the path through the forest, following the Yellow Disc and Red Triangle markings.

(2) At the crossroads, continue along the path towards Bettendorf.

(3) After 200 m, leave the main path which descends towards the village and take the path on the right, still following the Red Triangle markings.

(4) Enter the village via Rue de Wittersdorf, past the cross, and continue straight on until you reach the crossroads.

(5) Turn right onto Rue de l'Arche, then immediately left onto Rue de l’Église.

(6) After the church, the town hall and the school, turn right onto the path marked with red and blue diamonds towards the Ill. You will reach the D2b, Rue de Hirsingue.

(7) Cross the road, then turn right over the bridge over the Ill and immediately turn left onto Rue de Ferrette, following the red and blue diamond markings. Pass the recycling centre and continue to the junction just before Ruedersbach.

(8) At the junction, leave the diamond markings and turn left, following the Blue Disc markings, then left again towards the forest.

(9) After a bench where you can take a breather, continue through the forest, following the Blue Disc markings to the entrance of the village of Henflingen near a playground.

(10) Cross Rue de Bettendorf to take the small Rue du Ruisseau, which turns right then left to join Rue Principale (D2b).

(11) Take Rue Principale on your right until you reach Rue des Chênes after the left-hand bend.

(12) Turn left onto Rue des Chênes. A steep climb! Then continue north-east, following the Blue Disc signposts, to reach Willer on the main road. Cross the village and, after the fire station, the town hall and the church, reach the junction with Rue de la Croix.

(13) Leave Rue de la Croix and turn left until you reach the village exit to return to the starting point (S/E).

Waypoints

  1. S/E : mi 0 - alt. 1,316 ft - D12b - Northern entrance to Willer
  2. 1 : mi 0.44 - alt. 1,302 ft - Ancient Roman camp
  3. 2 : mi 1.8 - alt. 1,296 ft - Junction
  4. 3 : mi 1.92 - alt. 1,280 ft - Junction, right
  5. 4 : mi 2.63 - alt. 1,234 ft - Entrance to the village of Bettendorf
  6. 5 : mi 2.95 - alt. 1,109 ft - Turn right onto de l'Arche
  7. 6 : mi 3.15 - alt. 1,073 ft - Town hall, School
  8. 7 : mi 3.32 - alt. 1,073 ft - Bridge at - Ill (rivière)
  9. 8 : mi 4.56 - alt. 1,296 ft - Ruedersbach junction, Henflingen
  10. 9 : mi 4.69 - alt. 1,312 ft - Bench
  11. 10 : mi 5.56 - alt. 1,093 ft - Entrance to Henflingen – Playground
  12. 11 : mi 5.68 - alt. 1,119 ft - Main street
  13. 12 : mi 5.86 - alt. 1,106 ft - Rue des Chênes junction
  14. 13 : mi 7.72 - alt. 1,257 ft - Junction with Rue de la Croix
  15. S/E : mi 8.06 - alt. 1,316 ft - D12b - Calvary

Notes

Alternative route:
(7) You can shorten the route by crossing the road and taking the cycle path to Henflingen.

Reviews and comments

4.4 / 5
Based on 4 reviews
Reliability of the description
4.5 / 5
Ease of following the route
4.5 / 5
Route interest
4.3 / 5
danlutterrando
danlutterrando

Overall rating : 5 / 5

Date of your route : Feb 13, 2025
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★★ Very good
Very busy route : No

Very nice route in the drizzle. Do it again in good weather, the view towards Switzerland and the Vosges must be superb.

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DOPPLER Bernard
DOPPLER Bernard

Overall rating : 4.7 / 5

Date of your route : Nov 10, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★★ Very good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

Lovely route with a colourful start in the forest in autumn. Very good
However, the end of the circuit is very tarmac...but you have to go somewhere!

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81wi0834
81wi0834

Thank you for your feedback.
When we did this hike as a group we parked 6 cars near the starting point. No parking problems...
Regarding point 7, I did say to take the Rue de Ferrette on the left and follow the red and blue diamond markers - there is no other way.

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Daniel V
Daniel V

Overall rating : 3.7 / 5

Date of your route : Sep 12, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★☆☆ Average
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

It would have been wiser to start the circuit from the school or the Willer town hall, where parking is not a problem, such as at the calvary and the chapel. Point 7, where it says to pass in front of the waste collection centre, can be confusing. There is a tendency to get stuck on the D9b2 instead of taking the right turning on the left well before the waste collection centre.

Machine-translated

jean jacques zwibel
jean jacques zwibel

Overall rating : 4.3 / 5

Date of your route : Jun 16, 2021
Reliability of the description : ★★★★★ Very good
Ease of following the route : ★★★★☆ Good
Route interest : ★★★★☆ Good
Very busy route : No

very hot day when we did this tour 34 degrees
to be done again in autumn or spring 23 degrees

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