Westhalten walks

Westhalten is a small wine-growing village. It is the first village you come to when entering the Vallée Noble. This route offers the chance to explore the village and its crosses. You can combine this walk with a visit to the neighbouring village of Soultzmatt or go on other hikes in the area. You can also see the Petit Ballon on several occasions, as well as other Vosges peaks in the surrounding area.

This lovely route showcases Westhalten’s religious heritage and its many crosses, its renowned vineyard and the dry hills of Strangenberg. The latter is a remarkable natural area home to several types of orchids, blood-red geraniums, wild tulips and grape hyacinths, as well as, in terms of wildlife, hoopoes, green lizards and vipers. Walkers are treated to numerous views and panoramas of the village, the Grand and Petit Ballon mountains, the Alsace plain and the Black Forest. Important: the route is mainly in open country, so don’t forget a hat, a cap and something to drink!

This route, starting from the Westhalten cemetery, leads first to the Zinnkoepfle, then to the Notre-Dame du Hubel crossroads, and finally to Schauenberg via a pleasant forest path. You can return via the same route, or choose to head towards the other hill, the Strangenberg.

A short walk allowing you to explore Strangenberg Hill, starting from the car park at Westhalten Cemetery. The route suggested here is a return walk, but you’ll easily find alternative routes for the return leg, particularly at the top of the hill.

This walk takes you across the Hohberg plateau and its beautiful forests, passing by the Lutzelberg and Plaies Crosses. You can also enjoy the view of the plain before Notre-Dame du Hubel and the beauty of the forest on the Hohberg plateau.

Discover the vineyards of the Vallée Noble, its grands crus such as Zinnkoepfle and Pfingstberg, and its wine-growing villages such as Westhalten, Soultzmatt and Orschwihr.

This circular walk, which is challenging in places, takes you past several interesting spots. The first of these is the Désiré Renaud viewpoint. Next come Notre-Dame de Schauenberg, the Schauenberg Chestnut Tree, the Devil’s Rock, the Cuckoo Rock, the church at Osenbach, Langenstein, the Val du Pâtre with its church and military cemetery, the Grossfels Rock and St. Lucy’s Chapel, Soultzmatt and the Zinkoepfle. Of course, to fully appreciate these points of interest, you should definitely stop off at them. It is a route with many ups and downs, the final climb being the most challenging. Almost the entire route is through woodland. Only the last quarter is out in the open, amongst the vineyards.

The foothills of the Hautes Vosges are also a great place for lovely hikes. This route starts at the Col du Neuland and is circular, looping back to Eguisheim. The first section is entirely through woodland. It takes you past Notre-Dame du Schauenberg, the Rocher du Coucou and the Gueberschwihr quarries. The route then passes through Husseren-les-Châteaux before climbing towards the Trois Châteaux d’Eguisheim. The rest of the route follows a botanical trail before winding down towards the ruins of Hagueneck. After the castle, the rest of the route is entirely open country and passes through the outskirts of the village of Eguisheim, then the villages of Obermorschwihr, Gueberschwihr and Pfaffenheim, before climbing back up to the Col du Neuland.

This hike will first take you through the beautiful forest between Westhalten and Osenbuhr and then onto a balcony overlooking the vineyards of Pfaffenheim and Rouffach.

The first part of this hike takes place on forest paths and the return journey is through the meadows of the Haute Vallée Noble. The route takes you to the pilgrimage site of Schaefertal (Val du Pâtre), the mysterious site of Schwarzenthann, the meadows of Wintzfelden and the panorama of the Zinnkoepfle and the Noble Valley at Grossfels. This hike can be shortened by almost 4 kilometres if you choose the Shepherd's Valley Chapel as your starting point.

Soultzmatt is a small town with just over 2,000 inhabitants. It is situated at the entrance to the Vallée Noble on the banks of the Ohmbach. Stretching out in a long, narrow shape, the town retains its pretty winegrowers’ houses. The town is also famous for being home to the Lizbeth spring (a local mineral water). This route takes you past Château Wagenbourg, Saint-Sébastien Church and St-Nicolas Chapel.

Circular hike from Rouffach to the Notre-Dame de Schauenberg sanctuary, with a beautiful view of the Alsace plain.The route follows part of "La grande promenade mystique" (The Great Mystical Walk ), linking places marked by the region's spiritual and religious heritage.The first part takes place in the Rouffach vineyards, then enters the forest. After the sanctuary, the return journey is along a corniche.

An easy route that will take you through the dry meadows of Bollenberg overlooking the Alsace plain, between vineyards and mountains.

Rouffach is a small town situated near the Alsatian vineyards. This walk takes you round the town, passing by its notable monuments such as the Witches’ Tower, Notre-Dame Church and Isenbourg Castle. It is a historical and cultural walk that will delight lovers of local history.

Located in Alsace, Rouffach is a small town with a population of 4,000. The western part is dominated by vineyards. Much of this route follows a discovery trail through the vineyard, offering numerous views of the surrounding area and information boards providing cultural insights into the vines and the region. This walk is easy and can easily be extended to the Strangenberg discovery trail and the Oelberg Chapel.

The wine-growing village of Orschwihr is situated in a small valley between the Florival and the Vallée Noble. It is separated from the plain by the Bollenberg, a hill with a Mediterranean climate, where numerous animal and plant species thrive (praying mantises, hoopoes, orchids...).

Orschwihr is a small village situated in the heart of the Alsatian vineyards. As it is right next to Bergholtz-Zell, you can combine this walk with a visit to that village. This route takes you past Saint-Nicolas Church, the Japanese pagoda tree, Saint-Wolfgang Chapel and other points of interest. It is a family-friendly walk that can easily be completed in 1½ hours, taking your time.

The route takes us to the Bollenberg hill, then winds its way through the vineyards on the Rouffach side. Beautiful views of the Alsace plain, the Black Forest and the Jura mountains. We then cross over to the other side, into the Vallée Noble vineyards, interspersed with the limestone hill of Zinnkoepfle. On the way back, we pass through the village of Westhalten.

This route is open through the vineyards and takes you around the Bollenberg massif, a limestone site renowned for its fine wines. The markings are easier to find if you do the circular loop clockwise. It is possible to do the tour in the other direction, although the markings are less easy to find.

A lovely hike in the Alsatian foothills of the Vosges mountains, passing through Wintzfelden and Osenbach. Very well marked by the Club Vosgien.

This short walk in the hills above Soultzmatt will take you to the Langenstein Menhir and a beautiful viewpoint over the Vallée Noble. You will then enjoy the peace and quiet of the forest, which you will walk through for most of this hike, as well as a beautiful meadow that you will cross.

A route alternating between paths and trails through the forest with some stunning views. Starting from Orschwihr, this route takes you to the summit of the Petit Ballon via the Col de Bannstein and then the Col de Boenlesgrab.

Pfaffenheim is a small wine-growing village situated on the Wine Route. With a population of 1,400, the village features houses with typical Alsatian charm. It is a pleasure to stroll through the quiet streets on the edge of the vineyards. The most remarkable building is, of course, Saint-Martin’s Church. The walk is easily done in the morning and can be combined with a visit to Gueberschwihr, a neighbouring village.

Starting from Pfaffenheim, climb up to the heights of its communal forest through the vineyards and discover places steeped in history and spirituality. You will discover the many religious statues and other curiosities of Notre-Dame de Schauenberg, magnificent views of the plain and, if you are lucky, the Alps, as well as the Table des Druides, a beautiful natural dolmen.

Bergholtz-Zell is a small Alsatian village situated in the heart of a vineyard. It is bordered by a wooded hill to the west. This short route offers a pleasant stroll through the heart of this wine-growing village. The main point of interest is a visit to the Mont Calvaire de l’Œlberg. This walk can easily be combined with a visit to the neighbouring village of Orschwihr or Bergholtz.

Let yourself be carried along the Lauch to discover the rich natural and historical heritage of this remarkable site. Amidst fields, wooded areas and wetlands, a mosaic of natural environments and landscapes will accompany you throughout your walk, where man and nature share a history stretching back several centuries.

This route will take you past some lovely viewpoints over the surrounding vineyards and the old Bergholtz quarries. It is possible to go rock climbing in the quarries, but you’ll need to bring your own equipment.

Wine-growing is an integral part of the Alsatian landscape. There is also a route named after it. This route is the third stage of the ‘Traversée des Vignes’ and links Rouffach to Turckheim. There are numerous vantage points, indeed they are almost everywhere outside the villages. The villages themselves are very traditional, with pretty half-timbered houses, and possess an undeniable charm. The region’s heritage is equally well represented.

An easy hike, accessible to younger children, which offers superb views of the Alsace plain and, in particular, the village of Gueberschwihr from the Rocher du Coucou. Also worth discovering are the remarkable Heiliger Baum shelter of the Club Vosgien de Rouffach and, at the end of the route, Notre-Dame de Schauenberg.

A lovely walk with no particular difficulties, allowing you to discover the ruins of the former Schwartzenthann convent, pass through the village of Wintzfelden, and walk through the meadows between Wintzfelden and Osenbach... Throughout the walk, you’ll pass meadows where sheep and horses graze. An ideal walk in spring and autumn to enjoy the mid-season sunshine.

Bergholtz is a small village with just over 1,000 inhabitants. Situated on the Wine Route, this route allows you to explore its narrow streets and discover its almost hidden heritage. The walk is suitable for everyone, and you can also have a picnic there and take your children to play in the playground on the outskirts of the village. Among the places of interest are the old Vauban Canal and Saint-Gall Church

Hugging the hillside, through the forest and across a magnificent plateau, this is a lovely little walk starting from Osenbach towards Bickenberg. In spring, the plateau’s meadows are filled with countless flowers, offering a scene brimming with beauty and serenity.

Notre-Dame du Schauenberg, a place of pilgrimage, is located at an altitude of 410 metres on the side of a hill in the Vosges mountains, between Gueberschwihr and Pfaffenheim in Upper Alsace. The site is known for its warm welcome, its peaceful setting with views over part of the Alsace plain stretching south to the foothills of the Bernese Alps, and the atmosphere of contemplation that reigns there. 30/08/2023. Message from the moderator: hike modified at (9) to stay on marked paths. Please do not stray from the paths when hunting is open/permitted.

Loop hike around Gueberschwihr via Saint-Marc Convent.

Gueberschwihr is a small wine-growing village in the Bas-Rhin. It is best known for its church, which dates back to the Romanesque period. This walking route allows you to explore the village on foot. You can combine this route with a visit to the neighbouring village of Pfaffenheim. The village centre is picturesque, with colourful half-timbered houses and cobbled alleyways. A short detour to the cemetery offers a view over the Alsace plain and the surrounding countryside.

Notre-Dame du Schauenberg clings to the mountainside and is a striking feature of the landscape. The highlight of this route is the splendid view over the Alsace plain, the Kaiserstuhl and the Black Forest from the orientation point. Walkers will also discover the Chapel of Saint Leonard, the Teufelstein (Devil’s Stone), the Stations of the Cross in Pfaffenheim and Gueberschwihr, and can also reach the Druids’ Table, which overlooks Notre-Dame du Schauenberg. Please note that the first part of the walk, up to Schauenberg, is quite steep and is not suitable for those unaccustomed to walking.

Guebwiller is a small wine-growing town. As the "capital" of Florival, it is nonetheless well worth a visit. In addition to major tourist attractions such as the Saint-Léger and Notre-Dame churches and the Théodore Deck Museum, there are several other points of interest, such as the Parc de la Marseillaise, the military cemetery and Neuenbourg Castle and its grounds. Of course, there are other lesser-known curiosities along this route.