Wissembourg - Obersteinbach

Starting from Wissembourg station.

Red Rectangle markings, unless otherwise indicated

(S) With your back to the station, join and follow the GR®53 to the left. Go round the roundabout on the right and head towards the square with the Joseph von Stichaner monument.

(1) Cross the road, walk along the southern ramparts, then after the bridge on the right, cross Boulevard Clemenceau (D334) to the left. Then go up Rue du Château d’Eau to the left, take a path between the houses on the left and continue straight on until you find yourself in fields and orchards.

(2) Turn onto the path on the right through the fields and head up towards the pylon.

(3) Please note: at the mast (a few dozen metres before it), take the path on the right (do not stay on the wide track). The path overlooks the wine-growing village of Rott and leads out onto the road (D77).

(4) Continue straight on along the path that leads into the forest. You will arrive at the Scherhol Forest House.

(5) Take the path to the right, then turn left twenty metres further on towards the tower. Pass to the left of the redoubt to reach a track. Cross it and head straight ahead. Then take the forest track to the left for 50 metres and follow the path which climbs to the right towards Scherhol. When the path reaches the ridge, take the path to the left and head for the Scherhol Tower. 

(6) Descend to the right to reach the Col du Pigeonnier (elevation 432m).

(7) From the Col du Pigeonnier, follow the path carefully as it veers to the right, then to the left. At each junction, follow the paths running alongside the D3 to the north until you reach it.

(8) Continue straight ahead until the second junction. Turn right onto Rue de la Hardt, leave the houses behind and arrive at a fork.

(9) Turn left. Then keep going straight on until you reach the road.

(10) Cross it, go downhill opposite, then back uphill and keep left until you reach a multi-way junction at Petit Wingen.

(11) Follow the D503, Rue des Châteaux Forts, to the right. Cross Petit-Wingen (drinking fountain). After the cross, you’ll come to a left-hand bend.

(12) Continue straight on, uphill along the stream, on a track. You will reach a junction.

(13) Turn left, join the road and follow it to the left before taking the path that branches off to the right towards the Col du Litschof. Continue on this path to the pond, then keep left on the track. You will reach a fork with a path leading downhill. Take this path to reach a junction and turn left to reach the road.

(14) Turn left onto the path and stay on the southern side of the road until you reach the Col du Litschof (335m).

(15) Make sure you take the path on the left, then immediately right, which leads to the Col du Hohenbourg (475m). Reach this pass by continuing straight ahead.

(16) Head down to the left, then to the right towards Fleckenstein Castle (338m). At the track, turn left towards the castle, then right towards the castle and the forest house.

(17) Continue descending to the left and then follow the path down towards the Étang du Fleckenstein. Take the path on the right that descends into the valley, keeping in the same direction, and continue downhill to the road and the Étang du Fleckenstein (D925).

(18) Cross the road and, once past Étang du Fleckenstein, the route takes you past castle ruins, including Froensbourg (alt. 305 m). Continue climbing straight ahead to a pass. Keep heading in the same direction, then follow the path uphill until you approach a pass on the right. Then follow the track and descend to the left towards Château du Froensbourg.

(19) Climb to the right then head left to the track. Continue along the path to the right until you reach a wide bend on the Falkenberg track. Follow it and descend to the left to reach the Hichtenbach Pass (alt. 358 m).

(20) Keep level to the left and continue climbing straight ahead and to the right until you reach the pass. Keep following the path uphill to the Rocher des Bohémiens.

(21 ) Continue along the path and keep straight ahead until you reach the road.

(22) Cross the road and follow it to the left until you reach the hairpin bend. Head straight on towards Wasigenstein Castle (alt. 350 m).

(23) Head down to the left towards Obersteinbach and keep going straight ahead until you reach the stream.

(24) Cross the stream, then turn left. At the road, continue straight ahead to the D3. Head up to the right to the town hall (E).

(17) You can make a detour via the Gimbelhof (for lunch or an overnight stay) and reach the castle via the beautiful Roches/Felsenpfad trail (Red Triangle).

Alsace Verte Tourist Office,www.alsace-verte.com, 03 88 80 89 70.

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Getting to Wissembourg: by train from Strasbourg station (www.fluo.grandest.fr)

Numerous fortified castles, among the most beautiful in the Northern Vosges, line this first stage and give it a distinctive character. Hohenbourg, Loewenstein, Froensbourg, and of course the semi-troglodytic Fleckenstein Castle perched on its sandstone outcrop.