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Schöneck castle ruin near Dambach

Wissembourg – Saverne

Medieval Alsace 1: Northern Vosges

8 Days / 7 Nights
Walking
Schöneck castle ruin near Dambach

Hiking in Alsace - that is pure relaxation! The numerous ruins, castles, churches and the special half-timbered houses are witnesses to the eventful history from the Middle Ages to the present day. In addition, the area of the Northern Vosges has been designated a biosphere reserve by UNESCO due to its special flora and fauna. And as if all that were not enough, culinary as well as cultural delights await!

After a lap along the city walls of Wissembourg, the tour starts in the direction of Lembach, along the historic defence wall of the Maginot Line. Löwenstein, Fleckenstein or Fronensburg - the region is not lacking in historical walls, to which the stage on the 3rd day of the tour is dedicated. From Schöneck Castle, the journey continues to Wasenburg Castle.

Gather your strength for the last two stages and hike to Englischberg, from where you can catch a dreamlike view of the expansive natural landscape. The delightful village of La Petitè Pierre will soon cast its spell on you. With the Heuneburg and the Taubschlagenfels to enjoy to the last step, before the journey comes to an end in beautiful Saverne.

  • The biosphere reserve: Together with the Palatinate Forest, the Northern Vosges forms the only cross-border nature reserve in Germany. Interestingly, Scottish Highland cattle act as landscape keepers here.
  • Charming Wissembourg: Romantic alleys, historic half-timbered houses and the direct location on the border between Germany and France make the town with 8,500 inhabitants the perfect starting point for the trip.
  • Regional delights of Alsace: The climate and the influences of French cuisine create a culinary experience for all the senses. The area may not be one of the largest wine-growing regions, but it is undoubtedly one of the most beautiful. In addition, almonds, figs and other tropical fruits thrive here, which certainly taste perfect with the delicious regional cheeses.
  • The historic walls: Around 150 ruins and castles line the streets in this area of Alsace. An interesting detail: the base of Fleckenstein Castle, by the way, is a sandstone that, at 90 metres long and 30 metres high, is impressive.

Over 1,000 kilometres of hiking trails make this region, which is always characterised by a mild climate, a Mecca for hiking enthusiasts. The differences in altitude in the low mountain range are not quite as pronounced, but the individual stages are comparatively long. During the trip, you will stay in middle-class hotels, where you will be spoiled with a rich breakfast.

  • Alsace is definitely one of the insider tips among hiking enthusiasts - discover our other tours in the eastern French region here.

Itinerary at a glance

In Alsace, you'll pass castles, palaces, ruins, and charming half-timbered houses on your stages. In the Northern Vosges Nature Reserve, you'll encounter Scottish Highland cattle, and in Wissembourg, you can explore romantic streets and lanes.

Wissembourg has a medieval fortification wall, beautiful patrician houses and the Ancien Hôpital.

Cross the summit of Taubenberg to Pfaffenschlick and Soultzerkopf. Arrive in Lembach, where you can see part of the Maginot-Line „Kalkofen". Named after the French defence secretary André Maginot the defence system consisted of a line of bunkers along the French border to Germany.

The fortresses of the Vosges are part of today’s program. In the morning you walk to Löwenstein, Hohenburg and Fleckenstein, belonging to the most typical fortresses of the Vosges. In the afternoon you will reach Fronensburg.

Walk through Lautertal valley up to fortress Schöenck. Then you climb up the Wintersberg, a summit reaching about 581 m above the Vosges. Via Dittenthal and the Celtic camp you reach bath town Niederbronn-les-Bains.

High above Niederbronn-les-Bains there is castle Wasenburg, which was built by a bishop of Straßburg in the 13th century. You walk past the beautiful villages Oberbronn, Offwiller, Rothbach and finally to Ingwiller.

Starting from the valley ‚Moder Tal’ you proceed to Sparsbach and the little hamlet of Englischberg, where an amazing view awaits. You walk high up to the little village La Petite Pierre with its unique location on top of a sandstone boulder.

Walk to neo-romantic Huneburg; continue to the ruins of Daubenschlagfels and then walk down to Saverne.

Day
08
Departure or extension

Itinerary at a glance

In Alsace, you'll pass castles, palaces, ruins, and charming half-timbered houses on your stages. In the Northern Vosges Nature Reserve, you'll encounter Scottish Highland cattle, and in Wissembourg, you can explore romantic streets and lanes.

Wissembourg has a medieval fortification wall, beautiful patrician houses and the Ancien Hôpital.

Cross the summit of Taubenberg to Pfaffenschlick and Soultzerkopf. Arrive in Lembach, where you can see part of the Maginot-Line „Kalkofen". Named after the French defence secretary André Maginot the defence system consisted of a line of bunkers along the French border to Germany.

The fortresses of the Vosges are part of today’s program. In the morning you walk to Löwenstein, Hohenburg and Fleckenstein, belonging to the most typical fortresses of the Vosges. In the afternoon you will reach Frönsburg.

Walk through Lautertal valley up to fortress Schöenck. Then you climb up the Wintersberg, a summit reaching about 581 m above the Vosges. Via Dittenthal and the Celtic camp you reach bath town Niederbronn-les-Bains.

High above Niederbronn-les-Bains there is castle Wasenburg, which was built by a bishop of Straßburg in the 13th century. You walk past the beautiful villages Oberbronn, Offwiller, Rothbach and finally to Ingwiller.

Starting from the valley ‚Moder Tal’ you proceed to Sparsbach and the little hamlet of Englischberg, where an amazing view awaits. You walk high up to the little village La Petite Pierre with its unique location on top of a sandstone boulder.

The hiking route first takes you to the “Rocher du Corbeau”, then you descend to the village of Graufthal, which is known for its unique cave dwellings carved into the rock. Finally, you reach Saverne, the pretty capital of the Northern Vosges.

Day
08
Departure or extension

Difficulty Level

Walking

Easy to medium walking tour, mostly along the GR53 on well marked nature paths, sometimes asphalted, through undulating countryside. Daily stages between 16 and 23 km and walking times between 4.5 to 6 hrs. Max. daily difference in altitude is 770 m.

Prices & Dates

You can book extra nights for any day of your tour.

Prices per person in EUR

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation in beautiful 3***-hotels and 1x 2**-hotel (French classifying)
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer
  • Carefully elaborated route description

 

  • Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English, French)
  • GPS-data
  • Service hotline

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Arrival by train to Wissembourg and in a few walking minutes to the hotel.
  • Strasbourg or Basel-Mülhausen-Freiburg airport.
  • Parking: Free parking hotel spaces, no reservation possible.
  • Return journey by train from Saverne via Strasbourg to Wissembourg, approx. 2.5 hours.

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation in beautiful 3***-hotels and 1x 2**-hotel (French classifying)
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer
  • Carefully elaborated route description

 

  • Detailed travel documents 1x per room (German, English, French)
  • GPS-data
  • Service hotline

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • Train journey to Wissembourg and in a few walking minutes to the hotel.
  • Strasbourg or Basel-Mülhausen-Freiburg airport.
  • Parking: free hotel parking spaces
  • Return journey by train from Saverne via Strasbourg to Wissembourg, approx. 2.5 hours.

Things to note

  • Tourist tax, if due, is not included in the price
  • Further important information according to the package travel law can be found here!
  • This tour is a partner tour.
Sarah Manglberger

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