Castles and fortified cities

Discover the new trail. - the toboggan through time that will transport you into the 12th Century - the new heroes Hugo de Fleckenstein and the Princess Matilda - the evil forest where the robber baron Loewenstein in league with the witch Cornelia will play you some pretty dirty tricksThere are plenty of other characters, both good and evil, waitng for you in a surprising adventure. Join together and gain the power to face the challenges. By uniting to save the dynasty of the Fleckensteins you will become a member of their family for ever.

The construction in the 7th century of the Abbey Church Saints Peter and Paul allowed the birth and prosperity of Wissembourg. To defend itself, the city was surrounded by fortifications and 4 castles. If only one of the four castles remains, the castle St Paul, north of the city in the vineyard, the abbey and the fortifications are still visible around the historic city.

A crossing of Wissembourg, former city of the Decapolis founded in the 7th century on the banks of the Lauter, Gimbelhof, a locality near the ruins of the Castles of Loewenstein and Hohenbourg.

Leave on a tour of two castles located on the foothill of the village Windstein and pass near the first former forge of De Dietrich in Jaegerthal.
Departure : Niederbronn-les-Bains : town center, rue de la vallée – villa Riesack, Hochscheidt, lake of Jaegerthal, ferme Welschhof, ruins of Windstein, windmill of Windstein, Ochsenkopf, villa Riesack, Niederbronn-les-Bains.
More information: Nice view of Niederbronn-les-Bains, of the villa Le Riesack, ruins of the former forge of De Dietrich at Jaegerthal. Ruins of the old and new Windstein of 13th and 14th centuries.

This route will take you through some picturesque villages and forest areas very pleasant and you will discover sandstone rocks and heritage. Moreover, the visit of the fortress of Lichtenberg will allow you to admire a very nice panorama.

As early as 1794, France was the first country to own a telecommunications network thanks to the optical air telegraph invented by Claude Chappe. From 1798 to 1852, the station in Saverne was one of the essential links along the Paris-Strasbourg line. The tower of the Chappe former telegraph enables the visitor to understand how the air telegraph functioned and how it could fire the imagination of the people of that time. A demonstration of the reconstituted apparatus is given and the use of a computer with interactive touchscreens is available.

Discover Bettlach, its village, its forest and the Maginot Line path, its chapel and a beautiful view over the Alsatian Jura.
Topo guide for sale in the tourist office.

The circuit crosses a picture-postcard landscape: flowery villages, undulating vines ... The highlight is the town of Barr, the wine-growing capital of Bas-Rhin, and its Renaissance Town Hall.

Laid out on the old railway line linking Rosheim to Saint-Nabor, the new greenway "Portes Bonheur, le chemin des carrières" is an original creation of the Community of Communes of the Portes de Rosheim. Along its 11 km, you can admire various natural spaces and works of contemporary art.

Discover heritage monuments alongside natural sites in this enchanting and magical setting. Set off to discover these unique sites as a family. Two options of itineraries (4 km or 5.5 km) to suit all tastes and possibilities.

It is said that the Mennonite Anabaptists planted this oak in a clearing in memory of the exemption granted to them in 1793. This superb tree is today two centuries old.

This wine-growing town and gastronomic centre possesses a remarkable architectural heritage such as the Saint Richarde’s abbey, the Spesbourg and Haut-Andlau castles or “Les Ateliers de la Seigneurie” the new Heritage Interpretation Centre of the Barr and Bernstein area situated in a historical house.

Its history trail, its tourist train and its vineyard trail, invite you to visit this fortified town. There you will find ancient houses, witnesses from all the periods of history and decorated by the coats of arms.

Cycling tour between plain and vineyard from La Poste de Kaysersberg. Passage through Sigolsheim, Bennwihr, Ribeauville, Riquewihr and Kientzheim. About 25 km (easy level - green), enjoy beautiful landscapes with different castles!

A whole world of discovery between the plain, vineyards and mountains. In our 16 villages, you can explore the wealth of our countryside, heritage and traditions, a little-known part of Alsace, with its inhabitants… Take to the lanes and trails of our warm-hearted and authentic region, breathe in the air of our forests, vineyards and plains, admire the flora and abundant fish of our rivers, and stroll down our ancient streets. Come and join the seasonal celebrations in our villages…

Located on the Wine Route, between the vineyards and mountains, half-way between Strasbourg and Mulhouse, Ribeauvillé is an attractive town with 5000 inhabitants, which has combined its historical heritage with modernity.
The town and neighbouring hills are dominated by the majestic ruins of the Three Castles of the Lords of Ribeaupierre. The Grand-Rue (main street) and its picturesque neighbouring streets, lined with 15th- to 18th-century buildings (flowered in season), are scattered with Renaissance fountain-decorated squares. Many buildings are worth a visit, including the Town Hall with its prestigious collection of silver drinking-cups, the Butchers' Tower (13th century), the former Corn Exchange, the House of the Fiddlers, etc.
In addition to the tourist train, free guided tours of the old town and Town Hall are organised daily (except on Mondays and Saturdays) from May to October.
A local metropolis
The vineyards, which have been in existence since the Middle Ages, enable many winegrowers as well as the wine cooperative to offer visits to their cellars and tastings, in particular of the three Grands Crus, Geisberg, Kirchberg de Ribeauvillé and Osterberg.
The range of services available and variety of shops make Ribeauvillé an outstanding point of attraction. Its dynamic cultural life is internationally renowned, with the Spring Market, the Kougelhopf Festival (in early May), the Wine Fair (end of July), the Fiddlers' Fair (first Sunday in September), the Festival of Ancient Music (October), the Mediaeval Christmas Market, etc.
A wonderful climate
With its 'Green Holiday Resort' and 'Climatic Resort' labels, awarded in recognition of the qualitry of its environment, Ribeauvillé has a high-quality infrastructure of hotels and offers a varied range of bed-and-breakfast rooms and furnished accommodation, two campsites, including one four-star site (new standards), many excellent restaurants, an open-air swimming-pool and a sports complex (gymnasium, indoor pool, stadium). A spa-cum-casino will shortly be added to these already considerable resources.
Ribeauvillé combines the advantages of a town with the charm of a winegrowing village.

Between the Route des Vins (the Wine Road) and the Pays Welche, the itinerary takes the cyclist along a quiet hillside road, then turns toward the West to enter into a valley marked by Celtic, Roman, and Medieval history as well as boasting architectural wonders from the Rhineland Renaissance. Even if the Alsace dialect is usually spoken in the vineyard, the Roman dialect is still heard in the Pays Welche.

Nestling between the vineyards and the mountains, Ribeauvillé is a charming town which has preserved its historical heritage. In the 14th century, powerful lords decided to build the village walls and the castle. Leaving from Place de la République, you can discover other strongholds which overlook the town: Saint-Ulrich (11th-15th c.), Girsberg (13th c.) and Haut-Ribeaupierre (13th-15th c.) make up a very pleasant 3-hour ramble.

Oldest wine coop of France (1895).

Located on the Alsace Wine Route, Hunawihr is a typical Alsace village set against a background of vineyards. Overlooking the village, the church of Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur (15th-16th centuries), surrounded with its walled cemetery, preserves an environment which remains intact and provides the perfect setting for this exceptional whole. The village consists of winegrower houses with their gable ends stretching out over the street. Most of these houses were built in the 16th to the 18th centuries (although there are a few dating back to the 15th century). In these houses, the stone-built ground floor served as a storeroom while the upper floor, usually timber-framed, was the dwelling. This landscape and architectural heritage makes Hunawihr one of the ”Most Beautiful Villages in France” (Plus Beaux Villages de France) . A little history...As legend would have it, Hunawihr was founded in the 7th century by Hunon and his wife Hune to whom Hunawihr owes its name. Hunon left the village to the Saint-Dié monastery in the Vosges. During the 13th century, Hunawihr formed part of the lands of the Lord of Riquewihr*, owned by the Bishops of Strasbourg who had granted it as a fiefdom to the lords of Horbourg*. In about 1324, the counts of Horbourg* sold their assets to the Count Ulrich of Wurttemberg*, their cousin. In 1397, count Eberhard II of Wurttemberg*, through his marriage to the heiress to the county of Montbéliard, enabled the powerful counts of Wurttemberg-Montbéliard* to remain owners of the Riquewihr seigneurie up until the French Revolution. The county of Wurttemberg was elevated to the rank of Duchy in 1495. On the 15th April 1520, the village church was designated as a pilgrim centre at the behest of Duke Ulrich VIII of Wurttemberg*, responding to a request from his subjects who sought to show their devotion to Hune. Hune was raised to the rank of saint because of her work with the poor (the legend tells us that Saint Hune would wash the clothes of the poor in the fountain that bears her name. She has also been attributed with miracles such as causing the fountain to spout wine during a bad grape harvest year). The church of Saint-Jacques-le-Majeur in Hunawihr became a pilgrimage centre focusing on the relics of Saint Hune which were then kept in the church’s crypt. In 1534, Georges of Wurttemberg* introduced the Protestant religion into Hunawihr. Initially, the village followed the Zwingli (Swiss) inspired Reformation promoted by father Nicolas Koenig who had become a pastor (this pastor significantly helped propagate this movement to neighbouring villages). Georges of Wurttemberg’s successor imposed the Lutheran religion in 1559. In 1687, under Louis XIV, it again became possible to be a practicing Catholic in Hunawihr: the simultaneum was put in place and, to this day, the church is still in dual use by both the Protestant and Catholic communities.* lord(s) of the Holy German Roman Empire.

Self-guided Tour via informative signs. Guided tours during the summer. Guided tours in JULY and AUGUST, monday to friday at 5pm. Followed by a wine cellar visit. Is part of the intercommunal trail "Les Perles du Vignoble"

As a family, discover the rich heritage of the Vosges Mountains: the woodworking trades of yesteryear, plenty of tools and machines and a whole area dedicated to wooden games. Then, head out to discover the imperial city of Kaysersberg on a fun walk. Take a journey back to the time of fortified castles: a delight for all ages. Interested in these outings? Please contact our partners directly.

Discovery of 2 typical villages and 2 beautiful chapels, in one and the same walk. Departure at the car park (fee) Porte Basse, in the direction of St Wolfgang chapel. Discover the chapel St Flieger, then the friendly village of Ammerschwihr. Take the path of St Jacques, for the return to the car park. Document "Hiking Ideas" including 8 trails and 4 hikes for sale 2 € in the offices of the Office of Tourism.

Discover the glories and marvels of Alsace in the Kaysersberg Valley. You will follow paths through the vineyards which have made the reputation of the great wines of Alsace, and visit museums dedicated to these riches - not to omit the essential wine tasting !Level : The chosen walks are suitable for anyone in reasonable physical condition. Possible all the year round.Length of walks : 12 to 20 km per stage or 4 to 6½ hours walking per day - from 500-800 metres change in level.Equipment needed : Good walking shoes (avoid new shoes), rain protection, small back pack for your daily needs.

Cycling tour between plain and vineyard from La Poste de Kaysersberg in the direction of Turckheim. A journey punctuated with beautiful views including that on the plain of Alsace with just in front of you, the castles of Ribeauvillé; And the Taennchel massif. Ideal stop to taste the wines of our winemakers!

In the year 1599, Félicien was a naughty little prankster. One night, using his father's skeleton key, he broke into the shops and workshops of the town and stole tools and knapsacks from the artisans and shopkeepers. He soon realised his stupidity and fled to find a hiding place. Follow Rose and Louis as they look for him using the tools and knapsacks he dropped throughout the town. This treasure hunt will lead you through the medieval town centre of Kaysersberg as you discover the trades of the past.

Start at the Espace Pluriel. Direction the Nécropole, a meletary cimetry in order to envoy the beautiful point of view. You will follow the hillsides of the Grand Cru “Schlossberg”, passage in Kientzheim where you will see a tank “Renard” of the Second World War.

Walking between Vineyard and forest. Ascent through a forest of oaks to arrive on the heights of the Rocher des Corbeaux and its beautiful viewpoint on the plain. Direction the Chêne de la Chapelle to go down to the village of Riquewihr. The return is made along the Vosgean piedmont and its vineyard.

Pleasant walk to discover the hills under-Vosges, its vineyard but also these buildings of the Middle Ages. After the hillside of the Sommerberg Grand Cru and the heights of the village with the twisted bell tower from Niedermorschwihr, we enter the forest and end up on the viewpoint of Château du Wineck.

Discover three castles in Alsace Verte:
- Lutzelhardt: Ruin from the beginning of the 16th century including a small massive square keep and the remains of several dwellings, wells, cisterns….
- Schoeneck: Castle built around 1200, restored in the 16th and 17th centuries and listed since December 28, 1984 in the Historical Monuments.
- Wineck: Vanguard post of Schoeneck castle, installed on a rocky ridge and dismantled at the end of the 17th century.

Discover these gardens of aromatic, medicinal, vegetable and ornamental plants from the Middle Ages, with trussed hadge fences, wood bundles, rock gardens...

Distance : 32 km
Level : Easy
Time : 3 hours + break
Orientation mode: smartphone application (free and easy to use)

Type of adapted bike: e-bike touring/trekking, regular bike

This walk is ideal for vineyard lovers who want to discover the Alsatian landscapes. Nestling at an altitude of 380 metres, admire the panoramic views of the Alsace plain, the Black Forest and the Swiss Alps.

You can also stop at a Winstub, a traditional Alsatian restaurant or picnic along the Lauch. A tour full of history and culture, visit the church of Notre Dame de Rouffach and the birthplace of Isenbourg. Perfect for epicureans, you can enjoy the many wineries along the route and stop for a wine tasting.

Geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices. Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.

This summer farm built of local stone dates back to 1790. Situated on the mountainside, it overlooks the Thur valley, the Alsace plain and beyond, the Black Forest. Here, no typical mountain meal: Renée-Laure, Serge and their daughter, Lucile, will offer you varied specialities according to the periodic availability of their products: stew, beef bourguignon, baekaoffa, terrines, pâtés and cold meats entirely prepared with meat of their livestock. Ample panoramic terrace during the summer.Access on foot: Col du Hundsrück (30 minutes), Masevaux and Thann (2:30 hours) Access by car: Via the entrance of the Thann and Masevaux valleys. Take the Col du Hundsrück and then follow the forest road for 6,5 km. Leave your This summer farm built of local stone dates back to 1790. Situated on the mountainside, it overlooks the Thur valley, the Alsace plain and beyond, the Black Forest. Here, no typical mountain meal: Renée-Laure, Serge and their daughter, Lucile, will offer you varied specialities according to the periodic availability of their products: stew, beef bourguignon, baekaoffa, terrines, pâtés and cold meats entirely prepared with meat of their livestock. Capacity: 50 covers in 2 rooms. Ample panoramic terrace during the summer.Access on foot: Col du Hundsrück (30 minutes), Masevaux and Thann (2:30 hours) Access by car: Via the entrance of the Thann and Masevaux valleys. Take the Col du Hundsrück and then follow the forest road for 6,5 km. Leave your car in the parking, situated downhill from the farm (10 minutes on foot)

Discover the game of the legend of the Dwarfs of Ferrette in the free mobile phone application ""On the Trail of the Treasures of Alsace!"", available on iPhone and Android, this fun application identifies many tourist and recreational routes throughout Alsace.
With the game Legend of the Dwarfs of Ferrette, find your way via clues at each step of the process, answer the questions, reconstitute important pieces on the screen of your smartphone in order to find the treasure and perhaps get a reward at the end of the game! Discover this small medieval town nestled in the foothills of the Alsatian Jura ... This town with a prestigious past will charm you with its narrow and romantic paths that lead to the lofty ruins of Ferrette Castle and the famous Cave of the Dwarfs!
To download the application there are various possibilities: directly in the appstore or Playstore of your smartphone or tablet (search for ""On the Trail of the Treasures of Alsace"" and download the application), or use your mobile browser by typing the linkhttp://bit.ly/jouer-alsace
(Then download the application).
So now it's up to you to play!

Hike around the medieval town of Ferrette: explore the upper town, the lower and upper castle, Loechenfelsen (the pierced rock), Kanzel (the throne), Heidelfluh (the pagan rock) and the Dwarfs' Plateau and Cave. Topo-guide on sale at the Tourist Information Centre.

The EuroVélo 6 Basel-Schaffhausen is a 100 km cycle track along the Rhine linking the 2 towns. It runs along the banks of the Rhine through the beautiful city of Basel.

Basel is a cultural city with a rich history. The visitor has no less than 40 museums to choose from. Not to be missed: the Tinguely fountain, the zoo, the Cathedral, the Pfalz (the Cathedral terrace), the Rhine port, the Messeturm (Basel Trade Fair Tower), the Mittlere Brücke, one of the oldest bridges over the Rhine built in 1226, the market square and the City Hall with its Renaissance column and multi-coloured roof, the Gate of Spalen...