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Two hikers in the Middle Vosges at the vineyards of Ammerschwihr

Saverne – Barr

Medieval Alsace 2: Middle Vosges

7 Days / 6 Nights
Walking
Two hikers in the Middle Vosges at the vineyards of Ammerschwihr

Strasbourg, tarte flambée, half-timbered houses - these are the things most people think of when they think of Alsace. Of course, all these things are great. But the region between Germany and Lorraine is home to many more treasures. You will hike through untouched nature, picturesque vineyards and then again through lovely villages that make hiking in France a unique memory.

The first attraction of the tour is its starting point: Saverne is simply delightful and is wonderful for exploring on foot. On the way to Wangenbourg, you will dive into the history of the region and discover several castles and the Chappe telegraph tower, which was part of the French telecommunications network from 1798 to 1852.

On the next stages, enjoy the view from the 961-metre-high Schneeberg and get to know the nature and culture of the Odilienberg. The end of the tour is dedicated to the region's viticulture. The paths through the vines lead past winegrowing villages, such as Andlaum and Mittelbergheim, and finally to Barr, where you should toast the 86 kilometres hiked.

  • Saverne is a gorgeous little town with delightful cafés, lovely shops and some very worthwhile sites. Walk along the Grand Rue to the Rohan Castle and on to the impressive half-timbered house Maison Katz. Tip: There is a great restaurant on its ground floor.
  • Insider tips for wine lovers: Around 150 million bottles of wine are pressed in Alsace every year. A tip among the wine lovers is the Vincent Stoeffler family winery. 16 hectares of vines are cultivated here in organic quality and still harvested by hand.
  • The Odilienberg: A spring with supposedly healing powers, the Angel Chapel and the tomb of Saint Odilie are just some of the sites to visit in this spiritual place.
  • Craftsmanship: The name Meisenthal should be a household word - the region is known for its glass and crystal production. Incidentally, the first glass Christmas tree bauble was created here. A poor harvest in 1898 was the trigger. Previously, the trees were decorated with apples, but since there were too few, the idea of glass baubles was born.

You can't go far wrong with the timing of your trip, as temperatures are mild all year round. If you like, you can make a short stopover in Strasbourg, for example, on your way to or from the hotel. You will stay in middle-class hotels, where you can fortify yourself daily with a hearty breakfast. On the tours along the qualitative hiking trails, you should keep your camera drawn, the panoramas are magnificent.

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

Itinerary at a glance

French lifestyle accompanies you in Northern Alsace through delightful towns like Saverne, traditional craftsmanship as found in the Meisenthal region, and the finest wines. The view from the Schneeberg is an absolute delight.

In Saverne you can enjoy the relaxed atmosphere and French charm of a trading post with typical Alsatian architecture.

From Saverne, the pretty small capital of the Northern Vosges you walk to fortress Haut-Barr and follow the ridge from fortress to fortress until you reach Wangenbourg. Unsurpassed views of the Rhine basin, Strasbourg and – when the weather is clear – to the Black Forest.

Today you climb Schneeberg  on 961m and cross the „Cascade du Niedeck“ down into the valley of Oberhaslach.

Follow GR5 long distance hiking trail to Urmatt, where you cross the valley of Bruch and continue walking to Grendelbruch. Over the Purpurkopf (570 m) and the Heidenkopf (787 m) you reach Klingenthal and Ottrott.

Visit the famous Abbey Sainte Odile protected since the 12 century by many fortresses. Some of the you pass today, as e.g Kagenfels and Birkenfels. Continue on the long distance hiking trail past Kienberg (775m) to Hohwald (situated 560 meters high).

Today you walk downhill towards the grapevines. You reach the castles of Speesbourg and Andalau via a forest path. Then past the lovely wine village Andlaum and towards Mittelbergheim, nestling amidst vineyards and considered one of the most beautiful villages in France. Soon after you reach your final Day Finish of this walking holiday, the charming town Barr and wine capital of the Lower Alsace.

Day
07
Departure or extension

Route information

Walking

Daily walking times of up to 5.5 hours and a distance of approx. 14 – 22 km. Daily tours require a good basic fitness level. The route leads you along well-maintained walking paths with stunning views.

Prices & Dates

Category: pretty 2**- and 3***-hotels (French classifying)

You can book extra nights for any day of your tour. Prices upon request!

Prices per person in EUR

Services & Information

Further details about this tour

Included

  • Accommodation as already mentioned
  • Breakfast
  • Luggage transfer
  • Carefully elaborated route description

 

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

Arrival / Parking / Departure

  • By train to Saverne and a few walking minutes to the hotel.
  • Strasbourg or Basel-Mülhausen-Freiburg airport.
  • Parking: free, unguarded car park near the hotel. No reservation possible.
  • Return by train from Barr via Strasbourg to Saverne, approx. 2 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.
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