GR®531 - variant to the Vosges Mountains Crossing
Fenêtre de paysage Offwiller
Fenêtre de paysage Offwiller - Yvon Meyer
Dossenheim-sur-Zinsel

GR®531 - variant to the Vosges Mountains Crossing

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An alternative to the GR53, for exploring the foothills of the Northern Vosges. Our most accessible itinerary by train, which can be completed in 1, 2, or 3 stages.

Between the Alsace plain and the sandstone forest of the Northern Vosges, this route alternates between bright forest edges, incredible views, and heritage discoveries.

Description

From Soultz-sous-Forêts to Saverne, the GR531 takes you from the plains of Alsace to the iconic castles of the Northern Vosges. It takes you along rivers, allows you to discover our Celtic and industrial heritage, and offers beautiful panoramic views. Marked with a blue rectangle along the entire route, the forest, our green ocean, will punctuate your journey of discovery.

  • Departure : Soulz-sous-Forêt
  • Arrival : Saverne
  • Towns crossed : Dossenheim-sur-Zinsel, Drachenbronn-Birlenbach, Eckartswiller, Ernolsheim-lès-Saverne, Ingwiller, Lampertsloch, Langensoultzbach, La Petite-Pierre, Lembach, Lichtenberg, Memmelshoffen, Neuwiller-lès-Saverne, Niederbronn-les-Bains, Oberbronn, Offwiller, Ottersthal, Retschwiller, Rothbach, Saint-Jean-Saverne, Saverne, Soultz-sous-Forêts, Sparsbach, Weinbourg, Windstein, and Zinswiller

8 points of interest

  • La galerie principale
    La galerie principale - SYCOPARC

    Lembach Lime kiln - Maginot line work

    Strong built from 1930 to 1935 whose name comes from the locality on which it is, it was occupied from 1938 before being bombed in June 1940. The troops had to go and the fort was then occupied from 1940 to 1944 by the German army. After restoration, it was opened to the public in 1983. It consists of 6 blocks, each armed with a howitzer, a barrel, mortars, grenade launcher, twin machine guns and anti-tank guns. More info here.
  • Jaegerthal
    Jaegerthal - JP Jenny
    Monuments and architecture

    Jaegerthal Forge

    A first forge was built in 1602 on behalf of the Hanau Lichtenberg. Ruined during the Thirty Years War, it was replaced by another in 1684, consisting of a blast furnace, two forges and a martinet. The blast furnace stopped in 1885 then the activity in 1890. One can see there the stone coal hall, the iron shop, the employee's lodging on the floor, the hydraulic installation on the Schwartzbach. The blast furnace was in the lower part of the hamlet. (Sources: Mérimée)
  • Vue sur Oberbronn et la Plaine d'Alsace
    Vue sur Oberbronn et la Plaine d'Alsace - A. Dorschner
    Panorama

    Buckelstein Viewpoint

  • Pierre Wetta - http://www.escalade-alsace.com
    Climbing: authorized site

    Escalade : rocher de Ziegelberg

  • Castle-church-abbey

    Warthenberg Chateau

    A Roman fortress built in the 12th century, also known as the Daubenschlag Castle, the name of the rock on which it was built. The castle was quickly abandoned, perhaps even before being completed. It was not lost for everyone, however, as the surrounding inhabitants used it as a stone quarry.
  • Château des Rohan
    Château des Rohan - A.Dorschner
    Monuments and architecture

    Rohan Chateau

    With its huge neoclassical facade, the castle recalls the glory of the Bishops Princes and testifies to the historic role of Saverne. If the construction of the castle, begun in 1779, was interrupted in 1789 because of the Revolution, it replaced from 1790 the old square castle. In ruins and threatened with demolition at the beginning of the 19th, it was finally restored by Napoleon III before being transformed into barracks after the war of 1870. It was acquired by the city of Saverne in 1952.
  • Small patrimony

    Fontaine de la Licorne (Fountain of the Unicorn)

  • Château des Rohan
    Château des Rohan - http://www.crdp-strasbourg.fr
    Museum

    Museum of the Chateau of Rohan

Forecast

Sensitive areas

Along your trek, you will go through sensitive areas related to the presence of a specific species or environment. In these areas, an appropriate behaviour allows to contribute to their preservation. For detailed information, specific forms are accessible for each area.
Impacted practices:
Aerial, Aquatic, , Underground, Land, Vertical
Sensitivity periods:
JanFebMarAprMayJunJulAugSepOctNovDec
Contact:
Email : contact@parc-vosges-nord.fr Tél. : 03 88 01 49 59
Find out more

Information desks

Tourist Office of Hanau - La Petite Pierre

2A rue du Château, 67290 La Petite-Pierre

http://www.tourisme.hanau-lapetitepierre.alsace/tourisme@hanau-lapetitepierre.alsace+33 (0)3 88 70 42 30

Information Office of Niederbronn-les-Bains - Head Office of Alsace Verte Tourist Office

6 place de l’Hôtel de Ville, 67110 Niederbronn-les-Bains

https://www.alsace-verte.com/#ottourisme@alsace-verte.com+33 (0)3 88 80 89 70

Tourist Office of the Pays de Saverne

37 Grand'rue, 67700 Saverne

http://www.tourisme-saverne.fr/contact@tourisme-saverne.fr+33 (0)3 88 91 80 47

Transport

Soultz-sous-Forêts SNCF train station

Strasbourg–Wissembourg TER line

Vélo Fluo bike rental at Soultz-sous-Forêts station

NIEDERBRONN-les-BAINS SNCF train station

Strasbourg–Niederbronn-les-Bains line

Ingwiller SNCF train station 

Strasbourg - Sarreguemines - Saarbrücken (Germany) line

Saverne SNCF train station 

Strasbourg - Metz line
Strasbourg - Nancy line 
Strasbourg - Sarrebourg line 
Strasbourg - Paris Inoui TGV

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