Self-guided hike along the Vosges mountain ridge

Your stay will take on a magnificent climax. You will discover very varied landscapes thanks to a gentle progression through the different vegetation zones.

You will have the opportunity to visit World War I heritage sites, such as the Linge Memorial (at 987m, with the possibility of visiting the museum) and the German military cemetery of Baerenstall (at 975m), as well as the scattered farms of the Welche region.

You will complete your ascent to the summit of Schratzmaennele before descending to the Alsatian mountain village of Orbey, where you will settle for two nights.

This beautiful hike offers a perfect blend of nature and history. From the hotel, you'll first reach the unusual peat bog of the Etang du Devin. Then, the winding path will lead you to the Roche du Corbeau (at 1122m altitude, offering a beautiful panorama), the former arrival station of the cable car.

You will continue with the ascent to the summit of Tête des Faux, the highest point of the day and a listed historical monument, overlooking the villages of Bonhomme, Lapoutroie and Orbey, as well as the Col du Bonhomme, considered strategic by the French in 1914.

Next, you will descend towards the Duschesne Cemetery to discover the Lac Blanc (a lake of glacial origin), before finishing the descent on Orbey.

This stage will be one of the most beautiful of your Vosges crossing, with the proximity of three magnificent glacial lakes and the ridge trail (GR5) offering splendid panoramas of the Alsatian and Vosges valleys, as well as the Black Forest and the Alps in the distance. You will pass through the Schlucht Pass before reaching our mountain chalet hotel, located at an altitude of 1100m, where you will stay for two nights.

You will ascend towards the Hohneck massif to the Falimont pass to join the "Snowfield Trail." This panoramic path runs alongside the immense Wormsa glacial cirque, one of the prime locations for spotting chamois. You will leave the trail at the Kastelbergwasen Farm Inn to explore in depth the two glacial cirques of Wormsa and Wormspel, home to two magnificent mountain lakes: Fischboedle and Schiessrothried.

Next, you will climb the Hohneck (the 3rd highest peak in the massif) before returning to the hotel.

You'll embark on a high-altitude trek, traversing ridges and summits between 1200 and 1316 meters, offering breathtaking panoramic views of the entire Vosges Mountains: simply sublime! After climbing the Hohneck (1363 m), you'll follow the summit ridge of the massif that separates the Vosges from the Alsace plain. Along the way, numerous smaller peaks will dot this ridge, such as the Kastelberg (1350 m), the Rothenbackhopf (1316 m), and others.

But you won't need to climb them all! Below, glacial lakes shimmer amidst the coniferous forest.

This will be the wildest stage, with captivating landscapes and diverse vegetation including pines, heather, and juniper. You will be transferred to Le Markstein. You will cross the old pastures of Le Markstein and then those of Steinlebach before reaching the Oberlauchen pass (1211m). The path will follow the ridge to the Petit Ballon, then you will begin the descent to Munster, which is absolutely stunning!

The hike will end around 4 p.m. in Munster, with the possibility of visiting the village: abbey, church, the Albert Schweitzer and Fecht parks, as well as an exhibition in the premises of the Ballons Park.