Walking activities - Topoguides

2 km path in Bettlach forest links three imposingMaginot Line forts, built between 1937 and1940. Explanatory panels relate the history ofthe Maginot Line, the colossal effort requiredand the ephemeral role it played at the startof WW2. Longer route available (7.6 km ; 3.5hours.) Route map on sale at the Office of Tourism, Departure fromBettlach Town Hall

The floral village of Friesen, in the LargueValley, has conserved 50 timbered buildingsconstructed between 1497 and 1878. A walkingcircuit through this floral village revealsa unique heritage which is characterized bythe oldest peasant house in Sundgau! A walkingguidebook, priced 2€, is available fromthe Tourist Offices. Guided tours for groupsby appointment.

Footpath retracing presence of Moroccanrifle regiment posted on Maginot line, alongSwiss frontier, 1939 - 1940. 3 circuits: 2.6 km(1 hour) - 3.6 km (1.5 hours), 5.6 km (2.5hours). Depart from the ‘‘Charrière’’.Take advantage of your visit to Winkel todiscover the source of the river Ill and theBeech Alley. Route map on sale at the Officeof Tourism

Embellished with remarkable views, theme stations and botanical panels, the trail will reveal a site of great wealth: a forest in the Alsatian Jura. It is notably composed of 30 wooden sculptures made with a chainsaw. Opportunity to visit the village stork enclosure. Two proposed distances: 2 km or 3.2 km.

Koestlach has a rich history that you can discover through the heritage circuit. Two options are available:
1) A historical tour through the village to discover the prestigious furnishings in the St. Léger church, but also the Chapel of Our Lady of Sorrows,the legends of Kugele and the village of Erzach, the presbytery by Nicolas Delfis and the remains of an ancient Gallo-Roman settlement.
2) 2 hour 30 min or 3 hour walking tour of that takes you up the slopes of Burgerwald to explore the Celtic oppidum of Kasteberg before visiting the village (blue ring signposting, distance 7 km, 215 m elevation ).

Devised by the pupils of Wolfersdorf school, this trail enables you to explore and get to know the people that inhabit the village woods.
Access to the trail is via the Lenzweg path (red light near the Town Hall/school), about 2 km from the centre of the village.

The municipality of Oltingue, in partnership with the ONF, has founded a new 3 Km footpath allowing you to discover magnificent and remarkable trees.
From the car park of St Brice chapel, this path, straddling the Swiss and French territories, will enable you to see a magnificent beech, the largest in the canton of Solothurn in Switzerland, along with an oak tree, two big American Douglas firs and two Scots pines. Refreshments available on site at the St Brice inn.

This tour will take you around St Glucker's Chapel (on the site of what once was Saint-Léger village) and farther on up to Neiweiher pond. Walk along the stream that runs through the floral village of Hirtzbach and explore Reinach Park, the last icehouse in Sundgau and its castle. Do not hesitate to visit them! You can also see Sonnenberg Institute, a private school, which was a spa in 1850.

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.

Hiking in Kiffis:
Discover the Hornihof lamas farm , the beautiful forest offering beautiful panoramas over the Alsatian Jura and Switzerland from the Glaserberg and a pleasant picnic area la Neuneich.
Topo-Guide for sale in the Tourist Office.

Hike around Oberlarg village. Things to see on the walk: Morimont Castle, Ebourbettes Farm made famous by General Giraud's escape, the Manlefelsen Cave archeological site, and one of the last fording places in Alsace.
One of the most beautiful walks in the area.

This 4 day/3 night walking tour runs in a loopthrough the Alsatian Jura range connectingthe area’s three castles.
Length : 80 km infour stages of 15 to 23 km. Well signpostedand maintained path which takes in the mostbeautiful routes and tracks of the range.Hiking map of route available. Baggage transferprovided for flexible vacations.

ViaJuraRegio is a 110 km signposted French-Swiss hiking route (60km of which is in France)  providing access to Basel at Delémont.

This route follows the paths used by the prince-bishops of Basel when they went to their homes in Delémont and Porrentruy between the 16th and 18th centuries. It proposes ""learning history from a journey"". History of course but also gastronomy, soil, fauna and flora, and the beautiful surroundings on this route.

This route crosses the French-Swiss border in the far south of Alsace: the Alsatian Jura, then runs through the Ajoie, the Clos du Doubs region and the Delémont valley.

Map and guidebook available. 

Detailed presentation of the route: Via Jura Regio hiking break 

This small loop of 3 km will enable you to explore the ruins of Landskron Castle in Leymen. Starts from Leymen tram station or from the castle car park.

750m long and featuring 23 markers, the Ditch Trail allows you to explore some of the flora and fauna present in a typical alder and ash plantation. Crossed by the river ""Otter"", the path is laid out in a wetland where some 80 ditches have been identified. Tables are installed close to the arboretum for picnics and educational work. Nearby are a typical Sundgau orchard and some ponds. The trail is accessible from the Porte d'Alsace reception area.

This path reanimates the memory of thisunique place where, during WWI, three armiesfaced each other, only separated by afragile line: the frontier. Food for thought,this Franco-Swiss pathway allows visitors toapprehend, in the silence of the forests andmeadows, the fragility of our civilisation’s values: peace, tolerance and fraternity. Manyfortifications have been restored.Distance: 7.5 km (2.5 hours) depart from Larginfarm (Switzerland) or the site of the Millbetween Pfetterhouse and Mooslargue.

The municipality of Winkel and the Sundgau Tourist Information Office welcome you to the location called "La Charrière" where you can enjoy two signposted snowshoe circuits: 

- a 3 km PINK circuit, ideal for families. This short trail takes from 60 to 90 minutes and is easy going. It follows part of the Moroccans Trail that was established in memory of a Moroccan rifle regiment stationed at Winkel during the Second World War. 

- a 6 km ORANGE circuit which takes from two and a half to three hours. This beautiful trail takes you to the Beech Alley, Neuneich Pass and ends up on Glaserberg summit. Magnificent panoramic views of the Alsatian and Swiss Jura embellish this trail from beginning to end. 

Walking times are provided as a rough guide. They may vary depending on your walking pace. Please take this into account.

Need to hire skis or snowshoes? "Cycles Diebolt" in Hirsingue offers a wide range of Alpine equipment.