Hiking trip in roaming of the Three Castles of the Alsatian Jura

This 4-day/3-night roaming walking trip crosses the Alsatian Jura massif and uses the territory's three castles as a common thread (Château de Ferrette, Morimont and Landskron). Between hiking and discovery, the marked route takes the most beautiful paths and paths that will take you without great difficulty from one end to the other of this little piece of land forgotten by the frenzy and the ambient agitation. The Alsatian Jura opens its doors to you, it's up to you to enter.

The circuit of the three castles can be done from any stage. Starting the route in Leymen allows you to take advantage of public transport access via the tram from Basel station.

Starting the itinerary at the Château du Morimont allows for better balancing of the stages, in particular the Morimont-Lutter and Lutter-Leymen stages. Guest rooms are also available in Leymen.

Accommodation is to be booked directly with the hoteliers. Picnic basket and luggage transport possible on request!

Modular stay, depending on your means of transport and the place of departure, it can be done:
- in 4 days / 3 nights
- in 4 days / 4 nights

Example of the stay 4 days / 3 nights from Leymen
Total distance over four days : 80 km and 2450m vertical drop

Description :

Day 1 - LEYMEN-FERRETTE : 22km and 670m of elevation gain, i.e. about 5h30 of walking without stops
Accommodation: Hotel Collin in Ferrette or more guest rooms in Ferrette

Arrival in Leymen in the morning, parking at the town hall. Departure of the pedestrian circuit from the town hall of Leymen to reach Ferrette, picturesque medieval city characterized by its castle of the 12^e century. On the route: St Brice chapel, Peasant Museum and St Martin d'Oltingue church; Grotte des Nains, belvedere of Lochlefelsen and Ferrette castle.
Lunch in a restaurant possible in Oltingue, at the Auberge St-Brice (by reservation)
Accommodation possible the day before in Leymen in a guesthouse (see partners below)

Day 2 - FERRETTE-MORIMONT-LUCELLE: 25 km and 950m of elevation gain, i.e. about 6h15 of walking without stops)
accommodation:  Hotel le Petit Kohlberg
This step can be shortened in two ways:
- By avoiding, arrived on the heights of Winkel, the Oberlarg part - the Morimont - Lucelle. Then count 10,5km from Ferrette to reach the Petit Kohlberg directly.
- By avoiding, a little after the Ebourbettes farm, going down to Lucelle via the place called Les Hauts de Lucelle. Count then 24 km.

Departure from Ferrette to reach the Château du Morimont; discovery of the panorama from the Rossberg tower, the source of the Ill and the Moroccan path in Winkel, the passage of the ford, the source of the Largue and the Mannlefelsen cave in Oberlarg. 
Lunch in a restaurant possible in Winkel (not included)

Day 3 - SMALL KOHLBERG-LUTTER : 13,5km and 280m of elevation gain, i.e. about 4 hours of walking without stops.
Accommodation: Peasant inn in Lutter
Departure from Petit Kohlberg to reach Lutter. Discovery of the preserved forest of the Alsatian Jura, the sumptuous Allée des Hêtres and the magnificent panorama of the crests of the Hornihof de Kiffis.

Day 4 - LUTTER-LEYMEN : 20 km and 660 m of elevation gain, i.e. about 4 hours of walking without stops 
Accommodation: Guest rooms in Leymen
Depart from Lutter to reach Leymen via Mariastein. Discovery of the Biological Reserve of Wolschwiller, summit and panoramic tower of the Raemelsberg, Bürg Castle (CH), Mariastein pilgrimage (CH), Landskron castle in Leymen. Lunch possible in Bürg or Mariastein (not included)

Example of a 4-day/3-night stay from Morimont to Oberlarg

Day 1 - MORIMONT-LUTTER : 23,5km and 680m of elevation gain, i.e. about 6 hours of walking without stops.
Accommodation: Peasant inn in Lutter
Park in the Morimont castle car park, which you can visit at the start of the hike.

Day 2 - LUTTER-LEYMEN : 20 km and 660 m of elevation gain, i.e. about 4 hours of walking without stops 
Accommodation: Guest rooms in Leymen

Day 3 - LEYMEN-FERRETTE : 22km and 670m of elevation gain, i.e. about 5h30 of walking without stops
Accommodation: Hotel Collin in Ferrette or more guest rooms in Ferrette

Day 4 - FERRETTE-MORIMONT: 16,5 km and 521m of difference in altitude, i.e. about 4h15 of walking without stops)
accommodation:  Hotel le Petit Kohlberg

Circuit and difficulties :
The proposed stages require walking times ranging from 4h30 to 6h00. Longer stages can be shortened. These possibilities are presented in the guide provided on your arrival. The paths taken are easy, well maintained and marked with the logo of the Circuit des Trois Châteaux combined with the official markings of the Club Vosgien. So you can do this circuit safely. A topoguide (downloadable below) completes this markup and provides a lot of additional information on the natural, tourist and historical sites crossed. The route crosses the Franco-Swiss border, bring your identity papers.

2023 prices (indicative) for partner accommodation located on the route

Hotel Collin Ferrette
- Single or double room with half board 65.00€
- Breakfast 10.50€
- Possibility packed lunch on request 4-5€
- Possibility to transport luggage on request
- Tuesday and Wednesday evening restaurant closed

Hotel le Petit Kohlberg Lucelle
- Double room half board 95.00€
- Single room half board 116.00€
(Meals and breakfast included)
- Meal basket 12.50€
- Free luggage transfer
- Monday and Tuesday evening closed

peasant inn Lutter
- Single or double room: 73 to 92 €
- Evening meal market menu at 31€ or à la carte.
- Breakfast 12€
- Possibility packed lunch on request
- No luggage transport possible

Guest rooms  the blue barn in Leymen
- Single room 60 to 70€
- Double room 90 to 110€
- Several restaurants in the town
- Breakfast included
- Possibility packed lunch on request
- Possibility to transport luggage on request