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

This 4-day / 3-night roaming pedestrian trip  crosses the Alsatian Jura massif and uses as a common thread the three castles of the territory (Ferrette, Morimont and Landskron castle). It offers you the opportunity to recharge your batteries in the soothing setting of an unknown and unspoiled region. Between hiking and discovery, the marked route takes the most beautiful paths and trails that will lead 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 is up to you to enter.

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

Modular stay, depending on your means of transport and the place of departure. It can happen:
- in 4 days / 3 nights
- in 4 days / 4 nights

Example of stay 4 days / 3 nights

Day 1 : Arrival in Leymen in the morning, parking at the town hall. Departure of the walking tour from Leymen town hall to reach Ferrette, a picturesque medieval town characterized by its 12th century castle.^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 (not included)
Accommodation possible the day before in Leymen in a guesthouse (see partners below)

Step 1 : LEYMEN-Ferrette: 22km and 670m of vertical drop, i.e. around 5h30 walk without stops

Accommodation: Hotel Collin in Ferrette or more guest rooms in Ferrette

Day 2 : Departure from Ferrette to reach the castle of Morimont; discovery of the panorama of the Rossberg tower, the source of the Ill and the Moroccan trail in Winkel, the passage du ford, the source of the Largue and the Mannlefelsen cave in Oberlarg. 

Lunch in a restaurant possible in Winkel (not included)

Step 2 : Ferrette-MORIMONT: 15,5 km and 500m of vertical drop, i.e. around 3h45m walk without stops (or Ferrette-LUCELLE: 25km and 950m high, i.e. around 6:15 hrs walk without stops)
accommodation: Hotel Morimont ou Hotel le Petit Kohlberg ou European meeting center in Lucelle (Depending on the accommodation chosen, stages 2 and 3 see their lengths modified but the total distance over 4 days remains the same). 

Day 3 : Departure from Morimont to join Lutter. Discovery of the preserved forest of the Alsatian Jura, the remains of the Cistercian abbey and the Lac de Lucelle nature reserve; of the sumptuous Allée des Beeches and the magnificent panorama of the ridges of the Hornihof in Kiffis.

Step 3 : MORIMONT-LUTTER: 23 km and 680m of vertical drop, i.e. around 5h30 of walking without stops (or LUCELLE-LUTTER: 13,5 km and 280m of vertical drop, i.e. around 3h30 of walk without stops)
Accommodation: Peasant inn in Lutter

Day 4 : Departure from Lutter to join Leymen via Mariastein. Discovery of the Wolschwiller National Biological Reserve, summit and panoramic tour of Raemelsberg, Château de Bürg (CH), pilgrimage to Mariastein (CH), Château du Landskron in Leymen. Lunch possible in Bürg or Mariastein (not included)

Step 4 : LUTTER-LEYMEN: 20 km and 660 m of vertical drop, i.e. around 4 hours of walking without stops 
Accommodation: Guest rooms in Leymen
Total distance over four days : 80 km and 2450m vertical drop

Circuit and difficulties :

The proposed stages require walking times ranging from 4:30 am to 6:00 am. Longer steps 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. Thus, you will be able to complete this circuit in complete safety. A guidebook completes this marking 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.

Booking:

Accommodation partners : see below