GR® 53 : stage 2
Obersteinbach

GR® 53 : stage 2

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Second stage of the Crossing of the Massif des Vosges, this hike connects Obersteinbach to Niederbronn-les-Bains.
The Grande Randonnée® 53 trail is a variant of the GR® 5 that links Wissembourg to Masevaux, that is to say the north and south of Alsace, via the Vosges ridges. This hike roaming through part of the Regional Natural Park of Vosges du Nord, you can pass near castles in ruins from which you can admire beautiful views!

Description

Along the way, follow the red rectangle markup.

  • Departure : Hiker's House, Main Street, Obersteinbach
  • Arrival : 7, Rue de la République, Niederbronn-les-Bains
  • Towns crossed : Obersteinbach, Dambach, Windstein, and Niederbronn-les-Bains

9 points of interest

  • Castle-church-abbey

    Wittschloessel Chateau (Ruins)

    The Wittschloessel castle was a simple watchtower on a rocky ridge overlooking the Obersteinbach valley; only a few remains of the sandstone walls remain.

    The history of this castle is not well known; it was destroyed at the end of the 17th century.

  • Castle-church-abbey

    Vieux Windstein fortified Chateau

    Existing since 1147, it was besieged by the city of Haguenau, the bishop of Strasbourg and Hannemann of Lichtenberg to dislodge knight-brigands by digging a gallery on the west side of the site. It was then partially dismantled. At the beginning of the 16th century, the Duke of Lorraine seized it twice. The castle was burned down before being abandoned in 1664. You can still see a section of the stone wall with bosses, a vestige of the keep. More information here.
  • Geology

    Rocher du Vieux Windstein

  • Castle-church-abbey

    Nouveau Windstein fortified Chateau

    Mentioned as early as 1205 near the Old Windstein, the dwelling was modified at the end of the Middle Ages to be adapted against artillery. After having served as a refuge during the Thirty Years' War, soldiers occupied it between 1652 and 1654 and used it to plunder the region. It was destroyed as a possession of the Eckbrecht family of Durkheim, who had fought against France in the Dutch War. Its defense is based on a shield wall, allowing it to dominate the valley on 3 sides.
  • Refuge-shelters

    Pottaschkopf refuge

    Open shelter on the GR® 53 at 800 m north-east of the Liese pass (Club Vosgien chalet).

    - benches all around the small room on the ground floor;

    - space to sleep under the roof but difficult to access.

  • Castle-church-abbey

    Hohenfels Chateau

    Castle Hohenfels is built on a peak, difficult access; the rocky bar was deeply cut on the north-east side; from the barnyard there remain only fragments of walls and a cistern; the western platform has preserved some vestiges, as well as a small room dug in the rock; the seigniorial dwelling, at the top of the east rock, has kept its north wall in freestone, on three levels
  • Geology

    Rocher de Hohenfels

  • Small patrimony

    Rocher de la Liese

    This monolithic block from the Celtic or Gallo-Roman period was damaged in 1935 and 1945. A dubious restoration was carried out in 1951: the block was covered with mortar bearing the effigy of an Egyptian goddess. According to the popular legend, sliding on this rock would allow women to be fertile or to make men fall under their charms that they desired. There are many other legends around this rock.
  • Panorama

    Grand Wintersberg

    On the highest point of the Northern Vosges, the Club Vosgien, the oldest hiking association in France, decided in 1890 to build the highest tower in Alsace. A tower of 25 m and 110 steps is added to the existing 581 m and allows to admire a breathtaking panorama on the massif of the Northern Vosges and the Palatinate, the Lorraine plateau, the plain of Alsace and the Black Forest.

Forecast


Altimetric profile


Information desks

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

Access and parking

From Haguenau, take the D263 then the D27 towards Woerth to Lembach, then take the D3 to Obersteinbach.

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