Bike path of the Bruche Canal – Bike ride from Strasbourg (3h)

The bicycle path of the Bruche Canal is, I believe, the first bicycle path in Alsace that I have ridden. Since then, I’ve done it many (many) times, either when I went to from Strasbourg to Colmar by bike or on the occasion of small Sunday rides. The Bruche Canal cycle route runs from Strasbourg to Soultz-les-Bains in the Bas-Rhin. It runs along a canal once built by Vauban to transport Vosges sandstone for the construction of Strasbourg’s fortifications.

Access to the bicycle path from Strasbourg

If you want to go on the bike path of the Canal de la Bruche from Strasbourg, it’s easy! You’ll just have to find your way at the beginning (it’s a bit tricky but I’ll explain it to you and everything will be fine), but then it’s straight and perfectly marked! From Strasbourg, if you start from the train station, go straight on Rue du Maire Kuss and turn right when you reach the quays (there is already a bicycle path there). It is the Quai Saint-Jean which is then called Quai Charles Altorffer. At the end of the quay, continue along the street that naturally turns right (rue sainte-Marguerite).

From there, the signs become clearer: you will quickly turn left towards the MAMCS (Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art of Strasbourg) which you will leave on your right to follow the quays again. Congratulations, you’re there and just have to follow the signs indicating Molsheim at first, or the Bruche Canal bicycle route. You will cross the Montagne Verte district and then quickly arrive at the edge of the canal.

An easy and pleasant route along the canal

Then, the route is perfectly marked and very easy. It’s flat and has a good surface, so you don’t have to be a great cyclist to enjoy it! There are 25km between Strasbourg and Soultz-les-Bains, that is to say 50km if you decide to do the round trip on this green way, but it is very easy to do. A round trip with a picnic on one of the picnic tables by the canal in Wolxheim is a good option, for example 🙂

I love this bike ride: it is really pleasant to ride along the small Bruche Canal in all seasons. I keep discovering new details, the colors change, the vegetation too and the canal is always a soothing place, perfect to take a breath of fresh air! I also love to admire the beautiful lock houses that are located near the eleven locks of the canal.

The route is not boring because it is not a straight line: there are many curves and turns. In summer, you can enjoy the coolness of the shaded banks, which is particularly pleasant considering the heat of the Alsatian weather.

You won’t be the only one, there are a lot of people on the greenway during the weekends in summer (it’s one of the favorite bike rides of the inhabitants from Strasbourg!), but it never spoiled my pleasure to ride on this greenway.

Where can you have a coffee break, restaurant or spa on the Greenway?

For a pleasant break, I can also recommend The Cyclos’ ravito,a lovely guinguette by the canal in a lock keeper’s house, the Klugesherz bakeryjust at the end of the bicycle route, or if you want a real restaurant The Canal in Ergersheim (it’s good and their terrace is top!).

And if you ever feel like going to enjoy thermal baths, the Sulzbad Spa is located right on the canal, it could be a nice idea for a break while going on the day!

What’s next? From Soultz-les-Bains to Molsheim

If you want to continue the ride and, why not, join the Véloroute du Vignoble, you can do it easily! Once you arrive in Soultz-les-Bains, take the direction of Molsheim. A cycle route will take you to the Vosges Piedmont, at the start of the cycle route!

My photos of the Bruche Canal by bike