Bicycle tour “Beers and hops” in the Zorn region (25km)

Updated on 2024-11-11

Here's a cycling loop in Alsace off the beaten track, allowing you to discover the Pays de la Zorn, northwest of Strasbourg and southwest of Haguenau. I suggest the local loop 227 of Alsace by bike, called "Bières et houblonnières": a rather tempting program, isn't it? The course is 25km long and has a 200m vertical drop: there are a few short climbs, but they're not too bad!

Laurène

Laurène is the blog's creator. Originally from Brittany but now living in Alsace, she has fallen in love with her adopted region and loves exploring its every nook and cranny to unearth great ideas to share with you!

Type

Bike

Distance

25km

Elevation gain

200m

My summary

I liked

Loop off the beaten track
Nice and pleasant course
Visit of the Villa Meteor to be done on the way

I liked a little less

Lots of roads so just avoid rush hour

Along the Canal de la Marne au Rhin

Thecycle route starts in Waltenheim-sur-Zorn, a small port on the Canal de la Marne au Rhin, where you’ll see pleasure boats. This is indeed a base of the boat rental company Les Canalous: it can give you an idea for a next time, it’s nice to do too. We begin then by going along the canal along theEurovélo 5 what is very pleasant: it is flat, it is pretty and we are perfectly in security.

Visit of the Villa Meteor in Hochfelden

We quickly see in the distance the town ofHochfelden, with its bell tower but also a large building on the left: it is the famous Brasserie Météor, the only industrial brewery in Alsace that is still independent and family-owned. You will see Météor beer everywhere, impossible to come to Alsace without discovering it 😉

The brewery itself cannot be visited, but you can visit the Villa Meteor, which is a museum space created within the brewery buildings. Do not hesitate to make this small detour to visit it (you are there in 5 minutes), it is very interesting. Find out more in my article on the Villa Météor visit.

Typical villages and small country roads

After Hochfelden, we leave the bike path and the canal for small country roads. These are not very busy (except during rush hour, I guess) so I wasn’t bothered by cars. There is just a very small fraction of a departmental road that is quickly passed.

You can walk along these roads admiring the hilly landscapes of the Zorn country: cultivated fields, trees, and of course… hop fields! Impossible to miss them even if you have never seen them, these long lianas which grow in height are easily recognizable.

Did you know that hops were produced in France? In fact, not much is produced, but most of it comes from Alsace and Flanders. In Alsace, it is the commune of Wingersheim-les-Quatre-Bans which has the title of hop capital, and you will see indeed in edge of road of very many hop fields. Wingersheim is also home to the Sentier de découverte du Houblon, a 4.5km trail that can be explored on foot or, in season, during a guided tour.

In addition to the landscapes to be admired along this bicycle loop, the itinerary passes through pretty little villages typical of Alsace: Hohfrankenheim, Gingsheim, Hohatzenheim, Mittelhausen and Wingersheim.

Don’t miss a visit toHohatzenheim church, a beautiful 12th-century church. You should take the time to enter, to admire the view of the surroundings from the front of the church but also to take a pleasant break in its wooded park. A real little haven of peace!

Gourmet break in Wingersheim

If you’d like to take a pleasant break for lunch or a snack, I recommend stopping off at Boulangerie Lutz in Wingersheim. You can sit inside or on the terrace and enjoy a good pastry… Always good during a bike ride, right?

Return via the canal

Then, you just have to take a little piece of road before joining the Canal de la Marne au Rhin, which will bring you back to Waltenheim-sur-Zorn. The last part of the itinerary is very pleasant: pedaling by the water, nothing like it!