Discovering the Rocher de Dabo in Moselle – My opinion
In this article, I take you to the Rocher de Dabo, not in Alsace, but in Lorraine, in Moselle to be precise. As Dabo is located right on the border between Lorraine and Alsace, the Rocher de Dabo is a great idea for a day out in Alsace, and well worth a visit!
My summary
I liked it.
- To see this rocky spur appear when arriving at Dabo
- Magnificent panoramic view
- Nice walks to do in the area
I liked less
- Nothing!
History of the Dabo Rock
The legendary Rocher de Dabo is a rocky spur of pink sandstone rising to an altitude of 650 metres and dominating the surrounding area. A highly strategic location, of course, once a Celtic place of worship, it was also the site of a medieval castle destroyed during the reign of Louis XIV. A Romanesque chapel dedicated to Pope Leo IX, a native of Dabo, now stands here.
You can see the rock immediately as you enter Dabo, and the vision seems almost unreal given its height and relative narrowness (30 m high, 80 m long and 26 m wide to be exact): it really does seem to sit there, appearing out of nowhere in the middle of the immense Vosges forest.
Access and panoramic view
The Rocher de Dabo can be reached by car, first to a small parking lot, then on foot via a large staircase after paying the entrance fee. The view from the parking lot is already superb, but what awaits you up there is truly breathtaking! Quite simply, from the top of the rock you can enjoy a 360-degree panoramic view of the surrounding area: you can admire the village of Dabo and its colorful houses, the Lorraine plateau and the forests of the Massif des Vosges as far as the eye can see.
Saint Leo’s Chapel
I’d also recommend a visit to the Saint-Léon chapel, whose interior has been renovated and features some lovely paintings. A real gem!
It’s also worth climbing to the top of the chapel tower to enjoy not only the panoramic view of the surrounding area, but also the view of the Dabo rock itself. You’ll be at an altitude of 664m. Awe-inspiring!
Also on the blog
What’s next? Hiking in the Dabo area
Unless you’re already in the area, it would be a shame to come to Dabo just to see the rock and leave again. I’d advise you to go for a walk, as there are plenty of beautiful hiking trails, such as this 360-degree hike around Dabo. I can’t recommend walking around Dabo’s troglodytic houses either. These are impressive to see and the paths around them are superb, with impressive rocks and beautiful panoramas of the surrounding area. I just loved it!
Practical information
Rates and schedules
You will find here the schedule and prices of the Rocher de Dabo.
Access
By car
The address is as follows: Rocher de Dabo 10 Place de l’Église, 57850 Dabo. Count on:
- 52 km from Strasbourg (about 55 minutes)
- 100 km from Colmar (about 1h30)
- 140km from Mulhouse (about 1h50)
By public transport
You can watch on Fluo.