Easy bike tour around Neuf-Brisach (35km)

My summary

Video summary

A circuit accessible to all

This is a very accessible 35-kilometer loop. For one thing, the distance is reasonable; for another, the route is completely flat; and finally, it runs mostly along bike paths. This means you’re safe from cars, making it a great route for families—provided your child is already a pretty good cyclist!

On the “Alsace à vélo” website, the route starts in Fessenheim, but I began mine in Neuf-Brisach. It’s more convenient, especially if you plan to grab a bite to eat afterward or simply rent bikes, since the tourist office offers electric bike rentals.

Across the Rhine plain

The first part of the loop lets you explore the landscapes of this corner of the Rhine Plain: you’ll pass through cornfields and small villages, including Fessenheim. Fessenheim is well known for its now-closed nuclear power plant, but that’s not all. It’s also the hometown of Victor Schoelcher’s father, a man deeply committed to human rights whose struggle led to the abolition of slavery. There’s a museum dedicated to him in the center of the village that you can visit (it’s just a short detour from the loop).

In terms of scenery, you shouldn’t expect anything out of the ordinary, but it’s still pretty and pleasant to pedal, all the more so as traffic remains light at all times, even during the short stretches where you happen to be on the road.

Along the Rhone-Rhine Canal

The second part of the route was definitely my favorite: you ride along the Rhône-Rhine Canal on a beautiful, shaded dirt path (which you’ll appreciate even more in the summer, when the Alsatian heat hits the region!), passing by old lock keepers’ houses along the way. This canal is no longer in use by boats, but it’s a pleasure to ride along it!

Visit Neuf-Brisach

Once you’re back in Neuf-Brisach, I recommend taking a short bike ride around the fortifications of Neuf-Brisach (or walking if you’re tired of pedaling :-P). The town is famous for its Vauban fortifications; in fact, it’s the only example of Vauban’s third system—his most sophisticated defense system.

Although the octagonal city is most impressive from the air (and most photogenic, admittedly), I find it interesting to tour the city by bike or on foot: you can ride/walk through the fortifications, which are truly imposing! As an added bonus, the works of art installed are well worth seeing.

Idea for a full day

Taking Neuf-Brisach as a starting point can make for a fun full day out, doing things like this:

• the morning bike circuit,
• lunch in Neuf-Brisach
• a visit to the surprising MAUSA Vauban Museum, a museum entirely dedicated to street art, in the afternoon