Have you ever heard of the Barr Geological Trail? It is a trail created by the Club Vosgien de Barr and its goal is to present the local and regional geological history from the primary era to the present day. The hiking trail is marked with explanatory signs so that hikers can understand the different landscapes around them. The problem is that it is not necessarily very accessible. The panels were written by a geologist who, in my opinion, did not succeed in popularizing the subject enough, so it remains rather vague for someone who, like me, knows nothing about it.
To make the most of it, you have two solutions. Either you are not interested in geology, and I advise you to do this trail on your own for the beauty and variety of the landscapes it offers. Either you are interested in the subject but you don’t know much about it, and I advise you to join one of the ecotourism outings organized on the geological path of Barr in the company of François, a guide from the Club Vosgien. It is entitled What if we went back in time?The idea is not to drown you in the details of the geology of the land but to make you aware of its evolution, the varieties of soil present under your feet and the way in which man has adapted to these different landscapes.
The hike lasts all day and is about 15km long, with 600m of positive elevation gain. So it’s good to have some walking experience, but it’s quite accessible. I was struck by the variety of places I passed through. From the center of Barr, you first reach the vineyard (with superb views of Barr, the Wine Route and the Alsace plain), then meadows and orchards and of course the Vosges forest. On the way, we stop at the magnificent abbey of Truttenhausen (where the owners have kindly authorized the guide to take his group: a chance, it is an exceptional place!), we discover the biodynamic farm of Truttenhausen, the Pagan Wall of the Mont Sainte-Odile, the castle of Landsberg… And great panoramic views along the way! Special mention for the view from the Jadelot kiosk, my favorite.
At the end of the day, an optional organic wine tasting is offered at the Domaine Hering in Barr. Perfect to end the day in style!
I liked
- Magnificent marked out hike, with varied landscapes and beautiful viewpoints
- The guide’s explanations are much more accessible than the trail signs
- Organic wine tasting at the end of the outing
I liked less
- If you do the trail by yourself, the signs are not very clear!
My photos of the geological trail in Barr
Practical information
Rates and schedules
You can find the schedule here. If you want to do it on your own, you can find the brochure of the geological trail here. The starting point is in front of the Tourist Office of the Pays de Barr (in the center of the town) and the path is then signposted.
Access
By car
The address of the starting point is Office de Tourisme du Pays de Barr, place de l’Hôtel de Ville 67140 Barr. It is necessary to count approximately:
- 34km from Strasbourg (about 25 minutes)
- 43 km from Colmar (about 40 minutes)
- 84 km from Mulhouse (about 1 hour)
By public transport
You can watch your route on Vialsace.
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