Located in Alsace, on the heights of Guebwiller (25km northwest of Mulhouse), the Grand Ballon, at 1,424 meters above sea level, is the highest peak in the Vosges Massif. I'll take you there!
Don’t confuse Grand Ballon with Ballon d’Alsace
The Grand Ballon should not be confused with the Ballon d’Alsace: they are two very distinct peaks:
- The Grand Ballon is located in Alsace. it is sometimes also called Ballon de Guebwiller.
- The Ballon d’Alsace is at the crossroads of Alsace, the Belfort region and the Vosges department (Lorraine).
One of the summits of the Ballons des Vosges
When we talk about the Ballons des Vosges (which gave its name to the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park), we’re referring to 4 different peaks:
- Ballon de Servance (1,216m altitude), the southernmost, on the border between Vosges (Lorraine) and Haute-Saône (Franche-Comté)
- the Ballon d’Alsace (1,247m altitude), where Alsace, the Vosges and Belfort meet
- le Petit Ballon (1,250m altitude) high up in the Munster Valley (Alsace)
- the Grand Ballon (1,424m) above Guebwiller (Alsace)
How do I get to the Grand Ballon?
If you’d like to climb to the Grand Ballon, the highest peak in the Vosges mountains, there are several options open to you:
- access to the Col du Grand Ballon by car, then to the Grand Ballon on foot via the panoramic tour
- in summer, take the Navette des Crêtes to the Col du Grand Ballon, then the panoramic tour of the Grand Ballon on foot
- take a hike from Guebwiller to the Grand Ballon (my favorite option if you’re a sporty type!)
What to do in the Grand Ballon?
Climb to the top
If you reach the Grand Ballon via the pass, don’t be disappointed when you get there: it’s very busy and noisy (long live the cars and bikers) and the view isn’t great, BUT you just have to take the path indicated to climb to the top of the Grand Ballon and everything will be better 🙂
There are in fact two paths, one on each side: red rectangle with white stripes or red ring(panoramic path). Both are beautiful , so I find it best to take one on the outward journey and the other on the return, to make a loop. Beware, these two trails are a bit aerial: nothing at all nasty for adults, but be careful if you’re with young children .
Admire the view
Once on one of the two paths, you quickly get away from the hustle and bustle and reach the summit fairly quickly(less than 3km and 80m of positive ascent between the pass and the summit). This is the highlight of the show, because of course you come to the Grand Ballon to admire the panoramic view of the surrounding area from the massif’s highest peak: and indeed, it’s just magnificent!
From the orientation table next to the Diables Bleus monument, you can enjoy an almost 360-degree view of Mulhouse, Basel in Switzerland, Freiburg im Breisgau in Germany, Colmar and, in the background, the Black Forest and Jura (French and Swiss) and, weather permitting, the Alps from Austria and Liechtenstein to Mont Blanc!
Observe constructions
As we pass by, we can observe a large building with an astonishing architecture: a civil aviation radar designed by architect Claude Vasconi. It almost looks like a spaceship! The Grand Ballon is also home to the Monument des Diables Bleus, a bronze sculpture and granite pyramid that pays tribute to the Alpine troops who conquered the Vosges peaks during the First World War.
Terrace dining
There are several restaurants with terraces at pass level, which can be a nice place to sit and have a drink or a bite to eat. I find it a little too noisy overall because of the cars and motorcycles, but it’s still very pleasant! I also love a trip to the Maison de l’abeille et du pain d’épices de la Famille Riche. Everything is homemade at the café, and the store’s products are of the highest quality, so if you’d like to stock up on honey, royal jelly or gingerbread, now’s the time…