Stroll on the Bastberg hill in Bouxwiller, Alsace

My summary

The legend of the witches of Bastberg

When I told you about Alsace’s Mont Saint-Michel, I mentioned that legend had it that witches took off from this summit at nightfall to reach another, the Bastberg! So, quite logically, I also went to discover this intriguing place: still no witch in sight, but a walk that really charmed me!

The discovery trails of the Bastberg: geological, heritage or nature?

This walk on the Bastberg hill is for example well known by the locals: it is a typical Sunday walk. It must be said that the setting is perfect to come with friends or family for a little walk, picnic and relax. It also seems that the Bastberg is one of the high energy places in Alsace: you be the judge!

Three trails have been developed on the hill, each focusing on a different theme to discover this unique site: geological trail, heritage trail or nature trail, the choice is yours!

In all cases, the trails intersect and overlap on several sections: by choosing the geological trail (the longest, 6km), you get a nice overview! I didn’t find it easy to follow the precise marking of a path (there are markings but not necessarily clear in my opinion), but it is impossible to get lost: the paths are mostly parallels located at the top of the hill and the view is clear, so it is very easy to find your way.

Along the trails are well-crafted signposts to help you learn more about the area’s geology, flora and fauna, history and legends… There are also chortens, stone edifices several meters high erected to show the typical rocks of the region.

A nature reserve with varied landscapes

The Bastberg is classified as a regional nature reserve and boasts a special natural environment: an arid limestone hill, mostly covered with dry grassland. It’s the combination of the hill’s particular relief (whose slopes favor water runoff), the thinness of the soil (which is therefore very close to the rock) and low rainfall (the Vosges mountains act as a rain screen) that give it such a distinctive arid environment, home to numerous species of insects and plants. An exceptional fauna and flora!

I was amazed at the variety of landscapes you can see in such a small space: some paths are lined with small trees and others offer magnificent 360 degree views of the surroundings! We can observe meadows, orchards, vineyards and further in the Alsace plain cultivated fields, and of course the Northern Vosges… It is magnificent!

The view from the top of the Bastberg is really beautiful: even if we are not very high in terms of altitude, the space is so clear that we can enjoy a superb panorama. I really loved it! And I’ll have to come back because it seems that it is the ideal place to come at sunset…

In practice: parking and ideas for visits

To reach the Bastberg, you can park on the place of the Castle of Bouxwiller and walk up: it adds about 15 minutes, but it is a small road, it is pleasant and the climb is not difficult. Otherwise, you can drive directly to the Bastberg parking lot. Once at the top, the walk will be extremely easy because there is no more difference in level: you will walk on top of the hill all the way.

If you want to plan a fun day out in the area, I’d encourage you to plan a 1-hour visit to the historic center of Bouxwiller, then walk up to the Bastberg where you can picnic and finish off the afternoon. This is a great day to discover the built and natural heritage of Bouxwiller, to take a nice walk and to have a picnic in a bucolic setting! What more could you ask for?