48 Hours in Green Alsace, North of Haguenau
Great East/2026
This region is well known to locals but less visited than the Wine Route or the Northern Vosges, featuring the splendid Haguenau Forest, the spa towns of Morsbronn and Niederbronn-les-Bains, the Moder Valley stretching all the way to Wingen, and numerous culinary stops featuring some truly excellent restaurants.
In thispeaceful natural setting , one might think this region is slumbering amid its forests. Nothing could be further from the truth. Here, everyone plays their part, whether in tourism or local production : Alsace hard at work, so to speak. A stop in Niederbronn-les-Bains is a must. The town is charming , with its long history as a spa resort, its Gallo-Roman ruins, and its archaeology museum. Visitors will enjoy its lively town center and its Friday morning market, which offers a wide variety of regional and seasonal products from local artisans— cured meats, cheeses, honey, fruits, and vegetables…In the surrounding area, beautiful nature walks lead to the Château de la Wasenbourg or, a little further north, tothe Grand Wintersberg, the highest peak in the Northern Vosges at 581 meters, with a tower offering a 360° panoramic view of the Haguenau Forest and even the Rhine Plain on a clear day. Tothe east lies another lovely site featuring the ruinsof the Jaegerthal ironworks , nestled in the heart of nature.
Woerth is a charming rural town with its traditional houses lining the Sauer River. It is historically known for the famous Battle of Reichshoffen on August 6, 1870, which inspired a children’s nursery rhyme about the cavalry charge. The Battle Museum, housed in the former castle—of which only the keep remains,serving as the entrance— chronicles the key events of the battle. This battle, lost to the numerically superior Prussians, would have far-reaching consequences, as it opened the way for the invaders to march on Paris and, in the medium term, led to the annexation of Alsace and Lorraine, a situation that lasted until 1918.
Be sure to visit the vineyards of Cleebourg, whichproduce anauthentic and distinctive winethat offers excellent value for the price. South of Cleebourg, you can visit Fort Schoenenbourg, the first fortification and gateway to the Maginot Line, featuringan interesting 3-kilometer underground tour. For an architectural gem, head to thefar north of this region to discoverthe magnificent site of FleckensteinCastle. The setting is incredible, and the view is breathtaking from this eagle’s nest overlooking the entire region. Designated a historicmonument since 1898, it embodies all the charms of a medievalfortifiedstructure, with its towers, staircases, and nooks and crannies, preserved despite the destruction wrought by Louis XIV’s troops in1689. Surrounding the castle, hiking trails offer different views of the forest landscape, with its fresh, chlorophyll-rich air.
