Overview

Less than 45 minutes by car from Strasbourg, the tiny village of La Petite Pierre (The Little Rock) is surrounded by the unique and rich natural heritage of the UNESCO Biosphere Reserve in the Regional Natural Park of the Northern Vosges (Parc Naturel Régional des Vosges du Nord). The Park is a unique site based on a true sustainable tourism approach, characterized by its rolling hills and landscapes dotted with meadows and mountain lakes. The forest covers 65% of the area offering beautiful natural and cultural heritage, along with an abundance of wildlife. Here, you may come across roe deer, red deer, Falcons, grey wolves, and if you're really lucky, lynxes (cats).

The park has earned the rare title of “World Biosphere Reserve” by UNESCO as a destination of excellence awarded by the Eden competition for “tourism and protected areas.” The park can be explored on foot or by bike along the 1,025 miles of sign-posted trails.

The Vosges Nature Park also incorporates some of the famous Alsace fairytale villages such as Keysersberg, Ribeauville, Eguisheim and more. These towns are all part of the highly popular and well-publicized Alsace Wine Route. History lovers will find memorials and battle sites where the French fought hard to keep the invading Nazis at bay during WW2. Located just outside the boundary of the park is Struthof Concentration Camp. It is the only camp that was built and operated in France by the Germans.

Recreation

The park has many scenic walking trails that can take from a few hours to a few days to complete. In the winter months, cross country skiing, and family fun with toboggans etc can be had in the high reaches of the Vosges park. If you’re in the region and have a car you should undoubtedly take a drive in this fantastic area of France and one of the best National Parks in Europe.

Stop at the Park House (Maison du Parc), located in the Château de la Petite-Pierre, for free trail maps and sightseeing suggestions. You can visit a few of the rooms in the 12th-century fortified castle at no charge. The view from the top is stunning.

While you’re in the northern mountains, search out nearby landmarks such as Lalique Museum, Lichtenberg Castle, and the rock dwellings wedged into the cliffs above the village of Graufthal.

Tips

It’s handy to have a French IGN 1:75,000 topographic hiking/cycling map (number 27 North Vosges). The Michelin Local Map 314 (Haute-Saone, Vosges) is also a valuable tool because it includes nature trails, cycling paths, and driving tours. Tourist offices in the little mountain towns have less detailed but helpful local maps and information.

Cycle shops throughout Alsace offer high-quality mountain and road bikes in all sizes, and you can rent them by the day or week. Find rental and trail information at the Office de tourisme de l’Alsace Bossue (www.alsace-bossue.net/cycle-tourism.html) in the little community of Lorentzen on the far western edge of the northern park (Parc Nature Régional du Nord). Or visit the Park House (Maison du Parc) inside the Château in the town of La Petite Pierre, located at the center of the northern park.

Winter in the Vosges is a lively time for snow sports. Pick up gear for skiing, sledding, snowkiting, or snowshoeing at huts on the slopes or in the resort towns. In the northern park, Le Cham du Feu is an hour drive from Strasbourg and rents equipment onsite. Get details at the visitors’ information center for the Bruche Valley in the foothill village of Schirmeck.