Trail Name: Paysage a Bicyclette
Trail Type: Mid-distance circuit biking trail; much of it paved and car-free, well maintained, fairly good signage throughout (but at least bring a map, if nothing else).
Length:
Total: 31 kilometers/ 19.5 miles
Convenient to: Colmar, Alsace, France
Marking:
White pointy-ends rectangular sign with dark letters: Paysage a Bicyclette in script writing
Trail Description: A slightly challenging trail through vines and villages in a relatively quiet section of the Alsatian wine region, offering plenty of opportunities to reconnect with nature, admire the wide expanses, and taste wine while exploring small towns and villages along the route!
Trailhead:
Official: Rouffach: Mairie (Town Hall), on Place de la Republique
Alternative: Eguisheim: Grande Rue
Parking:
Eguisheim: Grande Rue, large paved lot, reasonable fees
Rouffach: Place des Sports, large paved lot, with overflow parking nearby, free
Public Transportation Options:
Rail: SNCF regional trains (TER), regularly connect Rouffach (station less than one kilometer from the trail) with Colmar and Strasbourg to the north, and Mulhouse to the south
Suggested Stages:
Not applicable
Trail Itinerary-Reference Points:
Rouffach: R du Marechal Joffre/D18Bis-R Claude Ignace Callinet, R. Louis Pasteur-R. des Vosges-Route de Westhalten; Cross Muehlweg, onto track named Saegmattenweg; Gundolsheim: D15/Route de Rouffach-R. du Nord-Schlittweg-Gundolsheimerweg; onto Holderhuerstleweg, over train tracks, hard right but continue on trail, Rouffach: cross D8, Heiligkreuzweg-Staaweg; cross tracks, then parallel them on Gaertleweg; Metzgermatten and Kiffmatten fields; woods, cross D83 highway; Hattstatt: D121/Route du Vin; Alte Staatstrasse, Herrenstr trail, Rte de Herrlisheim/D1bis; Eguisheim: D14/Grande Rue, R. du Muscat-R du Vin, unnamed trail to left after R. du Buhl; Obermorschwihr: Dagsbourg Hohlweg, R du Dagsbourg-R des Pres; fields and vineyards; Gueberschwihr: R du Nord, R Basse-Route de Pfaffenheim; Gaensbrunnweg trail, then first right; Pfaffenheim: R du Muscat, Grande Rue-Drotfeldweg-Kopfacherweg; Alte Strasse through vineyards-R. Louis Pasteur
Representative Trail Photos:
Restrooms:
Rouffach: R. du 4eme Spahis Marocains (by the bus stop)
Eguisheim: by the paid parking lot (see parking above), and in the old center in Cr Unterlinden
Attractions on or near Trail:
Eguisheim:
The Little Train will take passengers through vineyards as well as the town
The Wolfberger Cave has a discovery room with some explanations and photos, in addition to a large boutique for lots of its wine and wine-related products.
Tasting along the Trail:
Wineries, mostly family-owned, in every village – you will be spoiled for choice. Do not hesitate to visit one (or several) between roughly 9-1200, and 14-1800 on most days (some including Sunday mornings during tourism season)!
Alternative Options:
Hiking:
Eguisheim: Vignoble et Chateaux, a short but steep in places trail that passes through a great variety of scenery and terrain, with great views. See the Nutshell here.
Soultzmatt or Westhalten: https://www.visorando.com/randonnee-promenade-dans-le-vignoble-de-la-vallee-/ thru vineyards, listed as medium difficulty (hills, not much shade)
Additional Information:
Trail (segment) specific: https://www.cirkwi.com/fr/circuit/536654-le-paysage-a-bicyclette
Comments:
A fantastic area for wines, history, and hiking and biking in nature.