The best running trails around Hecken

Ammertzwiller is a quiet Alsatian village that is surprisingly convenient for cyclists on the road. There are a few mini markets, restaurants and even a chemist – ideal for stocking up on provisions or taking a break. The village is set in rolling countryside and offers lovely picnic spots overlooking the fields. Information boards in the village tell the story of the local history during the First World War, making this stop not only practical but also meaningful."

Remnants of the old railway line with their own charm

Beautiful station sign of the train station From 925 onwards, Alsace initially played a special political role, but from 988 to 1254 at the latest it formed part of the Duchy of Swabia. Between the end of the 8th and the middle of the 10th century, the two counties of Nordgau and Sundgau were established as administrative districts. The Jura areas that previously belonged to Alsace (south to the Aare) were separated. Many different political regimes emerged, primarily due to the end of the Hohenstaufens in 1254 and the associated quasi-dissolution of their Duchy of Swabia, but also due to the slow general collapse of central authority in the empire. These quickly became the actual bearers of the most important political powers of government. They operated under the umbrella of the empire, since the 17th century under that of the Kingdom of France, and were tied to the empire or France to very different degrees. Regional political institutions were the estates and the imperial districts, in the French period Intendance, Governor and Conseil souverain. The most important powers in Alsace at this time include the princely houses of Habsburg (only until 1648), Hanau-Lichtenberg, Württemberg and Rappoltstein, the city of Strasbourg and the cities of the Ten-City League, the secular lordships of the dioceses of Strasbourg and Basel, the princely abbey of Murbach and the Possessions of the Lower Alsatian knighthood count. The imperial city of Mulhouse joined the older Swiss Confederation in 1515 as an adjacent town and thus remained one of the few entities without French sovereign rights (until 1798).

Traubach-le-Bas is a small town with several shops and services that can be useful during a bike outing: minimarkets, bakeries, pharmacies... Its Saint-Fridolin chapel was once a place of pilgrimage for the protection of animals.

This rolling path passes through the middle of the fields. The landscape varies with the seasons, offering various panoramas. Some wooded sections contrast with the unobstructed views of the plain.

We recognize the Saint-Jean church by the beauty of its bell tower which we can see from afar, when we approach in the middle of the fields. A stop is essential to admire the architecture of this building.

Ammertzwiller is an Alsatian town that offers several useful services and shops for cyclists: mini-markets, restaurants and a pharmacy. Nestled in the middle of the countryside, there are some perfect spots for a picnic. Several panels will inform you about the facts of the First World War.