The best cycling routes around Aspach-Michelbach

In his Stations of the Cross meditation—written on Good Friday 2025 in the Roman Colosseum—Pope Francis, who died a few days later (Easter Monday), invited us to let ourselves be contemplated by the crucified love of Jesus: "Our darkness seeks the light. (...) Now [the crowd] encounters the spectacle of a love never before seen, a beauty that moves them to change their minds. To those who see you die, Lord, you give the opportunity to beat their breasts and repent, to strike their hearts so that their hardness may break. Jesus, grant us, who often still observe you from afar, that we may always remember you in our lives, so that even death, when you come one day, may find us alive." (Pope Francis)

Thann's sloping vineyards are famous for their south-facing orientation with slopes that can reach 45°, offering spectacular and dizzying landscapes. These hillsides, located between 350 and 450 meters above sea level, extend over an area of 22 hectares and are renowned for their volcanic terroir and their proximity to the Thur River, which provides the humidity necessary for the grapes to ripen. Among the grape varieties cultivated are Riesling, Pinot Gris, Gewürztraminer, and Muscat, all grown in often rocky and well-exposed soil, which gives the wines great finesse. Viticulture on these steep terrains requires harvests that are often carried out with ropes to ensure safety on these very steep slopes. These vineyards, particularly the Grand Cru Rangen, are among the most emblematic of the region.

The World War I Bunker Trail in Burnhaupt-le-Bas On the Bunker Trail, you can discover World War I fortifications built by the German army. After the fighting in the summer and autumn of 1914, the front in Upper Alsace stabilized on the Cernay-Dannemarie line. The municipal district of Burnhaupt-le-Bas remained on the German side. In December 1914 and January 1915, French offensives in this sector regularly clashed with the German lines. Numerous bunkers, command posts, and artillery posts. The tour can be done by mountain bike or on foot (hiking boots).

Also noteworthy are the German Jewish soldiers who are buried here.

The Rehbrunnel Shelter, altitude 759m The first Rehbrunnel Shelter was built in 1988 by the City of Thann with the assistance of the ONF (French Forestry Office). Mr. Jacques Fimbel, a volunteer with the Thann Vosges Club, designed the plans. The shelter was known among hikers for its octagonal shape and prime location. First renovated in 1999, the shelter was damaged by the elements and had suffered wear and tear over time. Therefore, the City of Thann launched a new construction project, in collaboration with the Gustave Eiffel Building School in Cernay, the Thann Vosges Club, and the ONF (French Forestry Office). The shelter was dismantled in June 2024, and after a year of work, the new Rehbrunnel Shelter was inaugurated on May 27, 2025.

A brand-new wooden shelter. Inside, there's a stove and three seating areas. There's barely enough room for a bivouac on the floor, as the tables are attached to the ground and there's little space between the benches. However, you could still spread out a bit. I also managed to set up my single-person inner tent right next to the door. There's a well with drinking water 150 meters below the hut! It's a perfect spot for a night, and the view from this rocky, spiritual spot down into the valley toward Thann is outstanding!

Definitely suitable for a bivouac in a cozy wooden hut ;)

On the edge of Cernay lies a sober but impressive German military cemetery, where 7,085 soldiers from the First World War and 1,479 from the Second World War are buried. The cemetery was already created during WWI and later expanded.