Discover Goldbach-Altenbach

Get to know Goldbach-Altenbach through its hiking and mountain biking routes, as well as the history of its castle, farm, chapels and memorial sites. The routes offer different highlights: the Circuit du Gerstacker has a specified loop format, distance and ascent; the mountain biking routes are distinguished by specific distances, a sporty character, high-altitude pastures or a named destination. The area's history ranges from the Château de Freundstein to First World War memorials. You can make outdoor activities and history separate focuses of your trip, or combine the two.

Hiking: the Circuit du Gerstacker

The Circuit du Gerstacker is a 7-kilometre circular hike. The stated duration is 2 hours and 30 minutes, and the ascent totals 380 metres. The distance describes the route length, the elevation gain describes the ascent, and the time estimate provides a separate point of reference. The loop starts at the hiking car park in Goldbach-Altenbach. Along the way, it passes through forests and high-altitude pastures and offers views of the valley. You can therefore assess the route both by its measurements and by its landscape. Check current trail conditions before setting out.

Mountain biking routes with different highlights

The Circuit du Firstacker is a mountain biking route that passes through Goldbach-Altenbach. Its 27.70 kilometres and 968 metres of ascent provide two specific figures for planning. The Gerstacker VTT FFC No. 35 is described as a sporty route through the high-altitude pastures of the Hautes-Vosges d’Alsace. The Col Amic VTT FFC No. 33 route highlights a destination: it leads to the Col Amic, a prominent point on the ascent to the Grand Ballon, and offers the chance to discover the mountain villages of Goldbach-Altenbach.

The descriptions emphasize different features rather than presenting all the routes in the same way. The Circuit du Firstacker specifies distance and ascent. The Gerstacker VTT FFC No. 35 highlights its sporty character and the high-altitude pastures. The Col Amic route draws attention to the pass and the mountain villages. Comparing these options can help you decide whether you value specific route figures, the described terrain or the named destination most. Check current route conditions and markings before setting off.

Château de Freundstein and the history of Gerstacker

The ruins of the Château de Freundstein were designated a historic monument by decree on 27 April 1922. The château was first mentioned in 1297. The Abbey of Murbach and the Bishop of Strasbourg shared it before it was granted as a fief to the Waldner family. Its early mention, shared rule and later transfer as a fief therefore represent distinct stages in its history. The 1922 designation marks a separate, later development: the monument's protected status.

The Ferme du Gerstacker also has a history of communal use as well as its own building history. In 1558, the Abbey of Murbach transferred the farm jointly to the hamlets of Goldbach, Altenbach and Neuhause. It served the village residents as a communal summer pasture. The present-day building dates from the 18th century. The 1558 transfer and the construction date of the current building thus concern different historical events: the joint transfer, on the one hand, and the building's period of construction, on the other.

Chapels and memorial sites

Heavy fighting took place at Firstacker during the First World War, and the site commemorates that war. The Chapelle du Sudel was built in 1931 in memory of French soldiers who died in the First World War. A small chapel at Freundstein was built during the war near the Ferme-auberge du Freundstein. The chapels therefore also differ in date: one was built during the war, while the other was built in 1931 specifically to commemorate fallen French soldiers. Along with Firstacker, these sites give the historical theme in Goldbach-Altenbach several clearly distinct points of reference.

Discover more destinations: Steinbach, Saint-Amarin, Rodern, Oderen, Habsheim, Rammersmatt, Uffholtz, Soultzmatt

For the broader travel overview: Haut-Rhin.