Orbey: Forests, Lakes and History

Orbey stretches from elevations of 450 to over 1,200 metres, offering remarkable landscape diversity. Forests, lakes, meadows and historic sites provide different perspectives on the municipality. When planning a stay, you can shape your activities around these highlights: nature, outdoor trails, winter sports or local history.

Forests, Lakes and Elevations

Orbey’s municipal forest covers 887.8 hectares and occupies almost half of the municipality. It offers the public opportunities for recreation, with hiking trails, mountain biking routes and cross-country ski trails. The forest is therefore a defining part of Orbey’s character, whether you are hiking, mountain biking or cross-country skiing.

The 637.58-hectare Deux Lacs state forest includes the area around Lac Blanc and Lac Noir, as well as the summit of the Immerlins–Tête des Faux massif. Together with the trails and recreational opportunities in the municipal forest, it offers a variety of landscape features: forest areas, lakes and a named summit.

The Hautes Huttes plateau offers panoramic views across well-kept meadows. Creux d'Argent is a starting point for lovely walks. If you are choosing between viewpoints and walks while planning your trip, these offer two different ways to enjoy the outdoors.

A road leads to the summit of Faudé, which is crowned by a tower inaugurated in 2004. This summit also adds a distinct landmark to Orbey’s scenic highlights.

Trails and Activities

Lac Blanc Parc d'Aventures in Orbey offers nine treetop adventure courses of increasing difficulty. The number of courses and their graded difficulty make this a clear option if treetop adventure is one of your travel interests.

The circular hiking trail “From the Wobbling Stones to the Springs of Orbey” starts at Saint-Urbain Church in Orbey. This named starting point gives you a specific reference if you want to include the route in your plans.

For winter sports, you can choose between the cross-country ski trails in the municipal forest and the activities at the Lac Blanc resort, which offers alpine skiing and snowshoeing. Alongside cross-country skiing, there are therefore other clearly defined winter activities to choose from.

History and Local Culture

Orbey was first mentioned in 1049 under the name Orbeiz. The Cistercian abbey of Pairis was founded in the Noirrupt Valley in 1138. These two dates mark distinct historical reference points: Orbey’s first recorded mention and the founding of an abbey.

The Chapel School has been known since the 18th century and is still used for the celebrations of Saint Barbara on December 4. This fixed date connects the Chapel School’s historical mention with a local celebration that continues today.

The Mémorial du Linge is located at Collet du Linge in Orbey, in the Haut-Rhin department. The Musée du Linge and its battlefield recount the fierce fighting. The history of war is therefore also among the town’s cultural themes.

Regional Cuisine

The famous Repas marcaire is a typical dish of the Vosges massif’s mountain cuisine. This regional speciality complements the area’s natural and historical highlights with a culinary dimension. As individual businesses and their availability may vary, it is best to check what is on offer in advance.

Discover more destinations: Urbès, Gundolsheim, Dolleren, Dannemarie, Mittlach, Luttenbach-près-Munster, Bartenheim, Chavannes-Sur-L’étang

For the wider travel overview: Haut-Rhin.