Haspelschiedt: Forest, Water and Village History

Haspelschiedt brings together a centrally located village pond, a green forest setting, a signposted circular hiking route and notable traces of local history. When planning your trip, you can choose between time outdoors, seasonal activities by the water and historic buildings.

Forest, Hiking and an Archaeological Find

The Étang de Haspelschiedt is in the centre of the small village, surrounded by extensive green forests. One specific hiking option is the “Remarkable trees in Haspelschiedt” circular route: it is 13.6 kilometres long, rated moderate, and takes approximately four hours and 30 minutes. These details help you estimate how much time to allow for the hike. The route description, as of 2025, lists it as number 10 in the “Paths of Excellence” network of the Pays de Bitche. The route is marked with a red disc and the green “Sentiers d’excellence” badge.

The circular route starts and ends at the car park at the junction with Neudoerfel Street, near the laundry. Another route, the “Colorado du Bitcherland,” starts in Haspelschiedt in the Vosges du Nord Regional Nature Park; it is described as a technical route.

There is also a prehistoric polishing stone in the Haspelschiedt forest, known as “Wildmannsfeld.” It dates from the Neolithic period, approximately between 4000 and 2000 BC, and has hundreds of grooves. The stone collapsed in December 2019. According to the route description as of 2025, it is inaccessible for safety reasons. Check the access situation again before visiting.

Pond: Swimming, Water Play and Fishing

The Étang de Haspelschiedt has a well-equipped inflatable water play structure for family outings and leisure activities with friends. Swimming is supervised in July and August. If you are planning your visit around the supervised swimming, check the operator’s notices beforehand.

A list published in 2025 by ARS Grand Est rates the Étang d’Haspelschiedt as having excellent bathing water quality. This is based on classifications for 2022 to 2024; bathing water classifications can change. The information therefore describes the published rating and is not a guarantee for subsequent years.

Fishing is also possible at the Étang de pêche de Haspelschiedt. Half-day permits costing six euros are sold directly at the pond from a vending machine. Weekly and annual permits are available at the campsite reception. The different types of permits and points of sale are useful if you are planning a short fishing trip or a longer stay by the water.

Church, Chapel and Wayside Cross

The parish church of Saint-Nicolas was rebuilt from 1869 to 1874 to plans by Desgranges, an architect from Sarreguemines. It was restored from 1947 to 1953 and replaced an older chapel in the cemetery. Its architecture features a basilica-style floor plan, a transept integrated into the main structure and a polygonal chancel. The bell tower projects from the façade. These features give the church a distinct character within the history of the village.

The Chapelle Saint-Wendelin is on Chemin d’Hanviller. It was rebuilt in the third quarter of the 20th century, probably on the site of an older chapel. The uncertainty about the earlier site is part of the building’s history. The Croix Keller, also locally known as the Keller Cross, stands at the edge of the village’s main street. It was erected in 1758 and restored in 1863.

Haspelschiedt’s attractions range from a circular hike whose duration is easy to plan for to buildings with several layers of history. If you are planning your stay around specific interests, you can focus on the hike’s duration, seasonal supervised swimming or local history.

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Go to the main travel overview: Moselle.