It has no equal to capture and reflect the light, its colour palette varies as the sun travels the sky. A true emblem of the Massif des Vosges, grès rose, pink sandstone, is an inherent feature of the landscape, whether in its raw form or worked by the hand of man. We shine the spotlight on the rock star of the Vosges mountains.
Colorado
The Altschlossfelsen, reached via the small village of Roppeviller in the Pays de Bitche, forms a rocky seam of some 1500m which has earned it the nickname: the Little Colorado of the Vosges. It’s impossible to weary of the glowing shades of the rock, it’s a true little miracle of nature.
Don’t be fooled by the rosy reflections that make the Château du Haut-Koenigsbourg look like a fairy tale. This is a veritable mountain fortress. We think the artistic director of "Lord of the Rings" would be inspired by elements of décor here.
Sacred stones
The spiritual centre of Alsace will delight lovers of nature and ancient stone. A great place to start is the enigmatic Mur Païen (Pagan Wall), an impressive 11km enclosure created from massive blocks of sandstone. This sanctuary makes for a great hiking destination thanks to the many marked trails that surround it.
The two steeples soaring over the top of the trees belong to the Cathedral of Saint-Die-des-Vosges, built entirely of the characteristic sandstone of the Vosges. This historic monument, one of the masterpieces of sacred art in the territory, reflects the distinctive styles of the many centuries that have passed since it was founded.
Citadel of Belfort
Nine centuries of history are before us at this citadel carved in pink sandstone rock. Perched at an impressive height of 338m, the castle offers a panoramic view over the Regional Nature Park of northern Vosges. It’s a perfect playground for children who can explore the castle and discover its animations and discovery areas.
Inseparable from the identity of Belfort, this citadel and its fortifications, attributed to Louis XIV’s great military engineer Vauban, are the result of several centuries of architectural evolution. There is a giant Lion, 22m high, sculpted on the side of the citadel by the Colmar-born artist Bartholdi, to whom we owe the creation of the Statue of Liberty.
Wow factor view point
Both nature and the hand of man created the wonders at Dabo. Here you’ll discover a block of pink sandstone shaped more than 200 million years ago by the elements, which today serves as a promontory for a chapel built of the same rock. From this majestic monument, dedicated to Pope Leo IX, and whose peak reaches 664m, you’ll have unparalleled views over the plateau of Lorraine and the Vosges – it is quite simply, breath-taking.
Find out more: Organise your stay in the Massif des Vosges
By The editor
The editorial staff of France.fr follows the trends and news of destinations to bring you stories from France that reveal its innovations and traditions that make you long to (re) discover its territories.
