Discover Bitschwiller-Lès-Thann

If you are looking for a hotel for a stay in Bitschwiller-Lès-Thann, specific day plans can help you narrow down your choice of destination: hiking in the Thur Valley, viewpoints, or church and industrial history. The trails vary in distance and elevation gain; there are also distinct landscapes to explore and cultural stops to visit. Before searching, you can consider whether mountain hikes, a loop trail or local history should be the focus of your trip.

Hiking: compare distance and elevation gain

The “Circuit des 2 Vallons” is a local loop trail about 4.5 km long. Created with the support of the Club Vosgien de Thann, it connects the trail along the Kerlenbach with the trail along the Allenbourn. The starting point is at a car park near the large bend on Rue Joffre, beyond the small Kerlenbach bridge. You can therefore factor the loop into your itinerary based on its length and starting point.

A longer option is the “À la rencontre des chamois” hike, maintained by the Club Vosgien in Bitschwiller-Lès-Thann: it covers 13.5 km with 564 m of elevation gain. Compared with the loop trail, this is a significantly longer route with a specified elevation gain. Hiking trails starting in Bitschwiller-Lès-Thann also make mountain hikes possible on both sides of the Thur Valley and lead to remarkable viewpoints. This gives you both a specific loop route and mountain hikes with different distances to consider when planning.

Landscapes with specific details

The high pastures of the Massif du Rossberg offer views over the Thur and Doller valleys. The massif is also home to the Vogelsteine, at an elevation of 1,165 m. They are of volcanic origin and support delicate cliff flora. The Massif du Rossberg can be reached on foot all year round. There is a restaurant on site, as well as catering options for groups; if you are planning to stop for a meal, check current availability.

The Ferme du Thannerhubel offers a different landscape: it lies at an elevation of 1,030 m, overlooks the Thur Valley and offers a panorama of the Massif du Grand Ballon. At the Ferme-Auberge du Thannerhubel, the “Entre les alignements de pierres” hike takes about 1 hour and 15 minutes, with an elevation gain of 165 m. If you want to compare trails, you can find a route here with a stated duration and less elevation gain, alongside the longer 13.5 km hike.

Church, industrial history and local memory

Construction of the church in Bitschwiller-Lès-Thann began in 1838; the church dates from 1839 and is dedicated to Saint Alphonse. It is known for its Callinet organs, which can be heard at concerts in August. The concert programme may vary, so check the specific dates before your trip.

The town’s industrial history is another theme to explore. Bitschwiller-Lès-Thann was known for locomotive manufacturing in connection with the year 1836. The steam whistle known as “Dampf’pfifla” was invented here. Route Joffre connects Bitschwiller-Lès-Thann with Masevaux; it was built in 1915 to supply French troops on the front line. The Berthold memorial commemorates a local resident who was involved in clearing mines from the Second World War.

A more recent event adds to this picture: the third edition of “Noël au Village” included a Christmas market on 7 and 8 December 2024, with stalls full of handcrafted creations.

Discover more destinations

Discover more destinations: Mooslargue, Ammerzwiller, Riquewihr, Village-Neuf, Luttenbach-près-Munster, Wattwiller, Pfaffenheim, Sausheim.

Back to the regional travel overview: Haut-Rhin.