The best road cycling routes around Staffelfelden

Altkirch Altkirch is the historic capital of the Sundgau and lies on a striking rocky spur above the valley of the Ill. The town's origins date back to the Middle Ages. The Counts of Ferrette built Altkirch into a fortified town; from 1215 onwards, it was protected by town walls and towers. The characteristic layout, narrow streets, and remnants of the fortifications have been preserved from this medieval town plan to this day. Particularly worth seeing is the Vieille Porte, a former town gate from around 1245. For centuries, Altkirch was an important administrative and commercial center of the Sundgau. After the destructions of the Thirty Years' War, numerous buildings were newly erected. The representative town hall dates from the 18th century, built in 1778 according to plans by the Swabian architect Jean Nissler. In the 19th century, the town continued to develop: alongside its traditional importance as a market and trading place, industrial enterprises emerged, including the well-known Gilardoni brickworks. The 20th century also left its mark. After the First World War, Altkirch became part of the re-Frenchified Alsace. The memory of this period is evident, among other things, at the Vieille Porte, where a Borne Vauthier commemorates the former front line of 1918. The original Altkirch war memorial from 1927 was destroyed during the German occupation in the Second World War; preserved parts were later integrated into a new memorial. Today, Altkirch, with around 6,000 inhabitants, is an important center of the Sundgau. The historic upper town with its old houses, remnants of fortifications, the town hall, and the Sundgau Museum continues to shape the townscape. Source: Ville d’Altkirch – History of the town

Cyclists completely sheltered from cars. Bleak landscape.

The cycle path from Eguisheim to Wettolsheim is on the Euro Vélo 5 (EV 5) route, as well as on the Véloroute Vignoble VV11. It runs parallel to the departmental road D83. In the village of Eguisheim, it is best to take the outer ring on the D514, the Rue du Traminer, until the dead-end street on the right, the Rue de Colmar, which you turn into. You continue straight ahead and are now on the EV5 or VV11. The path is well signposted. If after a short distance you see the Antonine Stoffel winery on your left, you are on the right track. Shortly after, you leave Eguisheim and the cycle path climbs slightly over a vineyard. On the descent, continue straight ahead, and you will already see Wettolsheim.

It's just a gentle up and down. And all of this on a main road, but it's still somehow nice to roll along like that...

In Eguisheim, there are information boards in many places where you can read about the history of the buildings.

This excellent cycleway is a great way to avoid the heavy traffic on the road.

This separated cycleway between Wittelsheim and Staffelfelden is a great way to avoid the heavy traffic on the road.

The VV221 cycle route is part of the EuroVélo 5 network and begins in Ensisheim at the Thur bridge and ends in Cernay after about 17 km. The route initially runs alongside the road, then past ponds and finally through a wooded area. It runs alongside the Thur and passes the Alsatian Ecomuseum (another route leads to Ungersheim via the Petit Prince Park). The Green Route then winds along the Thur, passing Pulversheim, Staffelfelden, and Wittelsheim, and finally reaches Cernay, still along the Thur.