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France

Great East

Épinal

Saint-Maurice-Sur-Moselle

Ballon d'Alsace – Ballon d'Alsace loop from Col du Ballon d'Alsace

Routes

Mountain hikes & routes

France

Great East

Épinal

Saint-Maurice-Sur-Moselle

Ballon d'Alsace – Ballon d'Alsace loop from Col du Ballon d'Alsace

Easy

4.5

(2)

hikers

Ballon d'Alsace – Ballon d'Alsace loop from Col du Ballon d'Alsace

00:51

2.92km

70m

Mountaineering

Easy mountaineering route. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels. The starting point of the route is accessible with public transport.

Last updated: May 28, 2026

Tips

Your route passes through a protected area

Please check local regulations for:

Parc naturel régional des Ballons des Vosges

Waypoints

Start point

Bus stop

Get Directions

102 m

Borne René Pottier

Highlight • Other

René Pottier was the first to cross the Ballon d'Alsace in the Tour de France in 1905 (supposedly at an average speed of 20 km/h) and thus became cycling's first unofficial mountain king. In his honor, a stone with an inscription and his photo was placed at the top of the Ballon d'Alsace pass. However, in 1905 he did not win the stage over the mountain or the Tour de France itself - he had to retire due to an injury. In 1906 René came back, was first at the top of the pass again and was then also at the front in Paris. In his Tour victory he also won five stages, four of them in a row. Perhaps he could have repeated his success more times. In January 1907, just six months after his Tour triumph, Pottier took his own life by hanging himself in the garage of the bicycle factory whose bikes he rode. Employees found him hanging on the hook where his bike used to hang. Lovesickness was assumed to be the reason. He was 27 years old.

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166 m

Deminers' Memorial

Highlight • Monument

This monument called the Projected Man pays tribute to all the deminers who died for France during the Second World War. More than 600 men sacrificed themselves to detect and disarm the mines laid by the Germans.

This sculpture, awarded at the Brussels Biennial, is the work of the architect Deschler and the sculptor Rivière.

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763 m

Statue of Joan of Arc at the Ballon d'Alsace

Highlight • Monument

Joan of Arc on horseback - very nice statue - with a view over the summit of the Ballon d'Alsace, there are also a few stone blocks to rest on

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1.07 km

Ballon d'Alsace Discovery Trail

Highlight • Trail

The Ballon d'Alsace discovery trail is a must. For its panoramic views but also to get to know the place better. A dozen reading tables line the path to draw up the site's identity card: climate, history, ecology, culture, tradition. You will know everything!

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1.20 km

View of the Ballon d'Alsace

Highlight • Viewpoint

Magnificent panorama of the Vosges mountain range from the viewpoint on the Ballon d'Alsace.

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1.66 km

Ballon d'Alsace

Highlight • Summit

If you do not like to go for long hikes, you have the opportunity to walk from the car park and enjoy the wonderful view from the top. The "climb" is also not very difficult, so you should avoid coming at the weekend, as it is then very crowded.

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2.32 km

Ballon d'Alsace Inn

Highlight • Restaurant

When you are at the top of the Ballon d'Alsace, the view is your first reward. The Auberge du Ballon d'Alsace is the second. With its traditional dishes, its panoramic terrace, and its friendliness you will be well. Ideal place for a gourmet break.

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2.82 km

Ballon d'Alsace

Highlight • Natural Monument

Here René Pottier conquered the first pass of the Tour de France on July 11, 1905. The Ballon d'Alsace then remained unrivaled for five years - until the much harder passes in the Pyrenees were discovered.

At 1,247 meters, the pass is by no means the highest in the Vosges and today no one would include it on the list of important passes - but there is still a certain magic about it.

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2.92 km

End point

Bus stop

Way Types & Surfaces

Way Types

1.87 km

791 m

199 m

< 100 m

Surfaces

2.29 km

303 m

167 m

146 m

Elevation

Nothing selected – click and drag below to see the stats for a specific part of the route.

Weather

Thursday 28 May

27°C

13°C

0 %

Additional weather tips

Max wind speed: 8.0 km/h

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Our route recommendations are based on thousands of hikes, rides, and runs completed by other people on komoot.

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Ballon d'Alsace – Ballon d'Alsace loop from Col du Ballon d'Alsace

Borne René Pottier

Deminers' Memorial

Statue of Joan of Arc at the Ballon d'Alsace

Ballon d'Alsace Discovery Trail

View of the Ballon d'Alsace

Ballon d'Alsace

Ballon d'Alsace Inn

Ballon d'Alsace

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