The hike starts at the Thann-Cernay tourist office and the Porte de Thann in Cernay.
Clear, spacious, educational, the Museum of the Porte de Thann occupies part of a medieval gate, integrated in the 13th century into the fortified city walls, and classified as a historical monument. It displays local historical and cultural heritage in 4 rooms.
You will also discover the greenway of the Thur and its biotope. At Vieux-Thann you reach the foothill hills and the vineyard of cote 425.
Along the Cernay road, at the entrance to Steinbach and near the stream called "Erzenbach", stands a chapel recalling the memory of a vanished settlement, Birlingen, and a pilgrimage once quite well known. Today the chapel is on the North-South Way of St. James.
Author’s recommendation
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.
Track types
Show elevation profileRest stops
Restaurant Au RenardRestaurant Aux Sapins
Restaurant Du Parc
Safety information
Before setting off:
Check the general and local weather ensuring no precipitation
- Get information about the approach hike, altitude, duration, possible escape routes (IGN map, GPS, guidebook, etc.)
- Assess possible risks by consulting mountain professionals, shelters, lodges
- Inform a close person about your plan and update them in case of change: departure and return times, number of participants with phone numbers, vehicle(s), parking
- Avoid going alone, use equipment suitable for the activity, adjusted and in good condition, headlamp, complete first aid kit, survival blanket, etc.
In case of emergency
Alert: call 112 (European emergency number)
5 key points to give in the alert:
- Where? town, place, route, altitude
- Who? identity, phone number
- What? type of accident, number of victims, severity, fall dynamics
- When? time of accident
- Weather? wind, visibility
Tips and suggestions
https://www.clubvosgiencernay.fr/
Address: 1 rue Latouche 68700 CERNAY
Phone: 0389399541
Email address: cvcernay@yahoo.fr
Roadbook
Cernay Museum of the Porte de Thann
In Cernay, follow the signs for the Tourist Office and the Museum of the Porte de Thann. Free parking is available next to the Museum.
Biotope of the Thur
Go down Georges Risler street for 300 meters along the schools, then pass behind the Espace Grün and cross the footbridge over the Thur. Continue to the right following the green signposted chevalet until the skatepark in Cernay.
Bridge over the Thur at Vieux Thann
Continue left along the green chevalet marked path, following the biotope of the Thur for 3.4 kilometers until the bridge at Vieux-Thann.
Vineyard of Cote 425 in Steinbach - Birlingen chapel
At the bridge, continue right still following the green chevalet markings. At the crossroads, continue left for 300 meters, cross the road and climb the valley. After 350 meters take the path to the right marked with a red triangle towards Steinbach. Upon reaching the path, continue left and follow the vineyard trail marked with a red ring for 2.4 kilometers.
Return to Cernay
At the chapel, cross the road, continue towards Uffholtz following the red triangle markings, climb the fairly steep path, then continue along Schlaegling street, after 350 meters descend Montagnes street following the blue cross markings back to Cernay, the starting point of the hike.
Cernay
Restaurant Au Renard
Restaurant Aux Sapins
Restaurant Du Parc
Piscine
Office de Tourisme de Thann-Cernay - Bureau de Thann
La Porte Sud de la Route des Vins d'Alsace
Musée des Amis de Thann
Musée de la Société d'histoire : Les Amis de Thann
Oratoire Ifiss
Chapelle Birlingen
Les amis du Hartmannswillerkopf
Public transport
You can reach Cernay by train via the Mulhouse-Kruth line. To reach the start of the hike, head towards the town center and the Thann Cernay tourist office.
Get Timetable to destination
Directions
Cernay is located west of Mulhouse and east of Thann. It can be accessed via the RN66 or the D83Parking
Parking at the Porte de Thann 1 rue du Repos 68700 CERNAYCoordinates
Equipment
- Clothing suitable for the season and conditions (cold, hot, wet…)
- Hiking shoes appropriate for the terrain (even for children!)
- Hiking poles (useful for stability and joint relief)
- Mobile phone and spare battery
IN THE BACKPACK
Each person their own bag: 20 liters for half a day, about 30 liters for a full day, but no more than 10–15% of the carrier's weight
- Prepare protection against rain (cape, umbrella…), cold (fleece, hat, gloves, lip protection…), sun (sunscreen, hat…)
- Garbage bag (to bring everything back home!)
- Tissues, toilet paper
- Knife
- First aid kit
- Survival blanket
- Water bottle, some cereal bars
THE “EXTRAS”
Compass and/or hiking GPS
- Camera or binoculars
- Headlamp or flashlight
- Whistle (to alert other group members)
- Fluorescent yellow vest (if it is necessary to walk alongside a road)
THE HIKER BEHAVES RESPONSIBLY
He respects:
Nature and the environment, fauna, flora, biodiversity
- Protected areas (national parks, nature reserves, etc.)
- Visited sites
- Other hikers
- Other forest users
- Basic safety rules
- In groups, the guide’s instructions
- Public or private landowners and their property: closing fences and gates after passing
- Taking their waste with them
- Preserving sites and trails
- Reporting any trail damage by signaling anomalies via the Club Vosgien form
- Favoring public transport and carpooling
Localization
Derived from the technical difficulty and the stamina requirements.

User Questions