Odilienberg – Maennelstein – Highest Points on the Heidenmauer Loop Trail

The southern route of the Heidenmauer Loop Trail on Odilienberg leads from the monastery to the highest part of the Odilienberg massif, featuring the Maennelstein with its panoramic views. From the parking lot, the trail leads to the gate of the former Odilien Convent 01; above the gate’s arch, in a niche, stands a small modern statue of the founder flanked by a band of Latin inscriptions: Hic sta floruit et semper regnat Odilia praesul Alsatiae Mater – here Abbess Odilia, the Mother of Alsace, flourished and reigns forever. In her right hand she holds the abbess’s staff; in her left, an open book bearing her distinctive emblem—a pair of eyes symbolizing light and sight. The shell motif above the statue’s head indicates that the Odilienberg lies along the Way of St. James. From the monastery gate, the path leads eastward down the steps and, at the first fork, turns right, following the base of a red sandstone cliff up to 5 meters high. The rocks once bore large-scale mosaics depicting the Stations of the Cross, created in 1935 by the Alsatian sculptor Léon Elchinger, the father of Léon-Arthur Elchinger, who later became Bishop of Strasbourg. Between the Stations of the Cross rocks and the steep slope covered with a beech forest, the path leads to the fork at the Odilia’s Forest Rest Chapel (Chapelle des Roches 02) at the lower gate of the monastery cliff; On the summit plateau, between the Heidenmauer Loop Trail and the parking lot, benches invite visitors to linger and enjoy the view. According to legend, Odilia used to rest on this rock when she returned from the Niedermünster Monastery to the Hohenburg Monastery.From the Chapelle des Roches, the loop trail follows a root-strewn path to the legendary Beckenfels; on the summit of the higher rock is a water-filled “basin.”The smaller of the two rocks—covered in lemon-yellow lichen and weathered into a “wool sack” shape—rests as if on two legs above a cavity in the overhanging rock. The rounded-edged “wool sack” weathering—known in French as “pudding” weathering—is so striking here that it looks as if thick individual rock slabs were stacked one on top of the other like “wool sacks.” Local lore interprets the rounded boulders neither as “wool sacks” nor as “pudding,” but rather as slices of bread, which is why the second name for this rock massif is “Bäckerfelsen” (Baker’s Rock).From the Beckenfels, the loop trail continues through the forest to the scenic Hangenstein Rocher du Panorama 03, where a bench offers a view over Saint-Nabor, Ottrott, and Bœrsch to the Bischenberg, on to Obernai, and all the way to the Black Forest. Along the Heidenmauer, the trail continues along the edge of the steep slope to the Maennelstein 04, which features a panoramic orientation sign and a shelter. The highest rock of the Heidenmauer offers a breathtaking view across Alsace and the Rhine Valley all the way to the Black Forest and, on a clear day, as far as the Alps.From the Maennelstein, the trail continues along the Heidenmauer at the edge of the Bloss cliff in the forest to the Schaftstein 05, which drops vertically and overhangs for 15 meters; this rock outcrop, which drops vertically and overhangs for 15 meters, has been integrated into the Heidenmauer. Below it, outside the Heidenmauer, stands the Rocher du Wachtstein, towering 10 meters high. The Schaftstein and Wachtstein are believed to have served as observation points, functioning as natural watchtowers. The loop trail, however, passes the turnoff to the signposted Airbus crash site and continues to the dolmen Grotte des Druides 06. A forest path now descends toward the road and, beyond it, reaches the Gallo-Roman Barr Gate (Porte Zumstein 07). The Barr Gate is a chamber gate oriented south-north that provided access to the southern camp in the southwestern part of the Heidenmauer. It was excavated in 1968 by Hans Zumstein and partially reconstructed in 1991. The passageway-like gate chamber was seven meters long and is flanked by two stone walls approximately one and a half meters thick. At just over two and a half meters, the gate opening was wide enough for carts to pass through. The Barr Gate was likely built during the Gallo-Roman period. From the Barr Gate, the loop trail follows a forest path to Merovingian graves and to the Lower Parking Lot 08, where the northern Heidenmauer loop trail begins, while we hike back to the junction at Odilia’s Forest Rest Area, Chapelle des Roches 02, and to the starting point in front of the Odilia Convent 01 .