The best road cycling routes around Hirtzbach

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

The Altkirch Town Hall stands on the Place de la République in the center of the historic old town. The representative building was erected in 1778/1780 according to the plans of the Swabian architect and surveyor Jean Nissler. The construction work was supervised by the royal engineer Meinrad Stroltz. In contrast, an attribution to the later General Jean-Baptiste Kléber, which was previously widespread, is considered unproven. The building originally had several functions. It simultaneously housed the town court, the court of the bailiwick (Bailliage), and the meeting place of the town council. Thus, the town hall was not only an administrative building but also an important center of public life in Altkirch. Particularly striking is the elaborately designed neoclassical facade. Above the central section is a triangular gable with the coat of arms of the town of Altkirch. The wrought-iron balcony on the first floor also bears the town's coat of arms. The three stone consoles under the balcony show two rampant lions and, in the center, a blindfolded woman. She symbolizes justice – a reference to the building's original function as a court. Another special feature is located above the balcony: the keystone of the window bears the year 1870. A characteristic curved roof turret also rises above the building. The facade and roof of the town hall have been listed as historical monuments since 1937. This makes the building one of Altkirch's significant historical structures and an illustrative example of public architecture from the late 18th century in the Sundgau region. Address: Place de la République, 68130 Altkirch. Further information: Town of Altkirch – History of the Town Hall

At the gate, a so-called Borne Vauthier can be seen in the middle. These memorial stones mark the course of the Western Front in World War I and, in particular, the position that German troops had reached on July 18, 1918 – the furthest extent of their advance at that time. The stones are named after the French sculptor and former soldier Paul Moreau-Vauthier. A total of 118 such Bornes were created between 1921 and 1927: 96 in France and 22 in Belgium. Originally, significantly more locations were planned. The stones were erected along a front line from the Belgian coast to the Franco-Swiss border. The monoliths, about one meter high, are mostly made of pink granite. On their top, there is a soldier's helmet on a laurel wreath. The sides depict typical soldier's equipment, including a gas mask, a canteen, and hand grenades. Many stones bear the inscription “Ici fut repoussé l’envahisseur 1918” – “Here the invader was repulsed in 1918”. The Bornes Vauthier are therefore not only monuments but also historical landmarks: they make the former front line visible in the terrain and commemorate the battles of 1918. However, it is important to note that they are not located exactly on the former front line everywhere, as some stones were moved for practical reasons, for example, to roads or intersections.

Unlike the Blochmont, which crosses the same ridge just a little further on, this road from Wolschwiller is considerably more challenging. After a gentle start, the route climbs relatively steeply through the narrow valley. A stream flows to the right, while beautiful rock formations are often visible to the left. At the top, near the unmistakable 'Lange Matte' (Long Meadow), the terrain levels out again, and soon you're at the top.

Without any car traffic, the cycle path leads over gentle hills from Carspach to Ballersdorf, passing some exciting places such as the model airfield and the fish pond.

The former Altkirch-Waldighofen railway line has been converted into a cycle path in some sections, leading through fields and forests without disturbing car traffic. Highly recommended!

Every lock along the route provides for an unusual background and a good memory of your bike trip. A lot of these locks have a bridge going over them, take the time to branch off the bridge and discover some of the nice villages along the canal.

The French and European National Cycleway is a great cycleway winding along side of the Rhine Rhone Canal with very little climbing, for those who do not like to climb. However those who are climbing shy, must be aware of the wind in this area. A lot of the locks still have the former lock man’s house which adds a bit of charm to every lock. One is never alone on this route as there is a constant passing of bicycles, both leisure and racing bikes.