The best road cycling routes around Thann

Of the three sides of the Ballon d'Alsace, this is clearly the most difficult (the only one with gradients of 9-10%)... but it is certainly the most beautiful! The hairpin bends at the start of the climb before the Alfeld lake are sublime. The road then evolves along the mountainside, unfortunately no more hairpin bends, this section can seem long for some, the gradient remains between 8 and 9%. It decreases when you reach the Langenberg... you have done the difficult part, there are still 4 km to the top. After that, there is a mix of flat sections and climbs with a natural clearing 1 km from the top, from where you have a panoramic view of the valley.

The Col du Hunsrück (748 m) is a quiet and wooded pass above Willer-sur-Thur. The steady climb and beautiful nature make this a pleasant classic in the southern Vosges, with connections to both the Thur and Dollervallei valleys.

When you drive from the Route des Crêtes towards Le Grand Ballon, you pass the Col du Haag (1233 m) almost unnoticed. Yet, this pass marks a special point on the southern flank of the highest mountain in the Vosges. Here, steep roads from the Thurdal leave the wooded slopes and reach the open heights of the massif. From the col, a typical Vosges landscape unfolds with mountain meadows, scattered farms, and sweeping views. The proximity of the Grand Ballon is felt everywhere: the imposing summit towers above the pass and forms the natural goal of the final climbing kilometers. For cyclists, the Col du Haag is mainly known as the point where difficult climbs from the valleys converge before the road continues to rise to the highest point of the Vosges.

Le Markstein (1184 m) is meer dan alleen een kruispunt op de Route des Crêtes. Het is echter een echte bergpas en het hoogste punt van de oversteek tussen het Lauch- en Thurdal. Het ligt in het hart van het Vogezenmassief, midden een populair wintersportgebied dat nauw verbonden is met de Grand Ballon

There are no restaurants or cafes at the summit of the Col de Bramont itself. However, the pass serves as a strategic junction. From the summit, you can directly connect to the famous Route des Crêtes (the D431), which links the main mountain peaks of the Vosges. This allows you to easily cycle or hike to larger attractions nearby, such as the Col de la Schlucht, the Hohneck, or the Grand Ballon. The climb is enjoyable due to its 12 hairpin bends on the southern flank (Kruth).

The climb starts relatively calmly; the first 4.5 kilometers hardly show any significant incline, while the road runs slightly undulating along the Lac de Kruth-Wildenstein reservoir. Only after that does the real climbing work begin over a distance of about 3.5 to 4 kilometers. From that moment on, the road winds its way up via 12 characteristic hairpin bends. The gradient during this section is very constant and fluctuates almost continuously around 5 to 6%, making the climb ideal for finding a steady rhythm. The road is well-asphalted and leads entirely through a dense pine forest. This allows you to cycle delightfully in the shade, although due to the dense vegetation at the top and during the climb, there are few sweeping views of the valley. Once at the top (955m), you can descend directly to the north side towards La Bresse or join the well-known Route des Crêtes to extend the ride to, for example, the Col de la Schlucht or the Grand Ballon.

Stuwdam Lac de Kruth‑Wildenstein View over the quiet mountain lake on one side, and on the other side the steep, wooded rock face of the Thur valley.

Brilliant ascent to the pass relatively quiet with a pleasant gradient