Alsace Balloon Menu Digital Information PointsMunsterThe Park Certification LabelPark HousesSchlucht passAlsace BalloonOpening HoursThe Ballon d’Alsace: a massif that fosters encounters Nature ActivitiesWalks and Hikes‘Operation Grand Site’ at the Ballon d’AlsaceHaut-du-Them/Château-LambertGrand BallonGetting aroundBy Train or BusBy CarBy FootCyclingTourist OfficesPublicationsDiscovery MapContacting the ParkThe Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park houses several reception areas to communicate with inhabitants and visitors alike, to raise their awareness, and to be understood by them. These are wonderful dynamic and open starting points to explore the Southern Vosges Mountains. They provide specific documentation and propose assorted temporary exhibitions.Ballon d’Alsace’ OfficeCLOSEDLocated 1,171 m in altitude, the Tourist Office provides useful information on the Ballon d’Alsace and its valleys. Exhibitions and guided walks are organised by the Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park in partnership with ‘Belfort Tourisme’, the ‘Département du Territoire de Belfort’, the ‘Syndicat Mixte Interdépartemental du Ballon d’Alsace’, and the tourist offices of the communities of communes of the Doller valley, the Vosges du Sud, and the Ballons des Hautes-Vosges. On the ground floor, sanitary facilities and a picnic room are usually open all year round, from 9 am to 5 pm. Designed for hikers and walkers, the site provides a water access point, a hot drinks dispenser, and lockers for your comfort; therefore, please keep it clean at all times.Opening HoursOpen daily fromSundays June 18 and 25, July 2 and September 10 and 17 daily from July 8 to September 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 1:30 p.m. to 5:30 p.m.ClosedThe Ballon d’Alsace: a massif that fosters encountersThe Ballon d’Alsace fosters encounters in more ways than one; indeed, it is a natural point of convergence for both mankind and nature.Territorial encounters From the high stubble summit, hikers enjoy a breathtaking panoramic vista of two regions and four departments. The Bourgogne Franche-Comté and Grand Est regions as well as the Territoire de Belfort and Haute-Saône, the Haut-Rhin, and the Vosges. The multifarious Ballon d’Alsace grounds mark the start of the Vosges foothills that owe their round shape to the erosion of the Quaternary era glaciations.Encounters of all kinds The Ballon d’Alsace is in the direct path of eastern and ocean winds. Akin to an isolated mountainous island, its climate and granite soil have favoured the plant species that make up its strikingly diverse and multifaceted landscapes such as the beech forest at the summit where only the gnarly beech trees survive, and the mixed woods of the ravines and scree slopes.Cultural encounters Situated between the Jura and Vosges mountains, the ‘Trouée de Belfort’ became a natural migration corridor trodden by the peoples who colonised the Ballon d’Alsace. Over the centuries, different peoples came to the Ballon d’Alsace, land of cultural diversity, to work in the mines, spinning mills, and other local weaving workshops located in its three valleys: the ‘Doller’, the ‘Savoureuse’, and the ‘Moselle’.Nature ActivitiesNature and outdoors lovers, welcome to the Ballon d’Alsace nestled in the Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park! The perfect natural setting to get moving… or simply contemplate the surrounding beauty.You are now in the heart of the Hautes-Vosges, and you can’t wait to immerse yourself in the breathtaking landscapes. Walking, on horseback, cycling, skiing, snowshoeing, you can explore the natural environment whichever way you like, but always with respect.Highly popular and very accessible, these environments endure harsh weather conditions and hordes of visitors. The Ballons des Vosges Park invites you to follow a few simple, common-sense rules to ensure its exceptional albeit fragile natural territories continue to enchant us all for many years to come:Remain polite with everyone;Respect the fauna’s peace and quiet;Pick only a reasonable amount of plants;Remain on identified trails;Leave no trace of your passage;Respect regulations in protected areas.Discover the Ballon d’Alsace activitiesWalks and HikesNear the Maison du Tourisme (Tourist House), the ‘parking des démineurs’ and the monument called ‘L’homme projeté’ are the starting point for numerous hiking trails, in particular the ‘balade des points de vue’ (viewpoint walk) and the ‘sentier découverte’ (discovery trail), a one-hour walk accessible to all to discover the massif and reach the peak culminating at 1,247 m.> More information‘Operation Grand Site’ at the Ballon d’AlsaceThe ‘Operation Grand Site’ is the preliminary step to becoming certified with the ‘Grand Site de France’ label. It involves setting up a territorial project in consultation with the local authorities, professional social & community players, and inhabitants. In France, there are 20 ‘Grands Sites de France’. The Massif du Ballon d’Alsace is currently the first ‘Grand Site’ in the ‘Grand Est’ region.What is the purpose of an ‘Operation Grand Site’?This State-initiated endeavour is designed for local authorities that host renowned, listed sites that attract many visitors. This approach aims to preserve the natural, cultural, and scenic heritage of the site, to restore fragile landscapes, to welcome visitors while respecting local populations and the ‘spirit’ of the place, to schedule visitor numbers, and to foster the cultural and economic development of the area.The relevant Ballon d’Alsace areaIn February 2016, an ‘Opération Grand Site’ was officially launched on the Ballon d’Alsace massif across the Rouge-Gazon, the Ballon d’Alsace, the Ballon de Servance, and the Planche des Belles-Filles. This emblematic site nestled in the Park’s southern territory boasts remarkable natural, cultural, and scenic features. It is located at the crossroads of four departments (Haut-Rhin, Haute-Saône, Territoire de Belfort, and Vosges) and two large regions (Grand Est and Bourgogne-Franche-Comté).The Ballons des Vosges Regional Natural Park is in charge of managing this project.PartnershipsThis initiative is financially supported by the:‘Commissariat à l’Aménagement du Massif des Vosges’ (Massif des Vosges planning commission)Region Bourgogne-Franche-ComtéFEDERDREAL Grand Est and Bourgogne Franche-Comté‘Réseau des Grands Sites de France’ (Grand Sites of France network)Please Contact:Anne Kleindienst, Directrice adjointe en charge de l’Opération Grand Site du Ballon d’Alsace Tél. : 03 89 77 90 20 contact.ogs@parc-ballons-vosges.fr