The Vosges Mountains are not the Alps. And that's exactly why you should go there. No dizzying cols with stone chippings and motorhome jams, but rolling balloons, quiet forests and roads where you can hear yourself breathe. Here you cycle across the crossroads of Alsace and Lorraine, with views of the Rhine plain at the top of the Grand Ballon and sometimes - if you are lucky - of Mont Blanc, somewhere far to the south.
The Vosges Mountains feel at once French and German, mysterious and inviting. It is the setting for Tour stories and early holiday memories. But above all: it is a place where you go on an adventure as a cyclist. Without the feeling of getting caught up in a peloton of e-bikes.
The Vosges Mountains are a low mountain range with character. The peaks are up to 1,300 metres high, the climbs are often long but doable, and the landscape alternates between dense pine forests, open mountain pastures (chaumes) and sometimes stunning panoramic views. The mountain range runs from north to south over some 250 kilometres, with the famous cols of the Route des Crêtes at its heart. This 'summit route' is one that ticks off all the climbs, with a nice historical note. Once a military strategic route, it is now one that just makes your mouth water.
The region is uncluttered yet varied. Whereas the west is greener and more humid, the east - towards Alsace - is sunnier and drier. You notice this immediately: vines give way to dark firs, half-timbered houses to granite farmhouses.
The southern Vosges Mountains are the most popular among cyclists. Around Gérardmer, La Bresse and Munster (not to be confused with Münster in Germany) are the most famous cols, most beautiful mountain lakes and the Route des Crêtes. This area is also best provided with cycling-friendly accommodation, routes, catering and signposting.
Recommended:
La Bresse: direct access to Grand Ballon and Col de la Vierge
Gérardmer: bustling place on a lake, central location. Often also a finishing place in the Tour de France. Just ask Pieter Weening.
Thann and Saint-Amarin: ideal base for Grand Ballon from the south and Ballon d'Alsace.
Accessibility
By car: 6 to 8 hours' drive from the Netherlands
By train: via Colmar or Mulhouse
Nearest airport: EuroAirport Basel-Mulhouse
Stay
Gîtes, hotels and campsites in La Bresse, Gérardmer and Munster are often equipped for cyclists.
Food & drink
Expect Alsatian hospitality: Flammkuchen, Munsterkaas, berries, hearty mountain dishes and excellent wine - although that doesn't always drive you faster.
Tourist centre with direct access to forests, lakes and cols
Gérardmer is located in the heart of the northern part of the Vosges Mountains, on the edge of a beautiful lake. It is the region's most famous destination - popular with tourists and cyclists alike. You are close to the Col de la Schlucht, Col de Grosse Pierre and access to the Route des Crêtes here.
Why here?
Central location for trips to the north and east
Lots of variety: forests, viewpoints, long and short climbs
Good facilities: cycle hire, catering, gîtes, sports shops
Note: July and August are busier here than elsewhere. Looking for peace and quiet? Then opt for a stay just outside the city centre (e.g. in Xonrupt-Longemer).
Sports base on the Route des Crêtes
Located just south of Gérardmer, La Bresse is smaller, quieter and more focused on outdoor sports. The village is sandwiched between forests and mountainsides, with direct access to cols such as the Col de Bramont, Col de la Bresse and the climb towards Le Hohneck and Le Markstein. Gravel routes leave almost directly behind your accommodation.
Why here?
Compact village, ideal for cyclists and gravel riders
Direct access to Route des Crêtes and many forest trails
Less touristy, but lots of sporting infrastructure
Note: La Bresse is not directly on the big Tour-cols like the Ballon d'Alsace or Planche des Belles Filles. For that, you have to drive a bit further.
Alsatian foot of the Grand Ballon and Ballon d'Alsace
At the southern tip of the massif are the villages of Thann and Saint-Amarin, between the Alsace vineyards and the first real climbing kilometres. Here you start the Grand Ballon from the south, and also find the Ballon d'Alsace, Le Markstein and the climb to the Route des Crêtes. The landscape is rougher, the roads are quieter and the feeling of mountain routes is strongest here.
Why here?
Starting point of the longest and most famous cols
Versatile terrain for climbers and gravel lovers alike
Proximity to Alsatian villages, wine routes and quiet valleys
Note: facilities are a bit more limited here. Not a tourist hotspot, it's ideal for cyclists who mainly want to cover kilometres.
The Vosges Mountains are mainly known for the 'Ballons'. The Petit Ballon, Grand Ballon and Ballon d'Alsace. This also because of the 'Trois Ballons' cyclo event, where lots of cyclists get to know the unpredictable weather conditions, but also the beautiful climbs of the Vosges.
The highest peak in the Vosges. You can climb this one from several sides. The best variant is almost 20 kilometres long at a high average.
18 km | 6.0% average | 1,424 m altitude
Short, powerful and famous. This is where Tour participants became legends.
6 km | 8.5% average | max 20% at the end
A beautiful mountain with an important Tour history. Beautiful, classic climb.
9 km | 6.5% average | 1,248 m altitude
Gentle climb through the forest, often combined with other cols.
16 km | 4% average | 1,139 m altitude
One of the most famous climbs. Read our article on it too. Depending on the variant, you are between 11 and 14km on the way at a serious average.
11 km | 7.1 % average | 1,163 m altitude
