Part of France
The Vogezen: where Dutch cyclists get to know the middle mountain range.
The Vosges are not the Alps. And that’s exactly why you should go there. No dizzying climbs with stones and camper queues, but rolling hills, quiet forests and roads where you can hear yourself breathing. Here you cycle over the crossroads of Alsace and Lorraine, with a view of the Rhine Valley at the top of the Grand Ballon and sometimes – if you’re lucky – of Mont Blanc, somewhere far to the south.
The Vogean 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, as a cyclist, embark on an adventure. Without the feeling of being in a peloton of e-bikes.
Why you should try the Vosges instead of the Alps or the Pyrenees.
The Vogeens are a medium-mountain range with character. The peaks are up to 1300 meters high, the climbs are often long but easy to do, and the landscape alternates between dense pine forests, open mountain pastures (chaumes), and sometimes also beautiful panoramic views. The mountain range runs from north to south over about 250 kilometers, with the well-known cols of the Route des Crêtes in the heart. This ’peak route’ covers all the ascents, with a nice historical note. It was once a military strategic route, now a place where your mouth just opens wide.
The region is organized and yet diverse. Where the west is somewhat greener and more humid, the east – towards Alsace – is sunnier and drier. You can immediately notice this: grape vines give way to dark spruce trees, half-timbered houses to granite farmhouses.
What is the best destination for cycling in the Vosges?
The southern Vosges are the most popular among cyclists. Around Gérardmer, La Bresse and Munster (not to be confused with Münster in Germany) lie the most famous cols, most beautiful mountain lakes and the Route des Crêtes. This area also has the best selection of cycling-friendly accommodations, routes, restaurants and signage.
Recommendations:
- La BresseDirect access to Grand Ballon and Col de la Vierge
- Gérardmer: bustling place on a lake, central location. Often also a finishing point 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.
Practical information
- 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 designed for cyclists. Below you will find our dedicated map of hotels and the location of the two most famous climbs: Ballon d’Alsace and Grand Ballon - Food & drink
Expect Alsatian hospitality: Flammkuchen, Munster cheese, berries, hearty mountain dishes and excellent wine – although you don’t always get there faster by car.
Long-distance routes and award-winning cycling regions
- La Voie Bleue (700 km, Sierck-les-Bains – Lyon), along the Épinal road.
- EuroVelo 5 Moselle / Alsace (390 km, Sarreguemines – Basel), along the eastern flank of the Vosges.
- Canal de la Marne au Rhin (147 km, Nancy – Strasbourg).
Épinal, Strasbourg and the Sundgau were awarded the title of Destination France à Vélo in 2026.
Your Cycling base
The Vogezen are compact, but a smart base of operations saves a lot of driving back and forth:
- Munster: In the middle of the mountain range, with the Petit Ballon, the Col de la Schlucht and the Hohneck nearby.
- Thann of Guebwiller: on the Alsace side, at the foot of the Grand Ballon and the Route des Crêtes.
- Gérardmer: on the lake, on the west side, with the Route des Crêtes and the Hohneck within cycling distance.
- Giromagnyin the south, in front of the Ballon d’Alsace and the Planche des Belles Filles.
Sources
- France Vélo Tourisme: cycling routes – long-distance routes
- Destinations France by Bike 2026 – award-winning cycling regions
When are you leaving?
How do you get there?
- Flying: Fly to Strasbourg. Bring your own bike; then book a place for your bike luggage in time.
- By train: Good to do. Convenient stations: Strasbourg - Mulhouse.
- By car: From Utrecht you are in about 7 hours Vogezen.
This is how we calculate: We calculate distances and travel times starting from Utrecht. Our flights always depart from Schiphol, Rotterdam The Hague Airport or Eindhoven Airport. Want to know how to travel from your place of residence the best way? Let us know, We are happy to help you. After all, we built this site together.
Are you flying? Read our guide Flying with your bike: Which airline, what the cost is and how to pack your bike.
