The best road cycling routes around Oberburnhaupt

Masevaux is the vibrant heart of the Doller valley and an ideal starting point for rides to the Ballon d'Alsace and the other Vosges passes.

The fountain in the foreground, the walled cemetery, and the church together form a very photogenic ensemble.

A picturesque mountain lake at the foot of the Ballon d'Alsace, surrounded by forests and steep slopes. 🚴‍♂️🏞️⛰️

Sewen forms the gateway to the climb to the Ballon d'Alsace. On warm days, you can still fill your drink bottles.

The Doller-fietspad (Voie Verte de la Vallée de la Doller) between Masevaux and Sewen largely follows a former railway line through the Doller valley in the southern Vosges. The route is approximately 10 to 12 km long, almost entirely car-free and asphalted. The gradient towards Sewen is very gradual, around 1%, making it a pleasant approach to the surroundings of the Ballon d'Alsace.

Bahnhof Burnhaupt-le-Haut The Bahnhof Burnhaupt-le-Haut is located on the former railway line from Cernay to Sewen, which led through the Dollertal. The line was built in the 19th century and was of great importance for passenger and freight transport in the region. During the First World War, the station gained particular strategic importance. Burnhaupt was located immediately behind or close to the front line between German and French troops. The railway was used to transport soldiers, weapons, ammunition, and other supplies. Due to the fighting, the station was heavily damaged. After the war, the station building was rebuilt between 1921 and 1923. A building typical of the region with elements of Alsatian architecture was created. The station has largely been preserved to this day and serves as a reminder of the importance of the railway for the region's development and the destruction of the First World War. Regular passenger service on the line was discontinued in 1967, and the line was later closed. Part of the former railway line is now operated as a museum railway by Train Thur Doller Alsace. Historic locomotives and wagons run on the line through the Dollertal, making the history of the railway tangible for visitors. The Bahnhof Burnhaupt-le-Haut is therefore not only a former transport hub, but also a historic site where the history of the region, the railway, and the First World War converge. Further information and historical photos: Train Thur Doller Alsace – Bahnhof Burnhaupt

calm and well-rolling section

The Place des Anciens Combattants is located directly on the departmental road D466, at the transition from Grand'Rue to Rue du Ballon or vice versa, depending on the direction you are coming from. At the square, located in the center of Sewen, you will find the Église Notre-Dame de l'Assomption church, as well as the cemetery, a large, old village fountain with an octagonal basin. There are also two bus stops, one for the connection to Cernay and the other to Mulhouse. Behind the cemetery on Rue de l'Église is the Gite au Coer du Village hostel. From the square, the quietly located Lac de Sewen, 1 km away, is also reachable on foot. From the representation of the village of Sewen on the map, one might get the impression that it is a place with residents in the very low four-digit range, but this is misleading. There are not even 500. 180 years ago, there were once just under 1,000.