Route des Crêtes (Vosges)
The Route des Crêtes ("summit road", also called the Vosges ridge road ) is a popular excursion route in the Vosges (French: Vosges ) and crosses the Ballons des Vosges Regional Nature Park . It comprises sections of the department roads D 148, D 61, D 430 and D 431 (from north to south).
geography
The 77 km long Route des Crêtes runs from Col du Bonhomme near Lac Blanc in the north to Cernay in the south. It mostly runs west of the peaks (e.g. Gazon du Faing , Hohneck , Kastelberg, Rainkopf , Großer Belchen ) and is usually between 950 and 1250 meters above sea level. The highest point is the 1,343 meter high pass between the Markstein and the Hartmannswillerkopf (French: Vieil Armand ) near the great Belchen (French: Grand Ballon ).
history
The Route des Crêtes was originally a military road that was built by the French during the First World War to supply the army during the conquest of Alsace , which fell to the German Empire in 1871 ( Hartmannswillerkopf ). It runs almost uninterrupted on the western side a little below the summit ridge and thus in cover from German fire. Unlike most other streets, it does not connect any places with each other. The German-French border ran along long stretches of the summit ridge, most of the boundary stones are still visible today.
tourism
Today this road is a popular tourist route, especially for motorbikes and cyclists. In winter, the road is sometimes not cleared of snow; instead, cross- country skiing trails are groomed and winter hiking trails rolled on the road . In some places there are also ski slopes (e.g. on Kastelberg or Lac Blanc ). The closure due to snow can last until spring (April / May). If the route is closed, you drive at your own risk.
Web links
- Route description at elsass-netz.de