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Gentians on Le Mont d’Or (Section 11)

When to visit

The altitude and inland position of the region result in summers that are hot, but not generally too hot for walking, and winters with snow cover typically from about November to the beginning of April. Unless you are equipped for winter walking it is better not to attempt the higher sections during this time. During the main holiday period, from mid-July to the end of August, popular centres can be busy. A dry spell in summer may be followed by a rainier autumn, but the glowing colours of the turning leaves and the bright, crisp, frosty mornings can make autumn a delightful time to visit.

Access

The nearest major airports are Strasbourg, Geneva and Basel, but it is also worth checking flights to nearby German destinations. TGV express trains from Paris serve Strasbourg, Mulhouse, Basel, Belfort and Geneva. By road, Strasbourg is about 650km (400 miles) from Calais.

Taking the section start points in order, Wissembourg, Niederbronn-les-Bains, Saverne and Schirmeck are all accessible using French railways (SNCF). Ribeauvillé no longer has a rail station, but is easily accessed by getting the train to Sélestat, then using the regular buses which link to the train service. For Mittlach, head for the rail station at nearby Metzeral, then complete the journey on foot (3km), or use the infrequent local buses.