A Travers les Vosges
Look closer to home and climb all the famous Vosges cols and balloons, that you know from the Tour de France, in one tour.
FROM ANDLAU TO ANDLAU
Salut! Are you looking for a challenge in spring while the cols in the high mountains are still closed? Or do you want to climb iconic passes but don’t want to travel too far? Then the beautiful French mountain range of the Vosges is a great alternative to the Alps and Pyrenees! You cycle through forests and vineyards on quiet roads and pass some of the most beautiful villages in Europe. Along the way you climb the famous balloons that you know from the Tour de France; cycling history is waiting for you behind every bend! In six stages, you climb the following famous cols: Grand Ballon, Petit Ballon, La Super Planche des Belles Filles, Platzerwasel and Ballon d’Alsace. You will cover 580 kilometres and conquer more than 12,750 metres elevation gain. Each day you can choose an easier red route. If you choose the red route each stage, you will cover 480 kilometres and climb 9,750 metres elevation gain. This gives you the opportunity to complete A Travers les Vosges relatively easily.
STAGES
6
OVERNIGHT STAYS
6
BEST TIME OF YEAR
May
June
September
TOUGHNESS
Distance (KM)
Red routes: 480
Elevation Gain (M)
Red routes: 9,750
Explanation Toughness routes
Is this your first cycling tour in the mountains and are you wondering if you can handle our routes? Or are you an experienced climber and are you curious whether the challenge is interesting enough for you? Using our five-point scale, we help you gain insight into the toughness of our routes. Based on the number of polka dots you can easily see if the routes of this cycling tour match your level and ambition!
all fit cyclists
reasonably trained cyclists with some climbing experience
trained cyclists with climbing experience
trained cyclists with a lot of climbing experience
well trained cyclists with a lot of climbing experience
Within stages we often offer different routes so that groups with cyclists of different levels can participate in the cycling tour:
red = easier route
black = tougher route
If you are unsure whether the routes are suitable for you and your cycling friends, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re happy to help you!

GRAND COLS AND BEAUTIFUL VILLAGES
In the morning you sit at home drinking your coffee, in the afternoon you get on your bike in Andlau for a short warm-up round through the Alsace. This way you will make the most of your valuable vacation days and get into the holiday mood immediately. In the first part of stage 2 we cycle through picturesque vineyards and some of the most beautiful villages in Europe, including Bergheim and Riquewihr. In part two of the stage we climb Collet du Ligne (987 meters), a col that formed the front line in WWI, where old trenches still can be found. After the descent we pass Munster and climb Col du Petit Ballon (1,163 meters). We descend this col on the other side and finish in Munster, a nice mountain village that is known for the stinky cheese of the same name.
”In the morning you drink your coffee at home, in the afternoon you climb a col in the Elsace!”
BIG LAKES AND THE SHELF OF THE PRETTY GIRLS
In stage 3 we start immediately with the hard Col du Platzerwasel (1,184 meters) after which we cycle over a plateau to Le Markstein. After the descent we continue our way to La Bresse and pass three of the largest lakes in the Vosges; Lac de Kruth, Lac de Longemer and Lac de Gérardmer. In stage 4 we climb the most famous Vosges climb in recent Tour history; la (Super) Planche des Belles Filles (1,146 meters). This short, steep climb ends with a tough gravel section. The name is beautiful but refers to a gruesome history from the Thirty Years’ War. We conclude this stage with the famous Ballon d’Alsace (1,175 meters). In 1905, this was the first col ever in the Tour de France. René Pottier was the first to reach the summit.


MORE COLS AND AN IMPRESSIVE CHÂTEAU
In stage 5 we head for the roof of our tour: Col du Grand Ballon (1,341 metres)! This famous Tour de France col is also the highest point of the Vosges. Of course we choose the iconic side with cobblestones in the hairpin bends, which starts in Willer-sur-Thur. From the summit we descend a short distance after which we cycle tens of kilometres over a beautiful plateau before we really descend. In the final stage we start with Col des Bagenelles (906 metres) after which a next highlight is on the programme: the climb to the impressive Château du Haut-Kœnigsbourg (707 metres). We conclude A Travers les Vosges with a worthy final climb; Le Champ du Feu (1,099 metres), after which we arrive back in Andlau.
WHAT'S INCLUDED IN THE PRICE?
The price includes:
- Hotel accommodation in nice, cycle-friendly hotels (minimum 3 stars) on the route (double room, 6 nights)
- Breakfast (6 times) and dinner (6 times)
- Participation in the stages prepared by Grand Cols Cycling Tours (6 stages)
- Professional, digital road book with all relevant route information
- GPX files for uploading routes to navigation devices
- Picnic lunch, coffee stop with good, freshly ground coffee and sports nutrition (sports drink, water, bars, etc.) during the stages
- Support during the stages with a support car, for example: handing over clothing and carrying out minor repairs
- First aid and AED
- Luggage transport from hotel to hotel
- Help with minor repairs along the way and the use of a bicycle pump, lubricant and bicycle tools
- Grand Cols Cycling Tours cycling jersey (contact us if you would like to design a custom jersey)
- Participation in the VZR guarantee scheme
The price does not include:
– The outward journey to the starting location and the return journey from the finish location
– Personal insurance, such as travel and cancellation insurance
– Drinks during the dinners
– Equipment (you participate with your own equipment, such as: bike, helmet and clothing)
Optional extra:
- Upgrade to a single room € 225, –
- Additional overnight stay (without dinner) before the start of the cycling tour (double room): € 100, –
- Commonly used spare parts, such as: tyres, cleats and batteries (at cost price)
Anything else? Let us know!
Want to know more?
DISCOVER A Travers les Vosges
Are you interested in this cycling tour? Request more information without obligation.
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