Territory of escape
Nestled between two massifs, the Southern Vosges and the Jura Mountains, the Territoire de Belfort is far from lacking in relief. About half an hour from the city centre of Belfort, surrounded by numerous peaks of over 1000 metres in altitude, the Ballon d’Alsace proudly displays its 1247 metres in height and an incredible 360° panorama of the Alps, the Black Forest in Germany, the Swiss Jura and the Bernese Alps. Located in a nature reserve classified as a Natura 2000 zone – and candidate for the label “Grand Site de France” – the Ballon d’Alsace is the ideal starting point for easy or itinerant hikes in the heart of the “Regional Nature Park Ballons des Vosges”. Crossed by the GR 5 and GR 59, starting point of the GR 7, a mythical stage for cyclists and a playground for sportsmen or discoverer travellers, it offers preserved and unexpected landscapes: pine forests, rocky cliffs, glacial cirques, waterfalls, lakes and rivers… A beautiful setting where lynxes, chamois, beavers, peregrine falcons and capercaillies live in harmony.
As soon as the first snow falls, this gentle and reassuring mountain is transformed into a welcoming family winter sports resort. 40 km of marked Nordic trails and a site labelled by Nordic France, 11 alpine ski trails, 5 snowshoeing routes, 1 Snow Park and 2 sledging areas attract each winter numerous skiers, snowshoe hikers or mushers who cross each other in a setting full of alternative routes winding through the woods.
