The Vosges…. once, together with the Black Forest, a huge mountain range. Until Italy found it necessary to collide with Europe some thirty million years ago. This created the Alps and the huge plate on which the old mountains lay broke and largely collapsed. In the enormous groove that was created then, the Rhine now separates the Western Vosges from the Black Forest in the East.

The ridge that remained formed the border between France and Germany from 1871 to 1918. 1918, you read that right. The end of the First World War. Afterwards, boundaries were literally shifted, but you can already imagine that the terrain of the Vosges during WW I was a particularly turbulent area…

With this North-Eastern Vosges Route Medium-size you visit a side of the Vosges that is still relatively 'quiet' and where tourism has not yet penetrated into the details. This makes driving on the North-Eastern side pleasant and fresh.
Nevertheless, you should not underestimate the route, on the contrary…

Yes, you can consider the first 80 kilometers as a warm-up. Definately true. But then in a beautiful environment where your eyes will not have time to fully capture the beautiful surroundings. First the Gérardmer that flashes before your eyes, followed by a wonderful piece of massif driving between the Lac de Gérardmer and Longemer. There is a reason why those two bodies of water do not flow into each other… there are mountains in between and you can navigate through them nicely.
Then follows a wonderful piece of valleys, squeezed between the 'Reserve biologique dirigee de la Haute Meurthe' and the 'Gazon du Faing', two nature reserves with the big N. You may not drive over the tops as in some other routes from this collection, but let's say you're looking at things from a different, slightly lower side. Just as beautiful, if not even more beautiful, quieter and super relaxing.

After the part between Gerardmer and Langemer you will get off the ground a second time when you drive up the Col de la Bonhomme. On the 'wrong' side, so to speak, but that's no problem. With this route you drive the Bonhomme from the four corners of the world, so afterwards you can tick off all the entry and exit routes of this Col.
After arriving at the Col (where you may or may not take a short break), we turn left and drive up a tasty stretch of road towards Sainte Marie & Sainte Croix aux mines. But before arriving there, we will stop at the real 'mine' of Tellure where you can enjoy a coffee if you wish, if you have not already done so on the Bonhomme. Or you can visit the silver mine, the choice is yours.

After the silver mine and the two mining villages of Sainte Marie & Sainte Croix, the real work begins just after Liepvre. There you dive into the North-Eastern Vosges and get to know them for the first time. Nice curves lead you up and down the Col du Schaentzel to take you via TannenKirch, Bergheim and the beginning of the Rhine valley to Ribeauville, a beautiful Vosges village. You will get to know the typical architectural style of the region here, or in Riquewihr, which is slightly more southerly. A visit to one of these villages is absolutely recommended. Watch and enjoy!

And then the curve party really starts. A first stretch of 40 kilometers of continuous bends over super nice asphalt leads you back to the Bonhomme (rp18). Absolute enjoyment on roads where you can still take full advantage of space and nature while you skim off the North-Eastern peaks.

Back on the Bonhomme you can take a break - completely without obligation, of course - but if you've got the hang of it now, continuing the route will probably not be a problem either. You drive a bit 'Crêtes', but there we disappear again quickly to explore the eastern side of the famous ridge. And you won't regret it. Again the most delicious cornering awaits you here for the next 30 kilometers in the direction of the Col de la Schlucht (rp21). There you will receive your well-deserved cup of coffee with happy eyes.

After the Col de la Schlucht, the arm muscles are given some rest here before being served the super tasty Bramont again. This Bramont is a pleasure to drive every time…

A last detour will lead you to the last gas station on the route before you again take the driveway of the motorbike hotel Col du Bussang.


This route is an absolute and digestible recommendation. She takes you to a wonderful area along beautiful nature reserves where it is not overly busy yet. The roads are slippery and seem to have been imported from the motorcyclist's paradise. The curves that this route offers you also deserve all respect and admiration. The necessary attention too, because the bends can sting quite firmly at times if you do not treat them with the necessary caution. 'Enjoy, but in moderation' would say the beer manufacturers. Well, the same principle applies here on this five-star route: Enjoy yourself, but keep an eye on the sharp edges. Then you will arrive back in Col du Bussang well and healthy and you can let the home front know that the North-Eastern side of the Vosges is indeed wonderful.