Bike tour : The Taennchel massif from Ribeauvillé

To discover the Taennchel massif and its mysteries, you need to spare no effort. Perhaps you'll come across the fairies and giants of our legends. On the second part of the route, you'll need to take a short break to enjoy the exceptional panoramic view of Ribeauvillé and the Alsace plain from the ruins of Ribeauvillé's three castles.

The Taennchel massif: Classified as a "tranquility zone" since 1970, the Taennchel massif, which rises to 988 m, separates the Ribeauvillé valley from the Lièpvre valley. The village of Thannenkirch lies on the north-eastern side of the Taennchel, and the former Ribeaupierre glassworks can be found to the south of the mountain. The summit is home to numerous plant and animal species, including the lynx, reintroduced in the 20th century.

Château Saint-Ulrich: This is the most imposing and best-preserved of the three castles. It was built on a rocky spur in the mid-13th century. St-Ulrich was the Ribeaupierre family residence until the 20th century, but had little military significance. The remains that can still be seen today include the square keep and the main building (12th century), the knights' hall and the large residential tower (13th century), the entrance barbican and the outer wall (14th century) and the St-Ulrich chapel (15th century).