BR53 The two valleys - Thur and Doller

Bordered to the south by the Sundgau region, the Doller valley and Masevaux are the starting point for this tour. When you set out to discover it, you enter a natural domain where even beavers have a right to live! The Geology Museum in Sentheim will give you a foretaste of the pleasant surprises to come: high-altitude lakes, protected flora and fauna, you'll be amazed by the valley's varied landscapes! With this itinerary, you'll be following the routes of the Tour de France, with three well-known passes on the program: the Hundsdrück pass, the Ballon d'Alsace and the Bussang pass. The finale of the Hundsdrück sets the tone for this ode to the mountains. The Ballon d'Alsace is even longer, and you'll climb it from what is reputed to be its most difficult side. On leaving Bussang, and before returning to Alsace, don't forget to quench your thirst at the Marie spring, which offers ferruginous water to help you recover! You'll also cover part of the Saint-Amarin and Thur valleys, famous for their textile industries. A visit to the Parc de Wesserling, a genuine 19th-century textile town with park, garden and château covering more than 42 hectares, is a must.